FX PRODUCTIONS RECRUITS "THE AMERICANS'" WRITERS/EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS JOE WEISBERG AND JOEL FIELDS FOR TWO-YEAR OVERALL DEALS

LOS ANGELES, July 8, 2014 - FX Productions (FXP) has closed overall production deals with The Americans Creator/Writer/Executive Producer Joe Weisberg and Writer/Executive Producer Joel Fields, it was announced today by Eric Schrier and Nick Grad, Presidents of Original Programming, FX Networks and FX Productions.

The two-year agreements between FXP and both Weisberg and Fields cover all projects developed for television, as well as continued service on The Americans.

"Working with Joe and Joel on The Americans has been nothing short of extraordinary," said Schrier. "Joel and Joe are two of the most talented, genuine, gracious, and hardest-working guys in the business. We look forward to creating more great programs with each of them."

One of television's most critically-acclaimed dramas, The Americans was honored by the American Film Institute (AFI) as one of the Programs of the Year for 2013 and earned two Emmy(R) nominations, four Broadcast Television Journalist Association (BTJA) award nominations, a record seven Television Critics Association (TCA) Award nominations, and a Writers Guild Award nomination for New Series. In its first season, The Americans won the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding New Program. The series was recently renewed for a third season.

"I actually wanted to sign a 30-year deal, but the actuaries wouldn't sign off on it," said Weisberg. "FX is an unusual and special place. They put so much time and effort into supporting you, you forget you're working for them. These last five years, the network has become a real professional home for me. Getting to work with people that I believe in, respect, and just flat-out like this much is an incredible gift. I look forward to telling many more stories together."

"The Americans is such a gratifying experience creatively and personally," said Fields. "I feel so lucky to have found a great friend and partner on the show in Joe Weisberg and to be working with John Landgraf, Eric Schrier, Nick Grad, and their phenomenal team at FX, who have taken supporting creative people to an art form. I look forward to continuing our work together on The Americans and to developing some terrific new material with them as well."

Chicago native Joe Weisberg worked in the CIA's Directorate of Operations in the early 1990's. After leaving the Agency, he wrote the novels 10th Grade and An Ordinary Spy. He was a staff writer on the first two seasons of Falling Skies on TNT.

Prior to his work on The Americans, Joel Fields served as a writer/executive producer on the first two seasons of Rizzoli & Isles on TNT. He also served as a writer/executive producer on ABC's Golden Globe(R)- winning series Ugly Betty and on the FX series Dirt, starring Courteney Cox. His other writing credits include Steven Bochco's Raising The Bar, Commander In Chief, which received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Dramatic Series (2005/2006), and Over There, Steven Bochco's critically-acclaimed FX series about the Iraq War. In addition to his TV work, Fields is also a playwright. His original play, "How I Fell in Love," premiered at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and ran in New York at the Abingdon Theater Company. He also co-authored a new book for Cole Porter's classic Musical "Can-Can" with director David Lee, which is receiving a new, Broadway-bound production at the Papermill Playhouse this fall.

Set in 1981 just after Ronald Reagan is elected president, The Americans, starring Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys and Noah Emmerich, is a drama series about the complex marriage of two KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington D.C. The series was created by and is executive produced by Joe Weisberg (Falling Skies), a former CIA agent who went on to become an accomplished author. Joel Fields and Graham Yost are also executive producers, along with Amblin Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank. The Americans is produced by Fox Television Studios and FX Productions.

In addition to these new overall deals with Weisberg and Fields, FXP currently has production deals in place with:

· Noah Hawley, the writer/Executive Producer of the award-winning limited series Fargo

· RCG Productions, the production company of Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton, the Executive Producers/Showrunners of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The Untitled Tracy Morgan Project

· Floyd County Productions, the production company of Archer Executive Producer/Showrunners Adam Reed and Matt Thompson

· Louis C.K., M. Blair Breard and their production company, Pig Newton (Louie, The Untitled Zach Galifianakis Project)

· David Manson and his Sarabande Productions (Thief, House of Cards, Hoke)

· Sacha Baron Cohen's Four by Two Films

· A first-look cable deal with Paul Giamatti, Dan Carey and their production company, Touchy Feely Films

· A cable exclusive, first-look pact with Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson and their Color Force production company

About FX Productions

FX Productions (FXP) produces the critically acclaimed hit comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer and Wilfred; the upcoming comedies Married, You're the Worst and The Untitled Tracy Morgan Project; and the upcoming drama series The Strain. FXP co-produces the award-winning hit dramas Sons of Anarchy, Justified, The Americans, The Bridge and Tyrant; and the critically acclaimed limited series Fargo.