Best Moments from ATX TV Festival 2025: Seth Meyers, Billy Bob Thornton, a ‘King of the Hill’ Revival and More
A look back at standout panels, premieres and conversations from Austin’s annual celebration of television
The festival that celebrates television returned to downtown Austin from May 28–31, bringing a hot lineup of talent, programming, and surprises. True to its spirit, ATX TV Festival was exactly what an event honoring the medium should be — casual, communal and heartwarming. No endless waiting in lines, no overstuffed schedule. Instead, the festival struck a careful balance between thought-provoking panels and easygoing social events, making it feel less like an industry event and more like, in the words of organizers, “a TV camp for grown-ups.”
Here were a few of the standout moments from the festival:
Opening night with Seth Meyers
Fans of “SNL” and “Late Night” were in for a treat at Thursday’s panel, “Late Nights, Day Drinking, and Closer Looks with Seth Meyers.” Nearly a decade into his run on “Late Night,” Meyers has carved out a format that feels entirely his own — with standout segments like “Day Drinking,” where he gets hilariously inebriated with celebrity guests, and “Corrections,” in which he responds to nitpicky YouTube commenters he affectionately calls jackals. During the panel, Meyers reflected on his career trajectory and the joy of reuniting with old castmates for the SNL 50 anniversary special. Endearing and self-deprecating, he had the crowd smiling from ear to ear, casually dropping sharp one-liners and personal anecdotes. It’s no wonder Lorne Michaels saw in him the makings of a great late-night host — Meyers has the rare ability to charm a room with ease.
Tony Gilroy and Beau Willimon on “Andor”
Whether or not one considers themselves a Star Wars fan, “Andor” has quickly become must-watch television, due in large part to the razor-sharp writing of creator Tony Gilroy. Best known for Michael Clayton, Rogue One, and the first three Bourne movies, Gilroy was joined at the fest by fellow “Andor” writer Beau Willimon for a deep-dive conversation about the acclaimed Disney+ series. The Emmy-nominated show follows Cassian Andor’s evolution from disillusioned thief to rebel hero. With the second and final season having just wrapped in May, the pair reflected on the show’s writing and casting process. Gilroy also revealed that Disney gave him only one creative note across five years and a $650 million budget: he couldn’t say “f— the Empire.” Instead, he was told to go with “fight the Empire.”
Netflix’s “The Waterfront” Premiere
On Thursday, ATX TV Fest hosted the world premiere of the pilot episode of Netflix’s “The Waterfront,” set for release on June 19. After the screening, creator Kevin Williamson, alongside cast members Holt McCallany, Jake Weary, Melissa Benoit, Rafael L. Silva and Danielle Campbell, joined journalist Hunter Ingram to discuss the show. The new series follows the ensuing drama of the wealthy North Carolina Buckley family after a fishing barge sinks under shady circumstances that could include infidelity, drug circles, or both. The show’s ripe with heightened drama, action and maybe even some romance that will ultimately end in drama. With its addictive storyline, intriguing characters and sharp humor, the show’s binge-worthiness was clear — and even before its official release, “The Waterfront” had already hooked one audience in Austin.
“King of the Hill” Revival
Sixteen years after its original 13-season run on FOX, “King of the Hill” is making its return. Austin fans got a first look at the revival, along with stories from the cast and creators. Co-creators and executive producers Mike Judge and Greg Daniels joined showrunner Saladin K. Patterson and cast members Pamela Adlon, Lauren Tom and Toby Huss to discuss what it was like returning to Arlen, Texas. While they kept details under wraps, the group shared memories from recording sessions and gave a glimpse into the new series with a few sneak-peek clips. Judge even slipped into his Hank Hill voice to tease the crowd: “I’ll be back August 4, and I’m pissed off.”
After the panel, badgeholders joined a themed cookout across the street — complete with Alamo Beer (the show’s fictional brand), cocktails, burgers and Frito pie courtesy of LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue. Guests could also snap a photo with cutouts of Hank and the gang in front of the show’s iconic wooden fence — beers in hand, channeling the cast’s signature alleyway hangout.
“Golden Girls” 40th Anniversary
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of “The Golden Girls,” which aired the first of its seven total seasons in 1985, ATX TV festival hosted a script-reading with a celebrity cast, including names like Constance Zimmer, Carrie Preston, Yvette Nicole Brown and Pamela Adlon, followed by a conversation about the lasting impact of the show on popular culture. The presentation opened with musical duo Uncle Roy and Spice performing the show’s well-known jingles, including “Mr. Sandman” and “Thank You for Being a Friend,” a cappella.
With its nontraditional cast of four senior women and its comedic, lighthearted approach to serious social issues, the beloved series left its permanent stamp on TV show history. Despite containing subject matter far from what Hollywood generally considers hit quality, the panel remarked on how “The Golden Girls” proved that age and gender pose no limit on the comedic quality or relevance of a story and characters.
“Landman” receives the Texas Made Award
Coinciding with the recent passage of Senate Bill 22, which would boost in-state film production incentives, ATX TV Fest presented the first-ever Texas Made Award to the Texas-based Paramount+ series “Landman.” The new honor recognizes not just Texas-born talent and storytelling, but productions that strengthen the state’s film industry by creating opportunities for local crews and giving Texans space to tell their own stories.
The festival introduced the award in partnership with Media for Texas, a nonprofit focused on making the state more competitive for film and television production. Co-creator and executive producer Christian Wallace accepted the award alongside cast members Billy Bob Thornton, Jacob Lofland and Michelle Randolph, who reflected on the realities of oil rig life, the closeness of the cast and the show’s early success. Both the Texas Made Award and “Landman” mark meaningful moments for the state as it steps into a new chapter of filmmaking.