‘Parenthood’ Cast Addresses NBC Support

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — It got a little awkward during NBC’s “Parenthood” panel at the Television Critics Association summer press tour when Craig T. Nelson was asked about whether he regrets making recent comments about the network not supporting the show.

Last March, Nelson was quoted as saying NBC was “out of it” and didn’t do enough to promote the series.

On Saturday Nelson said, “You get associated with a show that you love and a show that you believe in and a cast that’s just extraordinary and you get frustrated with the fact that it doesn’t seem to be honored the way that you feel it should be… I’ve been doing like 18 years of series television and I haven’t been associated with a show…this wonderful.”

Nelson went on to say he was “proud” of speaking out.

Executive Producer Jason Katims countered the comments saying, “The fact that we’re sitting here on a panel going into a fifth season is indicative of the passion the network does feel for the show.”

At this point Monica Potter mouthed “I’m so uncomfortable!”

Earlier, chairman of NBC Entertainment Robert Greenblatt, called “Parenthood” one of its “great, quality shows” and expressed frustration that the show doesn’t get more acclaim.

“It doesn’t get the Emmy nominations. It doesn’t get the accolades. It’s one of the best shows on television, and I wish it had more of that acclaim.”

The network has picked up “Parenthood” for 22 episodes for its fifth season. The last time it had a full order was the show’s second season. It will air on Thursdays with “The Michael J. Fox Show” and “Sean Saves the World” starring Sean Hayes.

“Parenthood” follows a large family living in the San Francisco area with all of its ups-and-downs. It also stars Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, Dax Shepard and Erika Christensen.

It premieres Sept. 26 at 10 p.m. EDT.