How do you go from directing NBC's "Community" to taking on a superstar monkey to directing "Captain America"? Why not ask one of the directors of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and executive producer of NBC's new comedy "Animal Practice," Anthony Russo?

Anthony Russo was at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour on Tuesday to talk about "Animal Practice," a new NBC comedy that he and his brother Joe are both executive producing. You may know their names from "Community" and "Arrested Development," which are among the projects the Russos have directed. When their names were announced as the directors of one of Marvel's biggest franchises, many were surprised. But Russo talked about getting the gig, his experience thus far and what to expect in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" here.

The "Animal Practice" panel wasn't as formal as others, given that, at one point, Crystal the monkey (one of the stars, if not the star of the show) riding atop a tiny ambulance on the stage of the Beverly Hilton. "Animal Practice," also stars Justin Kirk as a top-notch vet with a goofy staff and a potential love interest in a character played by Joanna Garcia Swisher.

"It has all those interesting, devious sensibilities that my brother and I always like to play with, and at the same time, the animals layer makes the show very accessible, hopefully to a wider audience," Russo said. "Our big problem in our career is that we work on these shows like 'Arrested Development' or 'Community' that have a very passionate audience base, but aren't necessarily the most popular shows. We keep striving -- when you're on prime time television, you really have to hold a big audience. We think this show might be the sweet spot between an interesting, fun, comedic sensibility and also more widely accessible."

Russo also addressed Dan Harmon's departure from "Community" and what fans might expect from the fourth season of the comedy. "It was very surprising and it was a very difficult situation," Russo said. "But as a show grows, the cast carries more and more weight in terms of selling a show week to week. That's what, I think, people ultimately fall in love with. So the core cast is there, many of the best writers are still on the show. It'll still be 'Community' in its essence, but at the same time, it's a big change. I think there's a lot of very, very talented people still involved with the show." Russo added that he and his brother are no longer involved in "Community," but if Dan Harmon had a new project and they could help out in any way, they "absolutely" would.

Tune in to see the premiere of "Animal Practice" on Sun., Aug. 12 after the Olympic Games Closing Ceremonies and again in its time slot on Wed., Sept. 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET. "Community" Season 4 makes its debut on Fri., Oct. 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Check out photos from NBC's new 2012-2013 shows here and check out the trailers:

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  • 1600 Penn

    Benjamin Stockham as Xander, Martha MacIsaac as Becca (seated), Bill Pullman as President Dale Gilchrist (seated), Amara Miller as Marigold, Josh Gad as Skip, Jenna Elfman as Emily Gilchrist (seated), Andre Holland as Marshall Malloy

  • 1600 Penn

    Amara Miller as Marigold; Jenna Elfman as First Lady Emily Gilchrist; Bill Pullman as President Dale Gilchrist; Martha MacIsaac as Becca; Josh Gad as Skip; Benjamin Stockham as Xander

  • Animal Practice

    Crystal as Dr. Zaius, Justin Kirk as Dr. George Coleman

  • Animal Practice

    Justin Kirk as Dr. George Coleman, Bobby Lee as Dr. Yamamoto, Tyler Labine as Dr. Doug Jackson, Crystal as Dr. Zaius

  • Go On

    Allison Miller as Carrie, Khary Payton as Don, Suzy Nakamura as Yolanda, Matthew Perry as Ryan, Laura Benanti as Lauren, Julie White as Anne

  • Go On

    Matthew Perry as Ryan King

  • Revolution

    Tracy Spiridakos as Charlie, Anna Lise Phillips as Maggie , Zak Orth as Aaron

  • Revolution

    JD Pardo as Nate, Tracy Spiridakos as Charlie, Zak Orth as Aaron, Anna Lise Phillips as Maggie

  • Revolution

    Billy Burke as Miles

  • Revolution

    Anna Lise Phillips as Maggie, Graham Rogers as Danny, Tim Guiee as Ben, David Lyons as Bass Monroe, Billy Burke as Miles, Tracy Spiridakos as Charlie, Andrea Roth as Rachel, Maria Howell as Grace, JD Pardo as Nate, Zak Orth as Aaron, Giancarlo Esposito as Lt. Neville

  • The New Normal

    Ellen Barkin as Jane, Andrew Rannells as Bryan, Georgia King as Goldie, Bebe Wood as Shania, Justin Bartha as David

  • The New Normal

    Bebe Wood as Shania; Andrew Rannells as Bryan; Justin Bartha as David; Georgia King as Goldie

  • The New Normal

    Andrew Rannells as Bryan, Ellen Barkin as Jane, Nene Leakes as Rocky

  • Save Me

    Anne Heche as Beth

  • Save Me

    Anne Heche as Beth Waring

  • Save Me

    Heather Burns as Jenna, Alexandra Breckenridge as Carly, Michael Landes as Tom Waring, Anne Heche as Beth Waring, Madison Davenport as Emily Waring, Lamman Rucker as John

  • Chicago Fire

    Teri Reeves as Hallie, David Eigenberg as Christopher Hermann, Charlie Barnett as Peter Mills, Lauren German as Leslie Shay, Monica Raymund as Gabriella Dawson, Taylor Kinney as Kelly Severide, Jesse Spencer as Matthew Casey, Eamonn Walker as Battalion Chief Walter Boden and Merle Dandridge as Kay Fitori

  • Do No Harm

    Steven Pasquale as Dr. Jeffery Kohl/Ian Price

  • Do No Harm

    Steven Pasquale as Dr. Jeffery Kohl/Ian Price

  • Do No Harm

    Steven Pasquale as Dr. Jeffery Kohl/Ian Price

  • Infamous

    Meagan Good as Joanna Locasto

  • Infamous

    Meagan Good as Joanna Locasto

  • Infamous

    Meagan Good as Joanna Locasto, Victor Garber as Robert Bowers

  • Infamous

    Victor Garber as Robert Bowers, Meagan Good as Joanna Locasto, Katherine LaNasa as Sofia Bowers, Tate Donovan as Edward Bowers, Laz Alonso as Will Moreno

  • Next Caller

    Dane Cook as Cam Dunne, Wole Parks as Keith Calhoun, Jeffrey Tambor as Jefferson Mingus, Joy Osmanski as Winnie Hyde, Colette Wolfe as Stella Hoobler

  • Next Caller

    Dane Cook as Cam Dunne, Joy Osmanski as Winnie Hyde, Collette Wolfe as Stella Hoobler

  • Next Caller

    Jeffrey Tambor as Jefferson Mingus

  • Guys With Kids

    Anthony Anderson as Gary, Tempestt Bledsoe as Marny

  • Guys With Kids

    Anthony Anderson as Gary, Jesse Bradford as Chris, Zach Cregger as Nick

  • Guys With Kids

    Jamie Lynn Sigler as Emily, Zach Cregger as Nick, Tempestt Bledsoe as Marny, Anthony Anderson as Gary, Sara Rue as Sheila, Jesse Bradford as Chris

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