NBCU Brings Must-See TV to Life with Star-Studded Backlot Experience Featuring Reba McEntire, Jennifer Garner, Zachary Quinto, Tony Goldwyn & More

The NBCUniversal Television Entertainment Group hosted its first-ever Backlot Summer Experience this week. During the behind-the-scenes showcase on the iconic Universal Studios lot, journalists were treated to immersive set visits and exclusive conversations with the stars and creative minds behind some of our most buzzed-about series—both returning favorites and new titles—including Bel-Air, St. Denis Medical, The Voice, Happy’s Place, and Five-Star Weekend. The lineup of special guests included Reba McEntire, Michael Schur, and Jennifer Garner.

The day culminated in a garden cocktail reception buzzing with star power and some of Hollywood’s most visionary storytellers, including Greg Daniels, Kelli Giddish, Tony Goldwyn, David Alan Grier, Simone Joy Jones, Patrick Macmanus, Lana Parrilla, Zachary Quinto, and more.

Read more about the series featured in the NBCUniversal Television Entertainment Group's Backlot Summer experience here:

Bel-Air

Set in modern-day Los Angeles, Peacock’s drama series Bel-Air imagines the beloved sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air through a new, dramatic take on Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. As these two worlds collide, Will reckons with the power of second chances while navigating the conflicts, emotions, and biases of a world far different from the only one he’s ever known.

The cast includes Jabari Banks, Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar, Jimmy Akingbola, Jordan L. Jones, Simone Joy Jones. 

The fourth and final season of Bel-Air drops this fall on Peacock. Until then, catch up with all three seasons now streaming.

^{[L-R] Jimmy Akingbola, Adrian Holmes, Jordan L. Jones, Jabari Banks, Olly Sholotan, Cassandra Freeman, Akira Akbar}

St. Denis Medical

St. Denis Medical returns for season 2 on Monday, November 3rd with back-to-back episodes from 8-9 p.m. on NBC. The show is a mockumentary about an underfunded, understaffed Oregon hospital where the dedicated doctors and nurses try their best to treat patients while maintaining their own sanity. The series stars Wendi McLendon-Covey, David Alan Grier, Allison Tolman, Josh Lawson, Kahyun Kim, Mekki Leeper and Kaliko Kauahi.  Season 1 is available to stream on Peacock now.

^{[L-R] Mekki Leeper, Allison Tolman, Kahyun Kim, Steven Weber, Bridget Kyle, Kaliko Kauahi, Vicky Luu, Eric Ledgin, Justin Spritzer}

The Voice 

NBC’s four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series The Voice returns with all-star coaches Michael Bublé, Snoop Dogg, Niall  Horan, Reba McEntire reclaiming their red chairs for season 28. This electrifying coaching panel vies to discover and coach America’s next singing phenomenon.

Season 28 of The Voice premieres September 22 on NBC. 

Happy's Place

Happy’s Place returns for Season 2 on Friday, November 7th with back-to-back episodes from 8-9 p.m. on NBC. The show centers around Bobbie (Reba McEntire), who inherits her father’s tavern and is surprised to discover that she has a new business partner, Isabella a twentysomething half-sister that she never knew she had. Season 1 is available to stream on Peacock now.

Five-Star Weekend

In Five-Star Weekend, Hollis Shaw, a famed food influencer known for her delicious recipes, impeccable taste, and warm demeanor suffers a devastating loss. Unable to move forward, the death starts to expose the cracks in Hollis’s picture-perfect life—her strained marriage, her complicated relationship with her daughter, and her growing pursuit of validation from her followers. In an effort to overcome grief and find herself again, Hollis gets the idea to host a weekend away at her house on Nantucket with three friends from different stages in her life: her childhood, her twenties, thirties, and one surprise fifth star. Set against a luxurious and coastal backdrop, they will mature in ways they could never imagine as boundaries are pushed and secrets are exposed.

^{Jennifer Garner}

The cast includes Jennifer Garner, Regina Hall, Chloë Sevigny, Gemma Chan, D’Arcy Carden, Harlow Jane, Timothy Olyphant, David Denman, Josh Hamilton, Rob Huebel.