5 TCA Burning Questions

In the era of peak TV, midseason has become nearly as crowded as fall with new original programming. Against that backdrop, programmers from across broadcast, cable and streaming will take their turns facing the media at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour, which kicks off Tuesday in Pasadena, Calif..

Big questions face the industry heading into the 15-day event, from how big cord-cutting’s impact will be to who will emerge as TV’s next breakout star

TheWrap looks at the biggest of those big questions.

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Which shows will stand out?
A number of cable and streaming offerings, like AMC’s “Preacher” from executive producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and Netflix’s “Fuller House” starring Candace Cameron Bure are set to burn up the stage at TCA. WGN America is also bringing out big guns like Paul Giamatti and John Legend to promote their new shows “Outsiders” and “Underground,” respectively. Likewise HBO, will feature Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger on the panel for new series “Vinyl.”

FX Networks & FX Productions CEO John Landgraf speaks onstage during the Executive Session panel discussion at the FX Networks portion of the Television Critics Association press tour at Langham Hotel on January 18, 2015 in Pasadena, California.

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How Much Knowledge Will John Landgraf Drop?
FX Networks and FX Productions CEO John Landgraf established the dominant story of summer press tour — and of the year in television — when he declared during his August executive session that we live in an age of “too much television,” rolling out stats tailored by his research department to support his case. Landgraf has a history of taking a data-driven approach to his executive sessions; last January he presented multiple charts breaking down critical reception for every scripted show on television. Whatever Landgraf has to say during his Jan. 16 session, he’s bound to make news.

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Will Cord Cutting Dominate the Conversation?
Cord cutting — or at least cord shaving — has been a long-coming reality for those who participate in the early cable portion of the Television Critics Association press tours. While fears have existed, Disney’s recent reveal of exactly how bad losses at the biggest cable network of them all, ESPN, have been should make executives run for the Hollywood Hills. Add in the fact that, Ovation and Sportsman Channel aside, ESPN actually kicks off tour Tuesday, it ought to be a primo topic of hot-button conversation that starts early and lingers long.

Will Netflix, Amazon and Hulu Overshadow Cable Competitors?
The summer 2015 press tour was an endless parade of high-profile creators and stars singing the praises of working for streaming platforms rather than traditional outlets. That trend doesn’t seem like it will be slowing down anytime soon, with such splashy streaming offerings like Jason Katims‘ “The Path,” Judd Apatow‘s “Love,” “Fuller House” and Netflix’s hit Marvel shows set to hit the stage. AMC will hit back with “Preacher,” and HBO with “Vinyl,” but with Netflix heading into the Golden Globes with more nominations than any other programmer, the streaming services have the momentum.

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AMC

Who Will Be the Breakout Star?
At summer press tour, Priyanka Chopra of ABC’s “Quantico” and incoming “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah had the most successful charm offensives. Last winter, it was soon-to-be “Late Late Show” host James Corden whose star ascended the most. This tour, keep an eye on “Preacher” star Dominic Cooper, whose show will be getting a major push from hot-streaking AMC; “Daily Show” alum Samantha Bee, whose getting her own TBS late-night show, “Full Frontal”; and Krysten Ritter, who will be taking a victory lap for Netflix’s “Jessica Jones.”

Scene at TCA 2016 Winter Press Tour (Updating Photos)

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EPs Brad Simpson, Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, co-EP Anthony M. Hemingway, Consultant Jeffrey Toobin, and actors Sarah Paulson, John Travolta and Cuba Gooding Jr. on stage for FX's "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" panel on Jan. 16
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Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys on stage for FX's "The Americans" panel on Jan. 16
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Jay Baruchel and Eric Andre on stage for FX's "Man Seeking Woman" panel on Jan. 16
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Creator/star Donald Glover on stage for FX's "Atlanta" panel on Jan. 16
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Co-creators/EPs Zach Galifianakis and Louis C.K. for FX's "Baskets" panel on Jan. 16
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FX CEO John Landgraf on stage during his executive session on Jan. 16
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Actors Rebecca Liddiard, Micahel Weston, Stephen Mangan, Co-Creator/EP David Hoselton, EP David Shore and Co-Creator/EP David Titcher on stage for Fox's "Houdini & Doyle" panel on Jan. 15
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Stars Vanessa Hudgens, Aaron Tveit and Julianne Hough on stage for Fox's "Grease: Live" panel on Jan. 15
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Actors James Earl, Charlie Saxton and Meaghan Rath on stage for Fox's "Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life" panel on Jan. 15
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EP Adam Anders, Host/Narrator Tyler Perry, EP Mark Bracco and EP/Creator Jacco Doornbos on stage for Fox's "The Passion" panel on Jan. 15
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Dilshad Vadsaria, Tim DeKay and Rob Kazinsky on stage for Fox's "Second Change" panel on Jan. 15
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Host Ryan Seacrest and judges Keith Urban and Jennifer Lopez on stage for Fox's "American Idol" panel on Jan. 15
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Actor Tom Ellis and EP Joe Henderson on stage for Fox's "Lucifer" panel on Jan. 15
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David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson on stage for Fox's "The X-Files" panel on Jan. 15
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Amber Grimes and Nick Cannon on stage for Oxygen's "Like a Boss" panel on Jan. 14
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EPs Philip D. Segal, Kevin Williams and investors Lauren Maillian, Randi Zuckerberg, Ido Leffler and Sarah Prevette on Oxygen's "Quit Your Day Job" panel on Jan. 14
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Actor Kieran Bew on stage for Esquire's "Beowulf" panel on Jan. 14
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Candis Cayne, Caitlyn Jenner and Ella Giselle on stage for E!'s "I Am Cait" panel on Jan. 14
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Nathan Phillips, Britne Oldford and Julian McMahon on stage for Syfy's "Hunters" panel on Jan. 14
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Stars Olivia Taylor Dudley, Hale Appleman, Arjun Gupta, Summer Bishil, Jason Ralph, Stella Maeve and EPs Michael London, Sera Gamble and John McNamara for Syfy's "The Magicians" panel on Jan. 14
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Christian Slater on stage during USA's "Mr. Robot" panel on Jan. 14
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EPs Ryan Condal and Carlton Cuse for USA's "Colony" on Jan. 14
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Jamie Kennedy, Maya Erskine and Joshua Leonard, Melissa George, Dave Annable and Co-EP Dr. Kathy Magliato on stage for NBC's "Heartbeat" panel on Jan. 13
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Executive producer and star Eva Longoria and actor Jencarlos Canela on stage for NBC's "Telenovela" panel on Jan. 13
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NBC's "Game of Silence" panel on stage on Jan. 13
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Executive producer Dick Wolf on stage for NBC's panel about "Chicago Med," "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago PD" on Jan. 13
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Actress Miranda Cosgrove on stage for NBC's "Crowded" panel on Jan. 13
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Jennifer Lopez on stage for NBC's "Shades of Blue" panel on Jan. 13
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America Ferrera and Ben Feldman on stage for NBC's "Superstore" panel on Jan. 13
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Mark McKinnon on stage for Showtime's "The Circus" panel on Jan. 12
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Luke Wilson, Carla Gugino and Imogene Poots on stage for Showtime's "Roadies" panel on Jan. 12
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EP Bill Lawrence, EP Blake McCormick, EP Steve Franks, and actors Wendie Malick, Page Kennedy, Justin Hires, Jon Foo, and Aimee Garcia for CBS's "Rush Hour" panel on Jan. 12
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Daniel Henney on stage for CBS's "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders" panel on Jan. 12
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CBS News panel on Jan. 12
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Chairman CBS Sports Sean McManus, "The Super Bowl Today" host James Brown, analyst Phil Simms, announcer Jack Whitaker and announcer Jim Nantz on stage for CBS Sports panel on Jan. 12
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Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney for Amazon's "Catastrophe" panel on Jan. 11
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Director Alex Gibney and producer Kahane Cooperman for Amazon's "The New Yorker Presents" panel on Jan. 11
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Titus Welliver for Amazon's "Bosch" panel on Jan. 11
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Ben Chaplin for Amazon's "Mad Dogs" panel on Jan. 11
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Alycia Debnam-Carey on stage for CW's "The 100" panel on Jan. 10
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Actor David Gyasi on stage for CW's "Containment" panel on Jan. 10
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CW's "Legends of Tomorrow" panel on Jan. 10
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Executive producers Jennie Snyder Urman and Aline Brosh McKenna for the CW's "Jane the Virgin" and "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" on Jan. 10
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ABC's "American Crime" panel on Jan. 9
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Martha Plimpton on ABC's "The Real O'Neals" panel on Jan. 9
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Stars Juliette Lewis and Michael Ealy on ABC's "Secrets and Lies" panel on Jan. 9
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Mike Epps and Nia Long on ABC's "Uncle Buck" panel on Jan. 9
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Executive producer Jenna Bans and star Andrew McCarthy on ABC's "The Family" panel on Jan. 9
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Executive producer Reza Aslan on ABC's "Of Kings and Prophets" panel on Jan. 9
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Dominic Sherwood and Katherine McNamara on Freeform's "Shadowhunters" panel on Jan. 9
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Freeform's "Recovery Road" panel on Jan. 9
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Aaron Paul, Michelle Monaghan, and Hugh Dancy on stage for Hulu's "The Path" panel on Jan. 9
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Producers Anthony Zuiker, Darren Star and Robert Thomas on stage during Hulu's "Great Shows, New Audiences" panel on Jan. 9
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Actors James Franco and Josh Duhamel on stage for Hulu's "11.22.63" on Jan. 9
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Series creator Tom Rob Smith on stage for BBC America's "London Spy" panel on Jan. 8
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Creator Peter Moffat on BBC America's "Undercover" panel on Jan. 8
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Producer Huw Cordey on BBC America's "The Hunt" panel on Jan. 8
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Host Chris Evans for BBC America's "Top Gear" panel on Jan. 8
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Executive producer John Legend on stage for WGN America's "Underground" panel on Jan. 8
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Series creator Peter Mattei, EP Peter Tolan and stars Ryan Hurst, Gillian Alexy, David Morse, Kyle Gallner and Christina Jackson for WGN America's "Outsiders" panel on Jan. 8
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"Outlander" stars Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan on stage on Jan. 8
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Actor Toby Stephens on stage for Starz's "Black Sails" panel on Jan. 8
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EP Steven Soderbergh, actress Riley Keough and EP Amy Seimetz on stage for "The Girlfriend Experience" on Jan. 8
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Anthony Hopkins on stage during Starz's "The Dresser" panel on Jan. 8
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Starz CEO Chris Albrecht on stage during his executive session on Jan. 8
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President, TBS and TNT and Chief Creative Officer, Turner Entertainment, Kevin Reilly during executive session on Jan. 7
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Jake Weary, Finn Cole, Ellen Barkin, Scott Speedman, Ben Robson and Shawn Hatosy speak on stage during TNT's "Animal Kingdom" panel on Jan. 7
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"The Detour" star and EP Jason Jones and star Natalie Zea on stage for TBS comedy on Jan. 7
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"Full Frontal" host Samantha Bee and EP Jo Miller on stage for TBS late night show on Jan. 7
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"Angie Tribeca" stars Rashida Jones and Hayes MacArthur on stage on Jan. 7
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Khloe Kardashian on stage for her FYI talk show "Kocktails With Khloe" on Jan. 6
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Paul Dano, Lily James and James Norton during A&E's "War & Peace" panel on Jan. 6
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Writer and director Benjamin Ross and actor Sean Bean on stage during A&E's "The Frankenstein Chronicles" panel on Jan. 6
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Bradley James on stage during Lifetime's "Damien" panel on Jan. 6
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Shiri Appleby, Constance Zimmer and Craig Bierko on stage during Lifetime's "UnREAL" panel on Jan. 6
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Host Craig Ferguson and EP Brian Vok-Weiss speak on stage during History's "Join or Die" panel on Jan. 6
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Viceland creative director Spike Jonze introduces new network's panel on Jan. 6
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Viceland creative director Spike Jonze and the network's hosts speak on stage on Jan. 6
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John Rhys-Davies speaks on stage for MTV's "The Shannara Chronicles" on Jan. 6
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Nikki Glaser on stage for Comedy Central's "Not Safe With Nikki Glaser" on Jan. 6
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Stars Sutton Foster and Hilary Duff speak on stage during TV Land's "Younger" panel on Jan. 6
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Improv group The Katydids (Caitlin Barlow, Katy Colloton, Cate Freedman, Kate Lambert, Katie O'Brien, Kathryn Renee Thomas) and EPs Alison Brie and Jay Martel speak on stage during TV Land's "Teachers" panel on Jan. 6
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"Chasing Destiny" EP Jason Sands, host Kelly Rowland, creative director/choreographer Frank Gatson and EP Danny Rose speak on stage on Jan. 6
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Brandy Norwood speaks onstage during the BET "Zoe Ever After" panel on Jan. 6
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Connor Schell (left), senior vice president and executive producer for ESPN Films, and Ezra Edelman, director of "OJ: Made In America" on Jan. 5
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Vince Vaughn, executive producer of "The '85 Bears," speaks during the ESPN Films "30 for 30" panel on Jan. 5
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"Rough Draft" host Reza Aslan speaks alongside writer Norman Lear on Jan. 5
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