With the summer winding down, we might as well look ahead to the programming that will provide cold comfort during the winter months. Fox is previewing its lineup today at the TCA summer press tour, with forthcoming panels on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Gifted, Empire, and more. Amid the updates about more adult-oriented content like Lethal Weapon and The Mick, Fox has announced some casting news about its live adaptation of A Christmas Story. Maya Rudolph will fuss about as Mrs. Parker, Ralphie and Randy’s mother. The Saturday Night Live and Maya & Marty alum certainly has the vocal chops to co-lead a musical, but whether or not she’ll be able to turn one of her TV kids into a snowsuited starfish remains to be seen.
A Christmas Story joins a new production of Rent in Fox’s growing tradition of live musicals. La La Land and Dear Evan Hansen’s Benj Pasek and Justin Paul will provide the score, as well as write new songs, while Grease Live! scribes Jonathan Tolins and Robert Cary are adapting the Tony Award-winning musical’s book for the live event.