or


[04/28/16 - 01:01 PM]
National Geographic Channel Goes Straight to Series with Its First Multiseason Scripted Anthology Series, "Genius"
The premiere season will focus on scientist Albert Einstein and will be based on Walter Isaacson's critically acclaimed book "Einstein: His Life and Universe," adapted by writer Noah Pink.

[via press release from National Geographic Channel]

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL GOES STRAIGHT TO SERIES WITH ITS FIRST MULTISEASON SCRIPTED ANTHOLOGY SERIES, "GENIUS," HAILING FROM FOX 21 TELEVISION STUDIOS, IMAGINE TELEVISION, ODDLOT ENTERTAINMENT AND EUE/SOKOLOW

ACADEMY AWARD WINNER RON HOWARD TO DIRECT FIRST EPISODE

Debut Season to Focus on Albert Einstein, Based on Walter Isaacson Biography

(WASHINGTON, D.C. - APRIL 28, 2016) National Geographic Channel announced today that it will go straight to series with the first scripted series in the history of the network, the global anthology GENIUS from Fox 21 Television Studios ("Homeland," "The People v. O.J. Simpson"), Imagine Television ("24," "Empire"), OddLot Entertainment and EUE/Sokolow. The straight-to-series order will mark the first scripted series for the network, and Academy Award winner Ron Howard will direct the first episode. Each season of the anthology will dramatize the fascinating stories of the world's most brilliant innovators. The announcement was made by National Geographic Channels CEO Courteney Monroe and EVP of Scripted Development and Production Carolyn Bernstein, along with President of FOX 21 Television Studios Bert Salke.

The premiere season will focus on scientist Albert Einstein and will be based on Walter Isaacson's critically acclaimed book "Einstein: His Life and Universe," adapted by writer Noah Pink. The series will be executive produced by Imagine's Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Francie Calfo, and co-produced by Anna Culp; from OddLot Entertainment, Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane will executive produce and Melissa Rucker will co-produce; and Sam Sokolow and Jeff Cooney from EUE/Sokolow will also executive produce. Pink will also executive produce alongside a showrunner soon to be announced.

The series will uncover how an imaginative, rebellious patent clerk named Albert Einstein - a struggling father in a difficult marriage who couldn't get a teaching job or a doctorate - unlocked the mysteries of the atom and the universe. Each episode will explore the iconoclast behind these extraordinary scientific achievements, including his political activism, family life and volatile and complex personal relationships.

Oscar winner Howard ("A Beautiful Mind") will direct the premiere episode. With production expected to begin this summer in Prague, the series will premiere on Nat Geo next spring, in 171 countries and 45 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com or our press site www.foxflash.com, or follow us on Twitter using @NGC_PR.

"Genius is perfectly emblematic of our vision to create premium, distinctive and highly entertaining content that fits the National Geographic brand," said National Geographic's Monroe. "We are thrilled to be partnering with the exceptional teams at FOX 21 TVS, Imagine Television and OddLot to tell rich, provocative and powerful stories that celebrate human ingenuity."

"We couldn't be happier to be working with Imagine and OddLot to bring our spirit of creative adventure and passion for great storytelling to Nat Geo as they embark on their first scripted series. And to have Ron direct the first episode is incredibly exciting," commented Fox 21 Television Studios' Salke. "Genius is a franchise with infinite possibilities. We think this installment that tells the fascinating backstory of the man who articulated the theory of relativity is just the beginning of a long and successful partnership between our companies."

"Having already worked with National Geographic on Breakthrough and currently in production on MARS - our exciting unscripted and scripted hybrid series that tells of our journey to colonize Mars - I look forward to their support as we tell this ambitious but intimate and revealing human story behind Einstein's scientific brilliance," said Imagine's Howard. "I hope that his story, as well as those of other geniuses, will both entertain and inspire the next generation of Einsteins."

"We have been patient in our search for the perfect partners to help bring Walter Isaacson's incredible book on Einstein to life in a unique, thought-provoking and entertaining way," OddLot's Pritzker said. "After cultivating the project for many years, we are ecstatic that Genius will be OddLot's first foray into television and that this remarkable story will be realized with Ron Howard at the helm and with the support of our great partners at Nat Geo, FOX 21 TVS, Imagine and EUE/Sokolow."

More About "Einstein: His Life and Universe"

By the author of the acclaimed best-sellers "Benjamin Franklin" and "Steve Jobs," this is the definitive biography of Albert Einstein. How did his mind work? What made him a genius? Isaacson's biography shows how his scientific imagination sprang from the rebellious nature of his personality. Einstein's fascinating story is a testament to the connection between creativity and freedom. These traits are just as vital for this new century of globalization, in which our success will depend on our creativity, as they were for the beginning of the past century, when Einstein helped usher in the modern age.

# # #

About National Geographic Channel

The National Geographic Channels (The Channels) form the television and production arm of National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between 21st Century Fox and the National Geographic Society. As a global leader in premium science, adventure and exploration programming, the Channels include: National Geographic Channel (NGC), Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo People and Nat Geo MUNDO. Additionally, the Channels also run the in-house television production unit, National Geographic Studios. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education with entertaining, innovative programming from A-level talent around the world, and with profits that help support the society's mission. Globally, NGC is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 45 languages, and Nat Geo WILD is available in 131 countries and 38 languages. National Geographic Partners is also a leader in social media, with a fan base of 250 million people across all of its social pages. NGC contributes over 55 million social media fans globally on Facebook alone. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com and www.natgeowild.com.

About Fox 21 Television Studios

Fox 21 Television Studios is a production unit housed within Fox Television Group devoted to making creatively ambitious scripted and unscripted series for all distribution platforms. Fox 21 Television Studios is responsible for the sensation from Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" (with FX Productions), the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning "Homeland" starring Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin; the critically acclaimed "The Americans" (with FX Productions) starring Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell; Brannon Braga and Adam Simon's "Salem"; and Howard Gordon's "Tyrant." New series include Fox 21 TVS' "Dice," from Scot Armstrong, Sean Furst, Bryan Furst, Richard Shepard, Bruce Rubenstein and Andrew Dice Clay; "Queen of the South," from M.A. Fortin, Joshua John Miller, David T. Friendly and Pancho Mansfield; and "Chance" from Kem Nunn, Alexandra Cunningham, Lenny Abrahamson, Michael London and Brian Grazer.

About OddLot Entertainment

OddLot Entertainment is a Los Angeles-based film and television production company that develops, produces, finances and arranges distribution for quality commercial properties for the U.S. and international markets. In addition, OddLot CEO Gigi Pritzker is part of a consortium that launched the next-generation film studio STX Entertainment founded by producer Robert Simonds. OddLot has produced Academy Award-nominated drama "Rabbit Hole" starring Nicole Kidman; "The Way, Way Back" starring Steve Carell; "Drive" starring Ryan Gosling; the futuristic sci-fi film "Ender's Game"; and Jon Stewart's directorial debut, "Rosewater."





  [april 2016]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· GENIUS (NGC)





[10/24/25 - 02:30 PM]
Video: First Look at Upcoming New Drama "Memory of a Killer" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli - Premiering This January on FOX
Dempsey stars as a hitman, Angelo Doyle, leading a dangerous double life while hiding an even deadlier personal secret - he has developed early onset Alzheimer's.

[10/24/25 - 02:02 PM]
"20/20" Is Friday's Most-Watched Newsmagazine Across the Board
In addition, "20/20" posted its best Adults 25-54 in more than four months.

[10/24/25 - 02:01 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 Across the Board, Leading NBC in All Key Demos for the 4th Straight Week
"Nightline" grew year to year across the board: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.

[10/24/25 - 01:05 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Makes Television History - Rising for Fifth Straight Week
The October 21 episode scored 6.63 million Total Viewers and a 1.38 rating among Adults 18-49, hitting new season highs in both demographics.

[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer
The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM]
FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One
Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5
Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.

[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free
Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.

[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.

[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.

[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.

[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.