ATX Television Festival Adds Reunions for ‘Friday Night Lights’ and ‘The O.C.’ Writers

Expect clear eyes and full hearts in Austin.

Ben Mckenzie in The O.C.

The ATX Television Festival will pay tribute to Friday Night Lights, which is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its premiere and the 5th anniversary of its series finale. There will be an FNL “High School Reunion” on Friday, June 10, where fans, cast and crew gather Panther Field (“where it all took place”) to watch the screening of a fan-favorite episode (TBA) and take part in a pep rally and photo opps.

The O.C. writers’ room will also reunite, with series creator Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage and Leila Gerstein already set to attend. (More writers will be confirmed later.) Additionally, the festival will host a live script read of the Fox drama’s pilot episode, featuring a TBD cast.

Other panels include departing House of Cards creator (and ATX Advisory Board member) Beau Willimon moderating a conversation with David Simon and Tom Fontana as they discuss their careers and their time together on Homicide: Life on the Street.

Kurt Sutter has also been added to The Shield writers’ room reunion, and creator Jennie Snyder Urman will represent Jane the Virgin as well. More panels include ones for Hulu’s Casual, Lifetime’s UnREAL and TV Land’s Younger, which join previously announced panels for Everybody Loves Raymond‘s 20-year reunion with cast and producers.

Another script reading, for the never-picked-up pilot Big from creators Kevin Biegel and Mike Royce will be heard, and other panelist speakers include producers Betsy Beers (How to Get Away With Murder), Hart Hanson (Bones) and Krista Vernoff (Shameless). In addition, this year’s ATX Award for Television Excellence ceremony will celebrate Norman Lear.

The fifth annual ATX Television Festival will take place in Austin, Texas from Thursday, June 9 to Sunday, June 12.