Rob Lowe will be the first guest on Fox’s upcoming parody after-show “What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage,” which will reunite the stars of the previously-canceled “The Grinder.”
Framed to be a talk show to discuss the events after Fox’s made-up sci-fi drama, “The Flare,” “What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage” will invite special guests like Lowe to analyze what took place on the fictional show’s latest episode (akin to AMC’s “Talking Dead and “Talking Saul”), and will include as set visits to “The Flare,” interviews with the “cast,” and fan discussions.
Kevin Zegers (“Dirty John”), Guillermo Diaz (“Scandal”) and Shiri Appleby (“UnReal”) are among those tapped to play the “cast” of “The Flare.”
Fox describes the fake show “The Flare” as being based on fictional author TJ Whitford’s sci-fi book series, “The Moon is the Sun at Night,” which has been a favorite of Savage’s since childhood. The book revolves around a solar event and its effects on Earth – specifically, the small, blue-collar town of Milford, Illinois – and slowly unfolds into a post-apocalyptic battle for human survival.
Lowe will be the first celebrity guest.
Other cast members of the fictional “The Flare” include Duane Henry, Tyler Ritter, Kai Wener, Amy Acker, Sola Bamis and Sprague Grayden.
“What Just Happened??!” is produced by 20th Century Fox Television, Double Hemm and the Crest Lamp Company. It was created by Savage, Dave Jeser and Matt Silverstein, who will serve as executive producers alongside David A. Hurwitz, Jen Patton and Adam Lowitt. Hurwitz, Patton and Lowitt are also writing. Additional writers for the after-show include Abbey McBride, Edgar Momplaisir, Chase Mitchell, Agathe Panaretos and Sean O’Connor.
Jon Cassar serves as director on the fake show “The Flare,” while Carrie Havel serves as director on the real talk show, “What Just Happened??! With Fred Savage.”
“What Just Happened??! With Fred Savage” premieres June 30 at 9:30 p.m. ET on Fox.