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Texas native Matthew McConaughey welcomed viewers to the virtual ATX TV…from the Couch festival on Friday afternoon. Shortly after the festival announced the cancellation of several of its high-profile panel discussions, the Oscar winner gave a pre-recorded introduction to the event starting with his signature “Dazed and Confused” line, “All right, all right all right.” …
Texas native Matthew McConaughey welcomed viewers to the virtual ATX TV…from the Couch festival on Friday afternoon.
Shortly after the festival announced the cancellation of several of its high-profile panel discussions, the Oscar winner gave a pre-recorded introduction to the event starting with his signature “Dazed and Confused” line, “All right, all right all right.”
“McConaughey coming to you from my couch in my home to you in yours, welcoming you to the first ever ATX TV…from the Couch, virtual TV festival,” the 50-year-old actor said.
Speaking about the festival’s co-creators Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson, McConaughey continued, “They wanted to bring good people together to celebrate their favorite TV shows, while we’re doing that, drink margaritas, have some breakfast tacos and barbecue, all while watching TV on big screens at some of our favorite places, the historic Paramount Theater to the Alamo Draft House and Stephen F. Austin to the San Jose Hotel, and although we cannot physically gather to celebrate in those places this year, we’re still going to celebrate bringing Austin’s community of arts and culture, film, television and music, directly into your living rooms on your couch.”
He also commented about the benefits of watching the festival in one’s own home: no lines, no sweating in the Texas heat and no scheduling conflicts.
“Myself and ATX TV Festival believe in the power of story. We believe in its ability to bring people together and create a community,” he concluded. “Enjoy yourself and until we gather again next time, remember in the meantime, and all times, to celebrate your favorite TV and just keep livin’. Have a great festival.”
Earlier in the day, ATX — which was forced to go virtual this year because of the coronavirus pandemic — announced the cancellation of panels set for shows including “Scrubs,” “Cougar Town,” “Justified” and “One Day at a Time,” as well as the “Channel Changers” conversation, which had been set to feature the presidents of various networks, and the “Torchlighters” conversation with female creators and executives.
After the announcement, “Scrubs” star Zach Braff said that “out of respect for all that is going on in the world, we are going to reschedule our reunion panel” because, “It doesn’t feel appropriate to be being silly right now.”
Earlier in the week amid protests over the death of George Floyd, ATX said the festival would go on and that the event “will not shy away from difficult conversations, but lean into them, and amplify the voices that most need to be heard.”
The ATX TV Festival runs until Sunday, streaming content on the event’s YouTube channel.
