TV Talk: Lower Burrell native puts ‘Best Foot Forward'; Point Park grad stars in ‘Sandman,’ ‘Quantum Leap’

Lower Burrell native Joy Suprano began acting professionally, largely in TV, more than a decade ago. Her first series regular role to see the light of day arrives in the new Apple TV+ kids and family show “Best Foot Forward,” now streaming its first season.

The series, based on the book “Just Don’t Fall” by Josh Sundquist, follows home schooler Josh Dubin as he moves into a public middle school. Josh’s mom (Suprano) worries about how his prosthetic leg will be received by other students.

“There were members of the limb-different community and disability community behind the camera as well, not just in front of it,” Suprano said by phone last week. “It created such an incredible environment. This project, by far, has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life.”

Starring in a series for kids and families also allowed Suprano to share her work for the first time with her 7-year-old son.

The 1998 Lower Burrell High School graduate got her start in entertainment as a dancer. Dance lessons led to singing lessons, which led to acting lessons.

“It was in high school when we started tapping into all of the incredible things that Pittsburgh had to offer as far as the musical theater world,” said Suprano, who did high school musicals (“Crazy for You,” “Annie”) and got involved with what is now Pittsburgh Musical Theater. “I finally met kids that were like me and wanted to do what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. … Then I felt like I was ready to move to New York City because I had all of this professional experience in a town that’s known for its theater, not just its Super Bowl rings.”

A role in “Arsenic and Old Lace” at a regional theater in Indianapolis followed, along with admission to Julliard. Suprano graduated in 2008 and now lives in New Jersey with her husband, New Kensington native Devin Hannah (they met at a high school graduation party).

In addition to “Best Foot Forward,” Suprano has a recurring role on Starz’s “Hightown” as a police department secretary.

“She’s kind of the comedic relief of the police department,” Suprano said. “The lead of that show, Monica Raymond, and I are best friends. We went to Juilliard together and we graduated together.”

Suprano will be seen later this year in FX’s “Fleishman is in Trouble” as an Upper East Side Manhattan wife, mother and friend of the lead character, played by Claire Danes.

“Working with her and all of the incredible directors and producers on that was so much fun,” Suprano said. “That was a very long shoot, five or six months, and we just wrapped in July.”

Suprano mentors young actresses, including Kailey Hyman of Philadelphia, who was cast in Tom Hanks’ “A Man Called Otto,” which filmed in Pittsburgh earlier this year.

“I’m like, ‘Tell me where you’re filming! Take pictures! Go to Primanti Bros.!’ I’m setting up her days off, telling her what museums to visit, what restaurants to eat at,” Suprano said. “I’m really hopeful to get back there to be a part of the booming film and television industry in Pittsburgh. My managers know that I bleed black and gold, so they keep their eye on everything and anything that that could be a potential fit for me there.”

Taking on ‘Sandman’

Point Park University grad (2016) Mason Alexander Park, last seen in Netflix’s “Cowboy Bebop,” stars in Netflix fantasy series “The Sandman,” based on Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel.

Streaming Friday, the series follows skinny, pasty-skinned, spiky-haired, hollow-voiced emo goth Morpheus, AKA The Sandman, AKA Dream (Tom Sturridge, “Sweetbitter”), who must restore order to the dreaming and waking worlds after he’s imprisoned for a century. After he’s free, Dream tussles with his siblings, including Desire (Park).

“Desire is definitely stirring some things up,” Park said in a virtual interview last week. “Desire’s just enjoying and luxuriating in the opportunity to make Dream’s life as difficult as they possibly can.”

Like in “Cowboy Bebop,” Park’s character is introduced in season one with the intention of playing a larger role in the story in subsequent seasons.

“If we continue to make the show, we’ll get to explore a lot of the backstory in the lore,” Park said.

In addition to “Sandman,” Park co-stars in NBC’s “Quantum Leap” sequel series (10 p.m. Sept. 19, WPXI-TV), playing the inventor of a new “Quantum Leap” artificial intelligence unit.

Deadline.com reported the “Leap” pilot likely won’t air as the series premiere following a showrunner switch (not a good sign; see also: “Firefly”). Park said plot points from the pilot will be repurposed in the episode that will air first so it has the requisite introductions.

“As fans of the original know, when the show ended, Sam never made it home,” Park said of the character played by Scott Bakula, who has not yet signed on to reprise his role in the sequel series. “That is true in the lore of our version, so we’re all trying to figure out how we can get back to him and try to help him.”

WQED preps national show

WQED is producing “Just Futures,” a media initiative that includes a one-hour documentary for national PBS distribution that explores the issue of reparations for Black people.

Darryl Ford Williams, who retired as WQED vice president of content in early 2021, executive produces “Just Futures” with the first program expected to air on PBS in 2023.

Kept/canceled/rebooted

PBS Kids ordered a second season of the animated children’s series “Alma’s Way,” produced by Pittsburgh-based Fred Rogers Productions, to debut in fall 2023.

Paramount+ renewed its “iCarly” reboot for a third season; Freeform ordered “Good Trouble” season five.

AMC+ renewed “Moonhaven,” which featured Mt. Lebanon native Joe Manganiello in season one, for a second season.

“Batgirl,” originally announced as a movie for HBO Max co-starring Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton reprising his role as Batman, has been shelved. Warner Bros. Discovery will not release the nearly completed film on any platform, opting instead to take a tax write-off on the $90 million project.

It’s one and done for “First Kill” (Netflix), “Gordita Chronicles” (HBO Max) and “The First Lady” (Showtime).

Amazon’s Prime Video canceled “The Wilds” after two seasons.

The CW’s “The Flash” will end with a 13-episode ninth season in 2023.

Amazon’s Prime Video will reboot the 1989 movie “Road House” as a new film starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

“Everybody Still Hates Chris,” a reimagined animated version of the 2005-09 live-action comedy “Everybody Hates Chris” with Chris Rock now as a teen, was ordered to series for Paramount+ and Comedy Central.

‘Days’ leaves NBC

After almost six decades, daytime soap “Days of Our Lives” will depart NBC and relocate to streaming service Peacock effective Sept. 12.

Peacock is included with a Comcast cable subscription or can be purchased a la carte for $5 per month (or $10 monthly for an ad-free version).

NBC says “NBC News Daily” will replace “Days” but it’s unclear if WPXI-TV will carry that news broadcast or if the station has the ability to opt for other programming. Queries to Channel 11 executives for clarification were not returned.

You can reach TV writer Rob Owen at rowen@triblive.com or 412-380-8559. Follow Rob on Twitter or Facebook. Ask TV questions by email or phone. Please include your first name and location.