or


[03/24/20 - 11:35 AM]
AMC Greenlights Anthology Series "National Anthem" Created by Writer/Director Scott Z. Burns and Executive Produced by Oscar(R) and Emmy(R)-Winner Mark Johnson
"National Anthem" is the tragically funny story of a middle class midwestern family tumbling down the ladder of American society; periodically bursting into song as they struggle to catch themselves.

[via press release from AMC]

AMC GREENLIGHTS ANTHOLOGY SERIES "NATIONAL ANTHEM" CREATED BY WRITER/DIRECTOR SCOTT Z. BURNS AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY OSCAR(R) AND EMMY(R)-WINNER MARK JOHNSON

Musical Dramedy is the First Project Under Johnson's Multi-Year Overall with AMC Studios

Golden Globe(R) Oscar(R) and Grammy(R)-Winner T Bone Burnett on Board as Music Producer with Words and Music by The Hold Steady Frontman Craig Finn

New York, NY - March 24, 2020 - AMC announced today that it has greenlit National Anthem, an 8-episode anthology series created by writer/director Scott Z. Burns (The Report, Contagion) and executive produced by Oscar(R) and Emmy(R) Award-winner Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Rectify, Rain Man, The Natural, Bugsy). The musical dramedy is the first series greenlit under Johnson's multi-year overall deal with AMC Studios, through which he will continue to develop new series for the company's Entertainment Group as well as projects for potential sale to other content companies. National Anthem is the tragically funny story of a middle class midwestern family tumbling down the ladder of American society; periodically bursting into song as they struggle to catch themselves. Award-winning musician T Bone Burnett (Crazy Heart, The Hunger Games) is attached as the series' music producer with words and music by Craig Finn (The Hold Steady).

Johnson's overall deal expands his existing relationship with AMC Networks and AMC Studios. He currently serves as an executive producer on AMC's critically-acclaimed drama Better Call Saul, and previously executive produced the Peabody and Emmy(R) Award-winning drama Breaking Bad, SundanceTV's Peabody-winning Rectify, and the critically-acclaimed AMC original Halt and Catch Fire.

"National Anthem is a family drama with deep resonant things to say about the fragility of our country, our world and our planet. Plus... it's a musical! In Scott's genius hands this results in a hugely original, intense, funny and moving piece of writing," said Sarah Barnett, president of AMC Networks' Entertainment Group and AMC Studios. "We're so happy to work with Scott as he brings this unique story to life and absolutely delighted to continue our creative partnership with Mark, who we have been so lucky to work with on some of the most critically acclaimed series over the last decade."

"Craig, T Bone and I are thrilled to be working with Mark and AMC. We are so grateful for the chance to write about this moment in time and surround our characters with songs," said Burns. "Sarah and Susie and everyone at AMC should be celebrated for their vision in saying 'yes' to this."

"I still can't believe that AMC and I have been able to assemble this dream team of storytellers," said Johnson. "We are poised to create something both singular and entertaining, told with moments, dialogue and song."

Burns is a screenwriter, director, producer and playwright. Burns began his career in advertising, working on everything from beer to cars to athletic shoes. Before leaving the industry, he was part of the team that created the 'Got Milk?' campaign. His work in film includes producing the Academy Award(R) winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth, as well as An Inconvenient Sequel and Sea of Shadows. Burns' writing credits include The Bourne Ultimatum for Paul Greengrass, as well as The Informant!, Contagion, Side Effects and The Laundromat for director Steven Soderbergh. As a director, Burns' credits include PU-239 starring Oscar Isaac and Paddy Considine and the Golden Globe(R) nominated film The Report starring Adam Driver, Annette Bening and Jon Hamm, which received the Cinema for Peace Award for Best Political Film of 2019. Burns also directed the digital series The View From Here, a collection of documentary shorts on the terminally ill. On stage, Burns' play The Library, which deals with a high school shooting, was produced at The Public Theater and was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New American Play.

Johnson is both an Oscar(R) (Rain Man) and an Emmy(R) (Breaking Bad) winner who has produced over forty films and television shows, including Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad, Halt and Catch Fire and SundanceTV's Rectify. Johnson produced all of the writer-director Barry Levinson's films from 1982-1994. In addition to Rain Man, their diverse slate of acclaimed features includes Good Morning, Vietnam, The Natural, Tin Men, Avalon, Diner and Bugsy, nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director." Earlier this year he completed El Camino directed by Vince Gilligan. He is currently producing Fever Dream directed by Claudia Llosa in Chile and the John Lee Hancock movie The Little Things starring Denzel Washington, Rami Malek and Jared Leto. Johnson is an Officer of the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and served for eighteen years as the Chair of the Academy's Foreign Language Film Selection Committee.

With 50-years' experience in music and entertainment, T Bone Burnett has earned an unparalleled reputation as a first-rate innovative artist, songwriter, producer, performer, film and concert producer, record company owner and artists' advocate. Burnett is an Academy Award(R) winner, a Golden Globe(R) winner, a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award (BAFTA) winner, and a 13-time Grammy(R) Award winner. He's worked and collaborated with musicians across many genres including Elton John, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, B.B. King, Tony Bennett, k.d. lang, Elvis Costello, The Civil Wars, Taylor Swift, Ryan Bingham, Steve Earle and Leon Russell. Burnett's first major foray into film was his collaboration with the Coen Brothers on The Big Lebowski, and has since held multiple titles for numerous films including The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Cold Mountain, The Hunger Games, Walk The Line, Inside Llewyn Davis and Crazy Heart, for which he served as one of the film's Producers. He also has multiple credits in television including as the executive music producer and composer for the HBO series True Detective, and the first season of the ABC television series, Nashville.

Craig Finn is a singer/songwriter based in New York City, perhaps best known as the singer of The Hold Steady. Finn spent the 90s leading Minneapolis indie band Lifter Puller, which released three albums and an EP. After relocating to New York, he joined with Lifter Puller member Tad Kubler to form The Hold Steady in 2003. The Hold Steady quickly achieved critical acclaim and a worldwide fanbase with their unique pairing of dense lyrical narratives with big rock guitars. The Hold Steady has released seven LPs, including Thrashing Thru the Passion in 2019. Finn released his first solo album in 2012 with three additional solo LPs put forth since 2015- Faith in the Future, We All Want The Same Things, and 2019's I Need a New War, which coalesced into a sign-of-the-times musical trilogy. Also in 2019, Finn released his first book, a collection of his lyrics titled "I Can't Keep Saying Thank You." Pitchfork has described Finn as "a born storyteller, who has chosen rock as his medium."

About AMC Networks Known for its groundbreaking and celebrated original content, AMC Networks is the company behind the award-winning brands AMC, BBC AMERICA, IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv, and IFC Films. Its diverse line-up of popular and critically-acclaimed series and independent films include Killing Eve, Better Call Saul and The Walking Dead, which has been the #1 show on cable television for nine consecutive years, as well as Portlandia, Brockmire, Love After Lockup, and the films Boyhood, Death of Stalin, and many more. Its original series Mad Men and Breaking Bad are widely recognized as being among the most influential and acclaimed shows in the history of TV. The Company also operates AMC Studios, its production business; AMC Networks International, its international programming business; the subscription streaming services Shudder, Sundance Now, Acorn TV and UMC (Urban Movie Channel); and Levity Entertainment Group, the Company's production services and comedy venues business. For more information, visit http://www.amcnetworks.com.

About AMC Studios

AMC Studios is the in-house studio, production and distribution operation for AMC Networks Inc. AMC Studios' first series, The Walking Dead, is the highest-rated series in cable history. Since then, AMC Studios has produced several critically acclaimed, award-winning and culturally distinctive originals for AMC including scripted series Fear the Walking Dead; The Terror anthology, Lodge 49, NOS4A2 and the upcoming Dispatches From Elsewhere, Soulmates, 61st Street and Kevin Can F**k Himself, as well as unscripted series: Ride with Norman Reedus, James Cameron's Story Of Science Fiction, Eli Roth's History of Horror and Hip Hop: The Songs that Shook America. The Studio has also produced for SundanceTV the Peabody Award-winning Rectify, original series Hap and Leonard, as well as the unscripted true crime franchise including Cold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murders and The Preppy Murder: Death in Central Park.





  [march 2020]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· NATIONAL ANTHEM (AMC)





[05/07/25 - 03:26 PM]
MTV Greenlights TV's Longest Running Reality Competition Series "The Challenge" for Season 41
"The Challenge" season 41 returns this summer featuring fan favorite veterans Aneesa Ferreira, Leroy Garrett, and CT Tamburello.

[05/07/25 - 02:01 PM]
Video: "Power Moves with Shaquille O'Neal" - Official Trailer - Netflix
"Power Moves" follows Shaquille O'Neal as he takes on the role of President of Reebok Basketball, returning to the brand that gave him his first shot.

[05/07/25 - 02:00 PM]
FOX Doubles Down on the Laughs Renewing Comedies "Animal Control," Starring Joel McHale, and "Going Dutch," Starring Denis Leary
The single-camera shows, both wholly owned by FOX, will return in the 2025-2026 season.

[05/07/25 - 01:00 PM]
CBS Announces Its 2025-2026 Primetime Schedule
The lineup features one new comedy, four action-packed dramas, three unscripted series, 18 returning series, sports and special event programming.

[05/07/25 - 11:01 AM]
Video: "Big Mouth" - The Final Season - Official Trailer - Netflix
Nothing brings out the hormones - or the heartbreak - quite like high school. These longtime friends are growing up, and it's the ultimate happy ending.

[05/07/25 - 10:29 AM]
Bravo Expands Its Programming Slate with New and Returning Series
The four new series for the upcoming year include "The Real Housewives of Rhode Island," "Ladies of London," "The Valley: Persian Style" (wt) and "Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition."

[05/07/25 - 10:03 AM]
ESPN Original Series "Rabil's Places" to Premiere June 4 on ESPN+
The five-episode series follows Paul Rabil as he explores the rich history and traditions of college and pro lacrosse and pays respects to the game's indigenous origins.

[05/07/25 - 09:55 AM]
Contractor Mike Holmes and His Kids Michael Holmes, Jr. and Sherri Holmes Return in Eight New Episodes of HGTV's "Holmes Family Rescue" on Wednesday, June 4, at 9 p.m. ET/PT
Contractor Mike Holmes and his kids, home renovation experts Michael Holmes, Jr. and Sherry Holmes, will return for eight new episodes of their popular HGTV series.

[05/07/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Apple Original Films Unveils Trailer for "Echo Valley"
The film, starring Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney and Domhnall Gleeson, will make its global debut on Apple TV+ on Friday, June 13.

[05/07/25 - 08:46 AM]
Amy Poehler and Mike Schur Reunite for New Peacock Comedy "Dig" with Series Pickup
In the series, four women working at an archeological dig in Greece are at wildly different crossroads in their lives.

[05/07/25 - 08:45 AM]
CBS Tops Multiplatform Viewership in the First Full Season of Nielsen Data Release
In 35-day multiplatform viewership average per episode among all broadcast series, CBS has four of the top six new series.

[05/07/25 - 08:31 AM]
"Trainwreck" - Official Series Announcement
Starting June 10, Netflix will be launching an eight-part documentary anthology that focuses on some of the wildest and most bizarre events ever to blow up in mainstream media.

[05/07/25 - 08:08 AM]
Presenters Announced for the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards Live on Prime Video
Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire, the 60th ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on Thursday, May 8.

[05/07/25 - 08:06 AM]
Apple TV+ Announces New Thriller "The Wanted Man," Starring Hugh Laurie
"The Wanted Man" charts the rise and fall of Felix Carmichael (Laurie), the elusive and powerful head of notorious British crime syndicate "The Capital."

[05/07/25 - 08:02 AM]
Hallmark Media and the Black List Announce Recipient of the Emerging Voices Partnership
Toyi Elizabeth has accepted a WGA-minimum open script deal with Hallmark Media to write and develop a television movie.