TV at SXSW

The biggest TV stars and hottest shows coming to SXSW 2015

Sure, there will be film stars and movie premieres at SXSW, but the small screen also gets tons of recognition. Here's a rundown of some of your favorite television shows and stars making appearances at SXSW 2015.

House of Cards
Fresh off its season three release, House of Cards creator Beau Willimon will take attendees through the process of creating his hit Netflix series at the House of Cards from Page to Screen workshop.
Sunday, March 15 at 3:30 pm at Stephen F. Austin; Film, Gold or Platinum badge required

VEEP: Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Matt Walsh and Sam Richardson
The stars of the award-winning HBO show will be discussing political humor and why satirical shows like VEEP are a hot commodity during The VEEP Speaks panel.
Monday, March 16 at 11 am at the Austin Convention Center; Film, Interactive, Gold or Platinum badge required

The Walking Dead: Robert Kirkman
If you're a true Dead Head, then you're familiar with Robert Kirkman. Kirkman not only created the original The Walking Dead comics, but also writes and produces the popular AMC show. Find him in the spotlight at Creative Activism: A Discussion with Robert Kirkman. Bonus: Kirkman will be a guest on this panel, as well.
Saturday, March 14 at 11 am at the Austin Convention Center; Film, Interactive, Gold or Platinum badge required

Last Man on Earth and American Crime
The masterminds behind the new shows Last Man on Earth and American Crime are teaming up for one epic SXSW panel. During Creating the Shows That We Like, some of the hottest filmmakers and television producers will be discussing, well, how they get away with creating shows that they actually like.
Monday, March 16 at 12:30 pm at the Austin Convention Center; Film, Interactive, Gold or Platinum badge required

Community: Dan Harmon, Joel McHale and Jim Rash
Creator Dan Harmon along with actors Joel McHale (Jeff Winger) and Jim Rash (Dean Craig Pelton) will discuss Community's growth and the show's transition to Yahoo! at The Cast of Community on Moving to Digital. Bonus: See Dan Harmon the night before during a special recording of his podcast Harmontown.
Sunday, March 15 at 11 am at the Austin Convention Center; Film, Interactive, Gold or Platinum badge required

Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Jimmy Kimmel
Didn't get into one of the Jimmy Kimmel Live! Austin screenings? Don't worry! You still have a chance see your favorite talk show host in action during SXSW. Kimmel will be discussing how he went from radio host to late-night TV during A Conversation with Jimmy Kimmel.
Saturday, March 14 at 5 pm at the Austin Convention Center; Film, Interactive, Gold or Platinum badge required

Game of Thrones
GoT is an otherworldly experience. Learn how HBO and the network's cohorts are bringing Westeros to the next level during Game of Thrones: Creating Immersive Entertainment. (Sorry, the GoT actors won't be in attendance.)
Monday, March 16 at 5 pm at the Four Seasons; All badge types allowed

Comedy Bang! Bang!
Scott Aukerman's podcast/show combo is all over the SXSW map. Aukerman will be recording one podcast on Saturday with Nick Kroll (The League, The Kroll Show), Horatio Sanz (Saturday Night Live), Luaren Lapkus (Orange is the New Black) and Colin Hanks (Fargo). The Sunday recording will feature James Adomian and Mary Holland. Bonus: The guests from Saturday's podcast taping will also be doing a live reading of Aukerman and Adomian's unproduced TV pilot.
Saturday, March 14 at 6 pm at Esther's Follies; Sunday, March 15 at 4 pm at Esther's Follies; Film, Interactive, Gold or Platinum badge required

Undateable: Chris D'Elia, Ron Funches, Rick Glassman and Brent Morin
The comedic cast of this NBC show is making two SXSW appearances. Catch the Undateable Comedy Tour on Sunday night at Esther's Follies. Bonus: catch the panel with executive producer Bill Lawrence.
Sunday, March 15 at 10 pm at Esther's Follies; Film, Interactive, Gold or Platinum badge required

This Is Not Happening
This Comedy Central mini-series from Ari Shaffer airs its last episode during SXSW, so Shaffer and some of your favorite comedians will be hosting a live version in memoriam. This is Not Happeningwill feature unbelievably true stories from the likes of Nick Thune, Jay Oakerson and more.
Tuesday, March 17 at 10 pm at Esther's Follies; All badge types allowed

Wilmer Valderrama and Diane Guerrero
Actors Valderrama (That '70s Show) and Guerrero (Orange is the New Black) will join journalist Leon Krauze during The New American Story: Latinos in the Media.
Tuesday, March 17 at 3:30 pm at the Austin Convention Center; All badge types allowed

Doug Benson
Doug Benson needs no introduction. Whether it's Best Week Ever, Super High Me, @midnight or Doug Loves Movies, the man is everywhere — especially at SXSW. If you're a fan of his podcast, you can catch him during two Doug Loves Movies recordings on Monday and Saturday, as well as a special "movie interruption" of Leprechaun 3 with Master Pancake on St. Patrick's Day. Benson will also make an appearance on the All Things Comedy panel and performing during Comedy Spring Break on Wednesday.
Multiple appearances; Badge types vary

The cast of Community.

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Courtesy of Yahoo!

The cast of Community.

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Oh What A Beautiful World

Willie Nelson adds 77th solo studio album to his beautiful world

Photo by Pamela Springsteen

Willie Nelson is releasing a new album just in time for his 92nd birthday.

Willie Nelson may be creeping toward 100 years old, but he shows no signs of slowing down. The Red Headed Stranger will release his 77th solo studio album via Legacy Recordings on Friday, April 25 — just in time for his 92nd birthday four days later.

Available digitally, on CD, and in two single LP vinyl formats (black vinyl widely and white vinyl exclusively through Willie’s D2C store), Oh What A Beautiful World will feature Nelson’s new interpretations of twelve classic songs written or co-written by Rodney Crowell. Nelson’s career has often intersected with Crowell’s; he recorded a Rodney Crowell song in 1983 (“Till I Gain Control” for his Take It to the Limit album with Waylon Jennings) and more recently in 2024 (“The Border” for his album of the same name).

The new release will not be the first time Nelson has dedicated an entire album to one songwriter: 2023’s I Don’t Know a Thing about Love honored the work of Harlan Howard; To Lefty from Willie celebrated Lefty Frizzel in 1977; Sings Kristofferson (1979) covered Kris Kristofferson; and 2016’s Summertime recorded pop standards from George Gershwin. His most recent album, Last Leaf on the Tree (2024), included covers of songs by Beck, Tom Waits, Neil Young, and Nina Simone.

The first single on this new record is also the album’s title track and features Crowell himself in a duet with Nelson. Originally released as the closing track on Crowell's 2014 album Tarpaper Sky, the song evokes the poignant passing of time while Nelson’s interpretation shares a fresh sense of the deep human need to appreciate the beauty in each season of life.

Oh What A Beautiful World Willie Nelson album cover Album cover for Oh What A Beautiful World.Photo courtesy of Willie Nelson

The album includes twelve Crowell compositions in total, spanning 50 years of the artist’s work from early tracks like 1976’s “Banks Of The Old Bandera” (recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker) to early 2000’s songs written for Keith Urban and Tim McGraw, plus four cuts from Crowell’s beloved 2010s albums.

Longtime Nelson collaborator Buddy Cannon produced the album, working with an esteemed studio band featuring Bobby Terry (acoustic guitar, steel guitar, electric guitar), James Mitchell (electric guitar), Jim "Moose" Brown (B-3 organ, piano, Wurlitzer), Mickey Raphael (harmonica), Fred Eltringham (drums, percussion) and Glenn Worf (bass, upright bass) with background vocals by Wyatt Beard, Buddy Cannon, and Melonie Cannon.

As his 77th studio solo studio album, Oh What A Beautiful World also marks Nelson’s 154th album, according to Texas Monthly's interactive All Willie Nelson Albums Ranked list. The announcement coincides with the 10th installment of the Texas legend’s yearly Luck Reunion, as well as the recent news that Nelson’s famous Fourth of July picnic will return to Austin this summer.

Oh What a Beautiful World is available for pre-order, and the single is already available to listen to here.

willie nelson new releases music

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