Comic-Con@Home: Bless the Harts Q&A and First-Look at Season 2

When put up beside the Animation Domination roster Bless the Harts looks like a baby compared to veteran programs like The SimpsonsBob’s Burgers, and Family Guy.

However, the series headed by Kristen Wiig has quickly established itself in the new era of the Fox lineup.  Bless the Harts gained praise after its premiere in Fall 2019 for being powered by a majority female cast and showing a more realistic side at lower-middle-class America.

Despite sticking to the typical Fox formula of semi-family focused fun, Bless the Harts has been able to define many of its own rules. Which has carried over in how they present their panel for San Diego Comic-Con’s 2020 quarantine edition, Comic-Con@Home.

Where most of the panels through the nerdtastic weekend have tried to keep their virtual panels as familiar as possible, the cast and crew of Bless the Harts were not afraid to shake things up. In place of the Zoom meeting styled conversations, these creatives opted for the opportunity to have a paint and wine night.

Stars Kristen Wiig (Jenny), Maya Rudolph (Betty Hart), Ike Barinholtz (Wayne), Jillian Bell (Violet), and Fortune Feimster (Brenda) were joined by Executive Producers Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Andy Bobrow to paint their respective characters within the show. 

Sure, there was a dialogue for the fans to gain insights into one of Fox’s new hit shows. But the paint and wine took precedence. And for good reason, as each painting is now available to buy through auction at charitybuzz.com. All proceeds raised will be gifted to the NAACP Empowerment Program.

Although distracted, the panellists did manage to squeak in a few teasers for the upcoming sophomore season of the show.

Ike Barinholtz was ecstatic to mention that the new episodes will feature his favourite character that he “has ever played in anything.” A Halloween special will feature the family stranded inside of an abandoned mall like any good zombie film. And guest stars Natasha Lyonne (Orange Is the New Black), Kristen Schaal (Bob’s Burgers), and Ken Jeong (Community) are set to be making an appearance.

The virtual showcase was also the first chance to see some exclusive material from the upcoming season. 

One clip featured Betty aggressively yelping for someone to retrieve her boxed wine while Jenny and Wayne converse on how to deal with her unruly mother. The panel concluded with a new scene involving Jenny and Betty bonding while struggling to deal with an avoidant Violet.

And how did those paintings turn out in the end?

Well, most of the panellists deserve an A for effort and should keep to voice-acting. However, Maya Rudolph’s piece was surprisingly well done, and Kristen Wiig’s could have been a direct cell from the show.

Bless the Harts season two is set to premiere on September 27, 2020, during Fox’s Animation Domination lineup.

You can watch the full Bless the Harts panel on the Comic-Con@Home website or on YouTube.