TCA Panel: UCP Showrunners Discuss Their "Babies"

One of this morning’s TCA panels is UCP (Universal Cable Productions), which produces/has produced hit cable series like Monk, Psych, Poyal Pains, Covert Affairs, Suits and Playing House.

UCP is a content engine for programming on NBCUniversal cable networks and other nets. They have 16 shows on air, 50 scripts in development from networks ranging from HBO and Netflix. Jeff Wachtel, President & Chief Content Officer NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, announced the inking of a new series for HULU, produced by Amy Poehler, starring Billy Eichner (Billy on the Street).

Then he introduced the showrunners joining him on this morning’s panel: Natalie Chaidez (12 Monkeys), Tim Kring (Dig) Marti Noxon (Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce), and Sean Jablonski (Satisfaction)

Kring says now that viewers are watching shows on demand, they are able to watch all episodes of a show. Traditionally, people who identified themselves as “fanatics” of a show were only watching one out of three episodes. Because of that, shows don’t have to spoon-feed recaps to viewers at the beginning of each episode and can get to more plot and story per episode.

Jablonski says that viewership has changed as people wait for a season to air and then drop into shows and binge-watch. That has allowed them to create episodes that flow smoothly from one to another, almost cinematically.

Kring says of viewers’ demand for jam-packed episodes, “People want 50 pounds of story in a 10-pound bag.”

Noxon says of the production process, “It’s your baby, but a lot of people are raising it.”