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Peter Krause and Rachel Keller ignore trends, embrace network TV

Neal Justin, The Minnesota Star Tribune on

Published in Entertainment News

MINNESOTA — Network TV may eventually go the way of the telegram and rotary phone. But don’t expect its extinction anytime soon.

Yes, streaming services and cable TV usually offer meatier material and cushier work hours — and they won an overwhelming majority of the Emmy Awards at this month’s ceremony. But top talents, including prominent Minnesotans, keep returning to the tried-and-true model.

“I have nothing bad to say about streaming or cable. I just don’t see any reason that network television can’t rise to the challenge,“ said Minnesota native Peter Krause, who stars in the new drama ”Line of Fire,” airing at 10 p.m. ET Mondays on NBC. ”There are certain limitations we have. We can’t say certain words. We can’t show a certain amount of skin. But I think the stories are as compelling as anything in the streaming world.”

In the series, the Gustavus Adolphus College graduate plays the patriarch of a dysfunctional family whose members are employed by various law enforcement agencies. Their squabbles multiply when the entire clan is threatened by mysterious forces. Krause’s character’s relationship with his wife (Hope Davis) is tricky; they’re separated, but still knock boots when the urge hits them.

“This is the most complex, emotional relationship I’ve faced as an actor,” said Krause, whose previous shows include HBO’s “Six Feet Under,” NBC’s “Parenthood” and Fox’s “9-1-1.” “They have all kinds of history. It’s not going to be wrapped up in a bow.”

Rachel Keller, who grew up in St. Paul, also has lots to work with in the new CBS drama, “Cupertino,” in which Silicon Valley attorneys do battle with tech giants. Her character’s conservative values often conflict with her desire to score in the courtroom.

“I grew up in the Midwest and I remember wanting to get out,” said Keller, whose show debuts at 10 p.m. on Oct. 8. “Not that I would never return, but you sort of want to make a name for yourself. I think she probably feels that.”

Keller was praised for performances in “Legion” and the second season of “Fargo.” Both FX series scored over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. Today’s networks show rarely get those kind of accolades.

ABC’s “Black-ish” and “Abbott Elementary” are the only broadcast series to get Emmy nominations for outstanding comedy in the past five years. The only network program to compete for outstanding drama in that time span was NBC’s “This is Us.”

But fans don’t always care which shows amass the most awards.

“When I go back to Minnesota, I got a lot of attention for ‘Parenthood’ and ‘9-1-1,’” said Krause, whose character on the Fox series was killed off last year. “The entertainment industry has lots of focus on streaming and cable. But people still watch network TV.”

Still, the options are becoming scarcer: In the last four months of 1996, nearly 40 shows debuted, including “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “7th Heaven.” Only six network series will premiere this fall.

But some theorize that the appetite for broadcast entertainment may increase as household budgets get tighter.

 

“You have to remember: A lot of people don’t have money anymore,” said Jamie Lee Curtis, an executive producer and recurring actor on NBC’s “Newlyweds,” a traditional sitcom premiering at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 23 (husband-and-wife Tim Daly and Téa Leoni play an opposites-attract couple). “NBC is going to look like geniuses for bringing back the thing real people want, and want for free.”

In February, NBC plans to launch “Sunset P.I.,” in which Jake Johnson (“New Girl”) and Jane Levy (“Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”) play bickering private eyes. Like “Newlyweds,” it’s a sitcom the whole family can watch together without cringing.

“We love our forays into streaming comedies, things that are very challenging, experimental and weird,” said “Sunset” co-creator Luke Del Tredici, whose credits include HBO’s “Bored to Death,” Peacock’s “Killing It” and NBC/Fox’s “Brooklyn 99.” “But we really wanted to make network TV that’s comforting, that’s meant to be on every week and that appeals to a broad audience.”

Writers like Del Tredici may be wary of working for networks, which usually insist on 18 to 22 episodes a season, almost double the commitment you have to make for other platforms. But Robert King, who created “Cupertino” with his wife, Michelle King, welcomes the challenge.

“They talk about how streamers don’t know how to do 20 episodes a year anymore. But writers do,” said King, who previously gave us “The Good Wife” and “Elsbeth” (which returns Oct. 8). “You don’t have a lot of non-writing producers looking over your shoulder because of the speed with which everything needs to be done.”

Hope Davis, the “Line of Fire” star who has done everything from Broadway to independent film, admits she may have hesitated at the lengthy commitment to a network series in her younger days. But that’s changed.

“Yeah, we’ll do more episodes than you might elsewhere, but if you love the project and you love the people, it’s a great thing,” she said. “I’d love to do this for five years.”

Attracting big names to network shows still can be difficult. The most buzzed-about new series is probably Apple TV’s “Brothers,” a comedy starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. They’re only doing eight episodes, which frees up the in-demand stars to work on movies (and Salesforce commercials).

But network TV hasn’t given up on marquee names.

It was announced earlier this month that four-time Emmy winner Edie Falco will headline “Katie Greaves,” a legal drama set to premiere next year.

It’ll air on Fox.


©2026 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

 

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