Over four seasons, one show that initially flew under the radar but has been steadily gaining critical and commercial acclaim is the NBC show Parenthood. With the 1989 Ron Howard film namesake serving as a loose inspiration, the story of the numerous members of the Braverman family has quietly become one of the more critically adored series, with an all-star cast that includes Lauren Graham, Peter Krause, Monica Potter, Dax Shepard, and Mae Whitman. With its fourth season having wrapped up in January, the PaleyFest 2013 panel of the show spoke about where things might be going in the as-yet-unconfirmed season five.
– Showrunner Jason Katims would like to see Matt Lauria’s Ryan make a return, with the only sticking point being Lauria’s availability.
– Katims also expressed interest in a time jump between seasons 4 and 5, so the show could pick up with the characters at a later point in their lives.
– Katims also reassured fans that Miles Heizer’s Drew will not be disappearing from the show and the lives of the Braverman clan simply because he was going to college. His choice of Berkeley allows him to stay in close geographical proximity, and thus continue to be involved in the show. Katims also praised Heizer’s performance in the abortion storyline the show chose to tackle in season 4.
– An audience member praised the cast and crew for their portrayal of Kristina Braverman’s battle with cancer. As she put it, “You brought the cameras into my life.”
These, and many other details, were discussed at the panel, which can be seen below. Parenthood airs on NBC, and there has yet to be an announcement of a fifth season.
