or


[07/18/16 - 07:02 AM]
A Man Wrongly Imprisoned Seeks Justice for Others in MTV's New Docu-Series "Unlocking the Truth" Premiering August 17 at 11:00 P.M. ET/PT
The series will be told through the unique point of view of Ryan Ferguson, an exoneree who spent 10 years in jail for a murder he didn't commit and is resolute in his passion to help other innocent people who may have been wrongfully convicted.

[via press release from MTV]

A MAN WRONGLY IMPRISONED SEEKS JUSTICE FOR OTHERS IN MTV'S NEW DOCU-SERIES "UNLOCKING THE TRUTH" PREMIERING AUGUST 17 AT 11:00 P.M. ET/PT

The Series to Examine Three Controversial Cases of Prisoners Fighting For Their Freedom

New York, NY (July 18, 2016) - MTV today announced the premiere of "Unlocking the Truth," an all-new serialized documentary series that will take a powerful, in-depth look into the justice system, premiering on Wednesday, August 17 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT. The series will be told through the unique point of view of Ryan Ferguson, an exoneree who spent 10 years in jail for a murder he didn't commit and is resolute in his passion to help other innocent people who may have been wrongfully convicted. "Unlocking the Truth" will follow Ryan and co-investigator Eva Nagao as they examine three high-stakes cases of inmates claiming they are innocent and fighting for their freedom. View trailer HERE.

Ryan Ferguson grew up in Columbia, MO, and lived an ordinary life with his family, but when a 48-year-old newspaper editor was found brutally murdered his life took a drastic turn. At the age of 19, Ryan was sentenced to 40 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit due to a twisted tale of false confessions and police misconduct. After years of Ryan's family relentlessly fighting to prove his innocence, they were able to get Chicago's famed wrongful conviction attorney, Kathleen Zellner, on his case. After spending ten years in prison, Ryan was released and exonerated on November 12, 2013.

In "Unlocking the Truth," Ferguson, and co-investigator Eva Nagao of the Exoneration Project and an ardent fighter for justice reform, will investigate the cases of three inmates currently incarcerated and claiming they are innocent. The pair will work to find proponents and opponents of the convicted, uncover and examine evidence, and analyze never-before-heard witness insights that may help them on their journey for new findings. Through raw, private scenes inside the lives of Michael Politte, Kalvin Michael Smith and Byron Case, the series will turn the large-scale problem of a flawed justice system - which leads to a striking number of innocent people in prison - into a deeply personal experience and worst nightmare come to life.

"Unlocking the Truth" will examine the following controversial cases:

Michael Politte was 14 years old when he was arrested for the murder of his mother, Rita Politte, who was found dead in her home after being hit with a blunt object and lit on fire. Michael is now serving a life sentence in the same prison where Ryan Ferguson spent 8 years of his life.

Kalvin Michael Smith was 26 years old when he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and robbery for attacking a pregnant woman. He has served 18 years of his 29-year sentence. Kalvin's case has garnered large-scale attention and a "Free Kalvin Smith" movement has started in the city of Winston-Salem, NC.

Byron Case was 19 years old when his friend, Anastasia WitbolsFeugen, was found dead in a Missouri cemetery. Three years later, Byron's ex-girlfriend came forward to police and claimed he was the murderer. Byron was sentenced to life and life without parole for the murder.

"Unlocking the Truth" is produced by MTV and Embassy Row. Michael Davies, Debbie DeMontreux, Adam Kassen, Stacey Altman and Andrew Jenks serve as Executive Producers.

About Embassy Row:

Part of Sony Pictures Television, Embassy Row is a television and digital production company dedicated to the development and acquisition of original non-scripted programming for broadcast, cable and digital platforms in the U.S. and abroad. The New York City-based company specializes in several genres including talk, games, competition, comedy, factual, food and sports. A pioneer in the areas of brand and social media integration, Embassy Row boasts a portfolio of popular and buzz-worthy series including "Watch What Happens Live" for Bravo; "Cutthroat Kitchen" for Food Network; Emmy nominated "The Talking Dead" for AMC; Emmy Award-winning "Garbage Time With Katie Nolan" for Fox Sports 1; as well as Emmy nominated "Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee," starring Jerry Seinfeld, for Crackle.

About MTV:

MTV is a global youth culture brand driven by the creative spirit of music. MTV is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA).





  [july 2016]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· UNLOCKING THE TRUTH (MTV)





[10/30/25 - 11:03 AM]
Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Orange County" Three-Part Reunion Begins Thursday, Nov. 6 at 8 P.M. ET/PT
Host Andy Cohen is joined by Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, Tamra Judge, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti and Katie Ginella to reflect on an emotionally charged season 19 that led to shifting alliances and broken trust within the group.

[10/30/25 - 10:52 AM]
Video: National Geographic Documentary Films Unveils Trailer and Theatrical Release Dates for Award-Winning "The Tale of Silyan"
The award-winning documentary will make its theatrical debut this fall, opening in select U.S. theaters on November 28 and in U.K. cinemas on December 12.

[10/30/25 - 10:33 AM]
FX's "Adults" Renewed for Second Season on Hulu
The comedy follows a group of twenty-somethings in New York trying to be good people, despite being neither "good" nor "people" yet.

[10/30/25 - 10:01 AM]
Hulu's "King of the Hill" Renewed for Seasons 16 and 17
The upcoming 15th season of "King of the Hill" will premiere on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the US, and on Disney+ internationally in 2026.

[10/30/25 - 09:30 AM]
Video: Starz Unveils Trailer Full of Sex and Slaughter for "Spartacus: House of Ashur" Premiering December 5
The outrageous new chapter in the world of "Spartacus" debuts with a two-episode premiere on Friday, December 5.

[10/30/25 - 08:06 AM]
ID November Programming Highlights
Look for newcomers "The Rocky Mountain Mortician Murder" and "Who Hired the Hitman?" alongside new seasons of "Body Cam" and "The Murder Tapes."

[10/30/25 - 06:38 AM]
FOX Nation to Premiere Season II of "Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints" on Sunday, November 16
Hosted, narrated and executive produced by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese, the exclusive docudrama continues to illuminate the extraordinary lives of men and women who risked everything to embody humanity's most noble and complex trait - faith.

[10/30/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Stranger Things 5" - Official Trailer - Netflix
With Hawkins under lockdown, El in hiding and danger lurking at every turn, the entire party unites with a single goal: to hunt and kill Vecna.

[10/30/25 - 12:01 AM]
Deck the Halls This Holiday Season with Apple TV
Get in the spirit with originals including "The Velveteen Rabbit," "Spirited" and "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse," and themed specials from "The Snoopy Show," "Frog and Toad," "Shape Island," "Fraggle Rock," "Eva the Owlet" and more!

[10/29/25 - 11:43 PM]
Video: "Baramulla" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A dark secret comes to light. If you saw the truth, would you believe it?

[10/29/25 - 04:03 PM]
UPtv Adds Two More Premiere Movies to Its "Most Uplifting Christmas Ever" Lineup
The new titles just added to the lineup are "A Soldier for Christmas" premiering Saturday, November 8 at 7 p.m. ET and "The Best Thing About Christmas" premiering Saturday, December 20 at 8 p.m. ET.

[10/29/25 - 02:11 PM]
NBC Unveils Lineup of New and Returning Beloved Holiday Programming
"These holiday events and specials bring audiences together in ways nothing else can," said Jen Neal, Executive Vice President, Live Events and Specials, NBCUniversal Entertainment. "NBC is your home for heartwarming traditions, joyful celebrations, and unforgettable moments."

[10/29/25 - 11:37 AM]
FOX Entertainment Studios Inks First-Look Deal with Golden Globe-Winning and Academy Award and Emmy-Nominated Powerhouse Taraji P. Henson's TPH Entertainment
Under this partnership, Henson will serve as executive producer and content originator for both scripted and unscripted television programming, spanning comedy, drama, and reality formats.

[10/29/25 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix Wins Hostage Thriller "Rabbit, Rabbit" in a Competitive Situation; Orders Hot Package Straight to Series
Starring Adam Driver, the series comes from writer Peter Craig and director Philip Barantini.

[10/29/25 - 10:00 AM]
Acorn TV's Fan Favorite Crime Drama "Harry Wild" Returns for a Feature-Length Special on November 24
The special will wrap up season four of the series where, after an apparent poisoning occurs at Vicky's (Danielle Ryan) and Cormac's (Muiris Crowley) wedding, Harry (Jane Seymour) springs into action, alongside the FBI.