A quick look back at some of what got this critic talking about TV this week:
THE MAIN EVENT: Now that's how you do a TV debate, as the veep candidates squared off Thursday night in a lively encounter that made for great TV, unlike last week's unfocused and lost-in-the-weeds presidential face-off. Rousing, contentious, scrappy, with an actively engaged moderator...
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Parenthood already has one of the biggest casts on network TV, but it's ensemble just keeps growing. Last season added Adam and Kristina's baby daughter, Nora, and saw the return of Sarah's ex, Mark Cyr (Jason Ritter). For Season 4, which premieres on Sept. 11 at 10/9c, the NBC drama has added a few more fresh faces. There's Victor, Julia and Joel's adopted son and, of course, Emmy winner Ray Romano, who will play yet another love interest for the eldest Braverman daughter. "I've been talking to Ray a bunch about his character and he's really excited about doing it," executive producer Jason Katims tells TVGuide.com. "He's a fan."
But Sarah's complicated love life — including whether or not she accepted Mark's surprise proposal — is far from the only obstacle the Bravermans will face. Katims filled us in on Romano's "acerbic" new guy, Amber's promising new romance, Julia's tough juggling act and whether there's another new Braverman baby on the way for Crosby (Dax Shepard) and Jasmine (Joy Bryant). As usual, it sounds like you should have your Kleenex ready....
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If you're still drying your eyes after last week's emotional goodbye between Kristina (Monica Potter) and Alex (Michael B. Jordan) on Parenthood, you're not alone. Just don't even think about putting the tissues away yet.
"I had no idea that this scene would move people. Michael and I just did it and it was like, 'OK, that was good.' But I came in last week and our crew members were talking about that scene," Potter tells TVGuide.com. "I thought, 'Wow that's pretty incredible that people are having this strong of a reaction. Which is great — it was very moving and touching to me.'" However, just as Kristina and the Bravermans say goodbye to one (almost) member of the family, they will welcome a new arrival with the birth of their baby in Tuesday's episode, titled "Nora," airing at 10/9c on NBC. Potter talked with TVGuide.com about Kristina's surprising delivery room partner, the art of pretending to give birth (hint: it involves grape jelly and cream cheese!) and the high emotions ahead for Kristina that come with this new bundle of joy...
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Brace yourself, Parenthood fans. The Braverman clan is about to expand. Twice.
In the second season finale, Julia (Erika Christensen) and Joel (Sam Jaeger) set their sights on adoption just as Kristina (Monica Potter) and Adam (Peter Krause) got the surprising news about baby No. 3.
The two new additions are certainly cause for celebration, but after Julia and Joel tried unsuccessfully for months to have a child of their own, Kristina's unplanned pregnancy will be a tough pill to swallow.
NBC Upfronts red carpet scoop: Will Parenthood do a time jump?
"Adoption can be quite a process, and then at the same time, Kristina having gotten pregnant, that's heartbreaking for me to think about Julia finding out...
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Peter Krause's Parenthood daughter, Haddie Braverman (played by Sarah Ramos), is about to score a touchdown with one of the football players from Friday Night Lights. Michael B. Jordan, who played troubled East Dillon High quarterback Vince Howard, who Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) took under his wing in Season 4, has signed on as the new love interest of the rebellious Braverman teen...
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