Turns out that NBC’s eight-episode event drama The Slap really isn’t about “the slap” at all. It’s about something much deeper and darker.
At Hector’s (Peter Sarsgaard) 40th birthday party, his hotheaded cousin Harry (Zachary Quinto) slaps another couple’s misbehaving child. The stunning incident sets off a chain of events that divides friends and family, and uncovers long-buried secrets. Thandie Newton, Uma Thurman, Melissa George, Thomas Sadoski and Brian Cox also star. At the NBC Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, the panel downplayed the importance of the slap itself, saying that there is a ton of existing tension and problems in theses people’s lives, and the slap is just a catalyst that puts everything into motion.
Other highlights:
#TheSlap deals with heavy subject matter; I recall when I first heard the title, I assumed it was some sort of game show. #NBC #tca15
— Bill Harris (@billharris_tv) January 17, 2015
We’ve been reassured that no children were actually slapped in the making of #TheSlap. #TCA15
— Ryan Berenz (@ChannelGuideRAB) January 16, 2015
Hanging with @ZacharyQuinto at #TCA15 #TheSlap. pic.twitter.com/kkFxCq37gb
— NBC (@nbc) January 17, 2015
Hanging at #TCA15 with #UmaThurman #TheSlap. pic.twitter.com/P6N0BZeLpz
— NBC (@nbc) January 17, 2015
#TheSlap panel is stacked thanks to star cast, including @ZacharyQuinto, Uma Thurman, @thandienewton and @petersarsgaard #TCA15
— Emily Gagne (@emilygagne) January 16, 2015
"Who be having a question for Sarsgaard?” https://t.co/nCW0zcYsye #TCA15
— Channel Guide (@ChannelGuide) January 17, 2015
Photo: Credit: Paul Drinkwater/NBC