TCA Press Tour: What can we expect from ‘Parenthood’s’ Braverman family this season?

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It’s not easy keeping track of a large ensemble cast — try taking notes on one! The Television Critics Assn. Press Tour officially kicked off Tuesday and included a set visit of NBC’s drama “Parenthood.” The populous Braverman brood — minus Mae Whitman, who was off promoting “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” — and executive producer Jason Katims sat down to answer questions about the upcoming season.

Whereas the first season was a journey of discovery and voice finding, the second season, Katims said, will be about “continuing to allow these characters to evolve.”

So what can we expect? Well, with so many names on set, an elimination round was bound to be expected. “We’re planning on killing them off one episode at a time,” Katims teased. All joking aside, here’s a glimpse of what’s in store for the Braverman clan:

— Crosby, Jasmine and Jabbar: With Jasmine getting a job opportunity in New York, the trio is faced with new challenges — “What we want to explore in the second season is the challenges of a long-distance relationship,” Katims said. “Is it going to work out for this family?”

— Adam and Sarah: We’ll be seeing more of Adam’s work life; he’ll take on a few new employees … one of them is good ol’ Sarah! To make things just a bit more problematic, Sarah will begin a relationship with Adam’s boss, Gordon (played by Billy Baldwin). And Sarah’s ex-boyfriends, played by Jason Ritter and Mike O’Malley, aren’t likely to make an appearance — both are pretty tied up with “The Event” and “Glee” — but never say never.

— Zeke and Camille: The patriarch and matriarch will try to salvage their marriage — expect a little comic relief with a visit to a marriage counselor. “You started to see them as real people in a marriage with real situations that they’re going through,” Natims said.

— Joel and Julia: Could a visit from the stork be on the horizon? “ ‘Is it time to have another baby?’ comes up,” Natims said. It was a notion that seemed to make Nicole Potter shudder during the panel discussion.

— Amber, Haddie and Steve: Amber and Steve won’t be together when the show returns. And Haddie will be getting a new love interest. Oh, young love.

So ShowTrackers, what do you think? Excited about the upcoming season? Want more from the Braverman folks? Check back tomorrow with more info from the set.

— Yvonne Villarreal