A week ago I descended upon the busy streets of downtown Austin for the 14th season of the ATX TV Festival. Created by TV fanatics Emily Gipson and Caitlin McFarland, the annual event celebrates the medium’s rich diverse history and future. From reality series like Finding Mr. Christmas to exclusive screenings like Netflix’s The Waterfront, there’s something for everyone who’s held a remote control.

Across four days I indulged in panels, screenings, happy hours, and award ceremonies celebrating my favorite pastime. Below are the highlights by day.

Day One

Thursday jumpstarted with an intimate conversation with comedic legend George Wallace. Marking 50 years in the game, Wallace approached his first leading role in Prime Video’s Clean Slate. Created by his writing partner of 18 years, Dan Ewen, the series focused on starting over as Wallace played a father reconciling with his transgender daughter, played by Laverne Cox.

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Wallace’s story was a beam of inspiration, encouraging audience members that “It’s good to be good. No matter what.”

Next, I experienced an incredible panel with Andor’s showrunner Tony Gilroy, and writer Beau Willimon. The two discussed how they transformed the fantastical space opera into a grounded, mature study of how fascism exasperates a galaxy. They entertained how Disney gave them $650 million to create a Star Wars show, and the only note was not to say “Fuck the Empire” in season one. Stay tuned for a more in-depth interview with these two in a few weeks.

Next was the world premiere of Netflix’s The Waterfront, a new series from Dawson’s Creek and Scream creator, Kevin Williamson. Shot in Williamson’s native Wilmington, North Carolina, the show reflects his childhood, especially the familial relationships between father and son. After the screening, Williamson was joined by members of the cast for a spoiler-free conversation. The Waterfront premieres June 19.

Finally, Thursday closed with Seth Meyers. Celebrating 11 years of Late Night with Seth Meyers, the SNL alumnus discussed his early improv inspirations, the years he spent in Amsterdam, and the surreal moment he was awarded his current hosting gig. He also touched on how the work he does, specifically his “Closer Look” segment, is a way to exorcise his dread in the current political climate. It brings him joy.

Day Two

Friday honored two incredible storytellers with inaugural awards. First, Debora Cahn was presented with the Impact of Storytelling Award. Cahn started her career as a DC intern when a callout for Washington writers landed her a gig on NBC’s The West Wing. From there, her talents took her to Grey’s Anatomy, Showtime’s Homeland, and her series, Netflix’s The Diplomat. Renewed for a third season, the show starring Keri Russel and Rufus Sewell is a culmination of an idea Chan had nearly 15 years ago. She always wanted to write about Americans working in other countries but had to mask that heavy, messy material in the relationships between the characters.

The second — the Showrunner Award — went to the prolific TV writer, David E. Kelley. The 31-Emmy-nominated TV showrunner has penned some of TV’s greatest comedies and dramas: LA Law, Chicago Hope, Picket Fences, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Big Little Lies, and Presumed Innocent. Starting as a lawyer, Kelley was mentored by Steven Baacho who brought him onto LA Law. Decades later, Kelley stated that there was no secret formula to his success. His character-based shows concentrate on making sure the audience realizes people are more good than bad.

Next, I reconnected with some familiar faces: the people behind AMC’s Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe. Creatives Rolin Jones, Mark Johnson, John Lee Hancock, and Mark Lafferty discussed the networks’ adaptations of Interview with the Vampire, Mayfair Witches, and the upcoming Talamasca: The Secret Order.

Season three of Interview is currently in production and will follow Sam Reid’s Lestat Lioncourt in a new era: rock star. The series is set to premiere next year. Witches will also arrive next year and take Alexandra Daddario’s Rowan to Salem, where she’ll discover there are more covens than just the Mayfair clan. Finally, October will bring the third series, a spy thriller within this supernatural world. Talamasca will follow a secret faction that monitors the creatures that go bump in the night.

The next panel I attended focused on the industry itself, with those responsible for pitching shows to networks. The Hollywood Reporter’s Daniel Feinberg sat down with three developers from different studios on the current state of TV development. They all spoke honestly about the current challenges facing their craft. Networks and studios are risk-averse, opting for recognizable IP rather than an original story. However, they welcomed the challenge, embracing the change to be innovative and think outside the box.

Finally, the night hit a crescendo with Hulu giving attendees a sneak peek at the King of the Hill revival. Co-creators Greg Daniels and Mike Judge discussed the series return after a 15-year hiatus. They were joined by showrunner Saladin K. Patterson and voice actors Pamela Adlon, Lauren Tom, and Toby Huss. Fans can expect the new 10-episode season to arrive on August 4.

Sadly it was also the final public appearance of the late Jonathan Joss, who voiced John Redcorn in the series. He reportedly returned for the revival as well. Unfortunately, Joss was shot and killed in an alleged hate crime near his San Antonio home. He was 59.