What’s New For Netflix in 2016 & My Trip to LA

Last week, I had a whirlwind trip to LA with Netflix for the Netflix TCA Panel Day. While I can’t show you everything yet, I can give you a rundown of my trip.

I flew out Saturday from JFK in NYC. I was at the airport by 11 Am, but unfortunately the airline had to change my flight time from 1PM to 6:15PM. Luckily Judelle at the Virgin America Gate was able to get me on the 4:55PM plane.

Look how beautiful the sky is! And that sunset? Wow.

By the time I finally got into LAX it was around 8:30 and I got to my hotel around an hour later. I had made plans to see friends in Encino, but it just was too late to make a visit. Plus.. it was 12:30 if I went with NY time. I’m a night owl, but after spending 4 1/2 hours in JFK airport and then 5 hours on a plane…. I decided to sleep.

This was my view the next morning. I was staying at the Westin in Pasadena. Did you know if you are a Starwood Hotels Preferred Guest you get free internet per day? The program is free – sign up here (I do not get anything by posting this).
We met the other Netflix Stream team members at breakfast at 7 AM (way too early for this girl who doesn’t drink coffee anymore). After a quick and totally California breakfast, we went over to the Langham Hotel.

The day was very exciting. When we walked into the hotel, there was a replica of the oval office from House of Cards.

We listened to Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer talk about what’s coming in 2016. The other Stream Team bloggers and I were able to have two private panels with the stars of Fuller House and the executive producer and director of Degrassi: The Next Class. More on that in another post, but how awesome is this pic below? Andrea Barber, Candace Cameron, and Jodi Sweetin were very sweet.

We had an exclusive panel with the executive producer and producer/director of Degrassi: The Next Class (which will be in another post).

I also had some up close and personal celeb sightings that day. I saw Carrie-Anne Moss, Jane Krakowski, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, as well as seeing Candace Cameron, Jodi Sweetin, and Andrea Barber in our panel (and running into them in the ladies room right after).

Here’s some things I can announce:

Orange is the New Black – Fourth installment premieres Friday, June 17, 2016 at 12:01am PT. Show runner Jenji Kohan, and cast members present were Blair Brown (Judy King), Samira Wiley (Poussey), Jackie Cruz (Flaca), Dascha Polanco (Dayanara), and the fab Laverne Cox (Sophia). 

Here’s a teaser trailer for season four:

House of Cards – fourth installment of the acclaimed and award-winning drama, starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, premieresFriday, March 4, 2016. 

Grace and Frankie – Second installment premieres Friday, May 6, 2016 at 12:01am PT

Marvel’s Jessica Jones – Will Return for Second Installment

This is one of my favorite shows of ALL TIME! It’s already been renewed for the next installment. Marvel’s Jessica Jones is a suspenseful, edgy look into the life of Jessica Jones, one of the most popular new Marvel characters of the last decade. After a tragic ending to her short-lived Super Hero stint, Jessica Jones is rebuilding her personal life and career as a private investigator in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. Critics’ Choice award nominee Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones) is joined by an amazing cast including David Tennant (Kilgrave), Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Rachael Taylor (Trish Walker), Carrie-Anne Moss, Eka Darville, Erin Moriarty, and Wil Traval, among others.

Love premieres globally Friday, February 19, 2016

You’re going to love this. Created, written and executive produced by Judd Apatow, Paul Rust and Lesley Arfin, Love follows nice guy Gus (Paul Rust) and brazen wild-child Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) as they navigate the exhilarations and humiliations of intimacy, commitment, love and other things they were hoping to avoid. Love is an unflinching, hilarious and excruciatingly honest take on modern relationships. Brent Forrester and Dean Holland also serve as executive producers. The first installment – 10-half-hour episodes – premieres globally Friday, February 19, 2016.

The Get Down — Part-one premieres globally Friday, August 12, 2016 at 12:01am PT
The first six episodes of Baz Luhrmann’s all-new music-driven drama, from Sony Pictures Television, will focus on 1970s New York City – broken down and beaten up, violent, cash strapped — dying. Consigned to rubble, a rag-tag crew of South Bronx teenagers are nothings and nobodies with no one to shelter them – except each other, armed only with verbal games, improvised dance steps, some magic markers and spray cans. From Bronx tenements, to the SoHo art scene; from CBGBs to Studio 54 and even the glass towers of the just-built World Trade Center.

Flaked – Premieres globally Friday, March 11, 2016 at 12:01am PT

Flaked is the serio-comic story of Chip (played by Will Arnett), a celebrated long-time resident of the insular world of Venice, California who falls for the object of his best friend’s fascination. Soon the tangled web of half-truths and semi-bullshit that underpins his all-important image and sobriety begins to unravel. Five-time Emmy Award nominee Will Arnett plays Chip, a man doing his honest best to stay one step ahead of his own lies. The series also stars David Sullivan, Ruth Kearney and George Basil. Executive producers Will Arnett and Mark Chappell (The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret) co-created and co-wrote the 8-episode series. Ben Silverman (Founder and Chairman of Electus), Peter Principato and Mitch Hurwitz (Arrested Development) also serve as executive producers on the show. Electus and Principato-Young are providing production services. Flaked is a Netflix production.

The Ranch – First 10-episodes premiere globally Friday, April 1, 2016 at 12:01am PT

Set in present day on a Colorado ranch, this multi-camera comedy series stars Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Sam Elliott and Debra Winger. The show follows Colt’s (Kutcher) return home after a brief and failed semi- pro football career to run the family ranching business with his older brother Jameson “Rooster” (Masterson) and father Beau (Elliott), whom he hasn’t seen in 15 years. Winger stars as Colt’s and Rooster’s mother, Maggie, who runs the local town bar. The Ranch is executive produced by Don Reo (Two and Half Men,My Wife and Kids) and Jim Patterson (Two and a Half Men, Mike and Molly). Kutcher and Masterson serve as executive producers and co-executive producer respectively.

Lost & Found Music Studios – Premieres globally on Friday, April 1 at 12:01am PT

As part of the expanding slate for tweens and teens, Lost & Found Music Studios is a live action series about a group of talented teenage musicians who struggle to find their authentic sound and place in the world as they hone their craft at a prestigious music studio. In each episode, young artists navigate the ups and downs of the music industry, as they find their way to love, inspiration, and redemption. After all, the next hit song could be just one heartbreak away.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Second installment premieres globally Friday, April 15, 2016 at 12:01am PT

After living in a cult for fifteen years, Kimmy (Ellie Kemper – The Office) decides to reclaim her life and start over in New York City. Armed with just a backpack, light-up sneakers, and a couple of way-past-due library books, she’s ready to take on a world she didn’t even think existed anymore. Wide-eyed but resilient, nothing is going to stand in her way. She quickly finds a new job (working for 30 Rock’s Jane Krakowski), a new roommate (Tituss Burgess – 30 Rock), and a new beginning. The cast also includes Lauren Adams, Sara Chase, Sol Miranda and Emmy winner Carol Kane (Taxi, The Princess Bride). The first season of this acclaimed comedy was nominated for an Emmy^® award.

Kong: King of the Apes – Premieres globally on Friday, April 15, 2016 at 12:01am PT

This animated TV series for kids from Executive Producer Avi Arad, this is a fresh and modern take on the classic King Kong story. Set in 2050, KONG is still the strongest creature ever born with many human traits that make him the ultimate iconic hero. In KONG, the future looks bright for San Francisco’s Alcatraz Island since its transformation into the most impressive Natural History and Marine Preserve on the planet. But when the star attraction suddenly goes ape and KONG becomes public enemy number one, the villain that framed him is free to unleash an army of gigantic robotic dinosaurs on the unsuspecting world. Ironically, KONG is the only force formidable enough to stop these super-powered dinosaurs and the evil genius manipulating them. But KONG is now the world’s most hunted fugitive. Fortunately, there are three young humans who know the truth and are willing to risk their lives to help KONG evade capture, while he battles to save humankind.

For Kids:

Word Party – Premieres globally on Friday, June 3 at 12:01am PT

A vocabulary building show for preschoolers from The Jim Henson Company, Word Party follows four adorable baby animals as they sing, dance and play. The show invites our youngest viewers to help teach the baby animals new words, learn these new words themselves, and even celebrate these achievements with a “Word Party!” Word Party is produced using the groundbreaking Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, a proprietary technology from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop that allows puppeteers to perform digitally animated characters in real time – enabling the animation to be more lifelike and spontaneous.

I’ve got lots more to tell.. but I’ll leave you with this picture

Find these fab bloggers here:

• Dude Mom
• Mama Knows It All
• Lollygag Blog
• Cupcakes and Cutlery
• The Domestic Geek
• Shuggilippo
• Four Hens and a Rooster
• The Rock Father
• The Mama Maven
• Dad Camp
• Urban Moms

More info to come! 

Thank you to Netflix for arranging my trip to California. As always, all opinions are my own.