From mega talent like Christine Baranski to show stopping reunions including Mad Men and The Leftovers, day three at ATX Television Festival packed a punch. Here’s everything that went down.
Christine Baranski
The day kicked off with a standing ovation as Christine Baranski was honored with the ATX TV Festival Achievement in Television eXcellence Award. She charmed the crowd with stories from The Good Wife, The Good Fight, Cybil and Mamma Mia. But it was her reflections on Diane Lockhart that stayed with us.
One moment hit especially hard. When asked what she learned from playing such a powerful woman, she smiled and said something we’ll never forget: “If you have real power, you don’t have to tell people. You walk into the room and they just feel it.”
The Gilded Age
Next, we joined Baranski again on stage alongside her Gilded Age co-stars Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector. From strict right-handed etiquette in the 1800s to custom-fit corsets, the stories were rich and hilarious. Coon revealed how quickly she learned to get in and out of those elaborate costumes. And Baransky reminded us that while she once wore a latex suit for a role, nothing compares to a full corset.
Edi Patterson
The casting spotlight panel gave love to performers who often go unrecognized. Our Texas pride was glowing when Edi Patterson was highlighted. Her work in The Righteous Gemstones is unforgettable, and it was a joy to see her celebrated for the range she brings to every role.
Hacks and Scandal fan favorite Dan Bucatinsky was also in attendance. His stories had the audience roaring and really dialed in.
Carrie Preston
Ladies of the Law featured crime drama leads Carrie Preston (Elsbeth), Skye P. Marshall (Matlock) and Kristen Vangsness (Criminal Minds). Marshall passionately shared her drastic career change from the corporate world to acting at 28 years old. She encouraged the crowd to “Dare to suck” and try something new. She also highlighted that Matlock’s character, played by the iconic Kathy Bates, made a career change in her 70s. It’s never too late to be true to yourself.
As a brand lead by a woman who made a career change in her 40s, we can definitely stand by that statement!
The Leftovers
The Leftovers fans are die hard. People traveled from all over the country for their reunion panel, making pit stops in Lockhart to check out the main filming locations. Co-Creators Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta were joined on stage by cast members Carrie Coon, Amy Brenneman, Ann Dowd and director Mimi Leder. The esteem for this show was felt throughout the Paramount. Fans were hanging on every word shared during the panel and once the Q&A opened, the audience charged the microphones promoting thoughtful and heartfelt discussions.
Mad Men
Those opening credits bring it all back. Jon Hamm and John Slattery reunited for a Mad Men panel that brought laughter, nostalgia and the kind of quiet respect that only a truly great series can carry. Hamm spoke about the emotional weight of Don Draper, while Slattery reflected on the legacy they’ve left behind. It was heartfelt, iconic and reminded us why Mad Men will always be in a league of its own.
A Grand Finale: Bill Lawrence and Friends
To close out, we attended one of the most joy-filled panels of the day. Bill Lawrence & Friends took the stage. And by friends, we mean the absolute dream team: Brett Goldstein, Zach Braff, Josh Hopkins and Phil Dunster.
They talked Scrubs, Ted Lasso (yes, a new season is coming) and they opened with Shrinking. The discussion included how it came to life, and how personal it is for many of them.
But the thread that ran through it all was gratitude for writers. They consistently gave credit to the earlier writer’s panel and reminded everyone in the room that without the writers, none of this would exist. That humility mixed with so much laughter made for a perfect ending to day three.
