Though TV critics, stars, and executives are still meeting via Zoom sessions, the Television Critics Association 2022 winter press tour has officially begun. Instead of gathering in a Los Angeles ballroom and swapping germs definitely not a good idea as the omicron variant continues to sweep the country the press tour is again happening virtually.

While that means technical glitches may temporarily cut off participants comments in the middle of a sentence, or random sirens may blare in the background as somebody else is trying to make a point, the tour, as always, features TV creators, actors and producers trying to convince members of the TCA why their shows are worth watching.

The 2022 tour is just getting started. But already weve heard about new series, long-running stalwarts, and how the streaming world, and broadcast networks like ABC, can complement one another.

Amid discussions about the merits of individual shows, theres one fact that critics and TV creators can agree on: the number of original series just keeps growing.

As evidence, the annual FX content research report was recently released. As the report says, the estimated number of adult scripted original series across broadcast, cable and streaming services for the 2021 calendar year amounted to a whopping total of 559. Thats the highest number yet in the FX study, which goes back to 2002, when the scripted original series total was a relatively skimpy 182.

Some are good, some arent, but theres no denying that there are a whole lot of shows to try and keep track of, let alone choose from. To help add context, here are some highlights from the first week of the Television Critics Association 2022 virtual winter press tour.

Jimmy Kimmel hosts the long-running ABC late-night show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (Photo: ABC/Randy Holmes)ABC

Broadcast and streaming synergy, Greys Anatomy, Jimmy Kimmel, and more: During the COVID era, the virtual Television Critics Association press conferences have largely been missing sessions from TV executives. In a refreshing break from that, Craig Erwich, president for Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, took questions prior to panels devoted to Hulu, ABC and Freeform shows.

Erwich noted that the 2021 schedule included Hulus most-watched drama, Nine Perfect Strangers; its most-watched comedy, Only Murders in the Building; and its most-watched documentary and unscripted series, Sasquatch and The DAmelio Show.

Hulu, Erwich said, is about curation and consistency. We know our viewers. They want to be entertained. They love popular culture, and they are vast consumers of television.

Though he didnt mention Netflix -- the streaming giant that has been programming everything from kids shows to reality dating series -- Erwich perhaps was explaining why Hulu is different, when he said Hulu isnt about throwing anything at the wall to see what sticks. We are looking to carefully pick the perfect shows that pierce through popular culture with creative excellence.

At Hulu, Erwich said, we talk about one word over and over again -- addictive, shows you cant stop watching. He singled out as an example the upcoming series Pam & Tommy, which stars Lily James as Pamela Anderson and Sebastian Stan as Tommy Lee, and revisits the saga of the duos notorious sex tape.

The limited series, which premieres Feb. 2, is one of the wildest, sharpest, and most entertaining shows Hulu has ever launched, Erwich said, noting that the first photos and trailer from the show melted the Internet. The series, he said, will definitely be one of the most talked-about shows of the year.

At ABC, Erwich said, the focus is on community, and bringing people together through storytelling on the biggest unifying platform in the world. When ABC shows appear on Hulu shortly after being broadcast, Erwich said, they sometimes quadruple their reach.

The same shows are being accessed by different audiences on different platforms, Erwich said. And given the median age of Hulu viewers is nearly 25 percent younger than ABCs audience, its a very complementary relationship, with minimal audience duplication.

The synergy also works, Erwich said, because broadcast TV, such as ABC, is still the greatest launchpad for shows to reach the broadest possible audience.

Asked about the 94th Oscars, Erwich confirmed the ceremony will have a host, though he offered no further details about who that might be. Erwich didnt say whether Jimmy Kimmel, who has hosted the Oscars in the past, might return. In addition, Kimmels current contract to host Jimmy Kimmel Live! ends in 2022, and no announcement has yet been made about whether the show may continue beyond Season 20.

Jimmy is the king of late night, Erwich said. Hes the longest running late-night show host on the air. We will have Jimmy for as many seasons as he wants to be on the air.

Regarding Greys Anatomy, which ABC just renewed for Season 19, Erwich said the network is also happy to keep the medical drama for the foreseeable future.

Greys Anatomy is still at the top of its game, creatively, Erwich said. Its our most-watched drama. Its one of the most-watched shows on television. While ABC will have as much Greys as we can have, Erwich said, the producers will make the best decisions for that franchise, as they have for the last 18 years.

Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross star in the ABC comedy, "Black-ish," which is airing its final season. (Photo: ABC/Eric McCandless)ABC

Black-ish prepares to say goodbye: The Emmy-nominated series is airing its eighth and final season, though Tracee Ellis Ross, who plays Rainbow Johnson, sounded like she wasnt quite ready for the end.

I think we probably could have gone another 10 years, Ross said, during a press tour discussion of the show. I think thats one of the beautiful things about Black-ish and the DNA of the show that (creator Kenya Barris) established from the start.

The show was character-driven, Ross said, and was about a family that was navigating the world that we all live in, in a timely way. That meant, Ross said, theres a never-ending amount of topics for us to discuss that are a part of the wallpaper of our lives, that were all trying to make sense of, and navigate. And I think that we did that incredibly beautifully, from Juneteenth, to police brutality, to postpartum depression, to just being a familyI feel like we leave with a whole bunch of joy and pride about how we handled everything.

Anthony Anderson, who plays Rainbows husband, Andre Dre Johnson, is ending his time on Black-ish, but hell be returning to his earlier role as Detective Kevin Bernard in the upcoming revival of NBCs Law & Order.

Its an exciting moment in time for me, Anderson said, to be closing the chapter of his life represented by Black-ish, which changed my life and my career dramatically, and then, to come back to Law & Order, sitting in a well-worn saddle that just grips me the right way for the time being.

Black-ish creator and executive producer Kenya Barris said, We were lucky enough to know this was our final season, which made crafting a farewell especially meaningful.

The goal, Barris said, was to create an homage to the show, and a proper goodbye to the audience who stood by us for so long, and to really try to give them, you know, a chance to say goodbye, and take a walk with this family.

Black-ish continues its eighth and final season with new episodes airing Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. on ABC.

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

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Greys Anatomy, Jimmy Kimmel, Black-ish, Pam & Tommy: Updates from the 2022 winter TV press tour - OregonLive