Conversation with Josh Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Kristen Bell, Daveed Diggs and more about 'Central Park'

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  • Jill Weinlein - Chief Los Angeles Theatre Critic

Watch how Broadway star Josh Gad, a fan of Bob’s Burgers, approached the creators of the show - Loren Bouchard and Nora Smith, about his idea for a new creative animation musical. When they gave him the green light, Gad approached friends Leslie Odom Jr., Kristen Bell, Daveed Diggs, Stanley Tucci, and Kathryn Hahn and others to star in this new Apple TV series.

The Paley Center for Media now is featuring Conversations with the Stars & Creators of Central Park on Paley @Home presented by Citi on Paley YouTube. It’s a fun virtual panel to watch about how this new Apple show got its start. Entertainment Weekly’s Kirsten Baldwin moderates the discussion.

Topics include: Josh Gad's love of "Bob's Burgers" and interest in adding in a musical aspect; the creative advantages of animation; Kathryn Hahn's doubts about her singing abilities; recording dialogue from home during quarantine; the songwriting process from guest composers; Kristen Bell's favorite song in the show; the writers' research into the park's history; and hints about the rest of the season, including "unexpected surprises and songs."

Central Park is about the dysfunctional Tillerman family. Mr. Tillerman (Leslie Odom Jr.) is the park manager of Central Park. His wife Paige (Kathryn Hahn) is a journalist desperate to find a big story, and their kids Molly (Kristen Bell), a socially awkward teenager who has a huge world inside her brain, and brother Cole (Tituss Burgess) round out this family. 

When hotel heiress Bitsy Brandenham (Stanley Tucci) and Helen (Daveed Diggs), Bitsy’s assistant, confront the Tillerman’s to privatize Central Park and fill the space with housing and chain stores, the plot thickens.

Birdie (Josh Gad) narrates and sings the title song of the show. Learn about how many different talented songwriters have joined this show.

Fun fact: Leslie and Josh went to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh together. You can watch the entire chate here!

TVOnScreen Blog Writing Staff