THE HISTORY(R) CHANNEL ADDS EMMY AWARD(R)-WINNER MICHAEL IMPERIOLI TO NARRATE AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCE NEW THREE-PART NONFICTION SERIES "FIVE FAMILIES" COVERING THE RISE AND FALL OF THE AMERICAN MAFIA

New York, NY - March 8, 2023 - The HISTORY(R) Channel teams up with Emmy Award(R)-winning actor Michael Imperioli ("White Lotus," "This Fool") to narrate and executive produce the previously announced three-part nonfiction series "Five Families." Produced by Propagate and Barnicle Brothers, each two-hour episode will explore the dramatic rise, collapse, and resurgence of the American Mafia.

For decades, the five crime families, the Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese ruled New York and built the Mob into an underworld criminal empire. "Five Families" will explore the history of the Mafia from its rapid, violent growth in Prohibition, its golden age in the 1970s and 1980s, to the Mob's heated war with law enforcement, through an adjustment to a new reality and criminal opportunities, breathing life back into New York's most infamous criminal syndicate. The series also unpacks the consequences faced by the five families when they choose the American values of capitalism, individual wealth, and celebrity over the more traditional values of the Sicilian Mafia.

The three-part series is based on Selwyn Raab's New York Times best-selling book "Five Families: The Rise, Decline and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires."

"Selwyn Raab's 'Five Families' is the definitive book on the history of the American mob," said Imperioli. "I am certain that this source material will inspire an engaging, exciting, and informative History Channel documentary on the subject. "

"Five Families" is produced for The HISTORY(R) Channel by Propagate and the Barnicle Brothers. Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, and Chelsea Friedland serve as executive producers for Propagate. Nick Barnicle and Colin Barnicle serve as Executive Producers for Barnicle Brothers. Michael Imperioli is executive producer. Matthew Davis Walker is co-Executive Producer. Mary E. Donahue and Zachary Behr are executive producer for The HISTORY Channel. Imperioli is represented by Anonymous Content and Gersh.

A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights to "Five Families."

About The HISTORY(R) Channel

The HISTORY(R) channel, a division of A+E Networks, is the premier destination for historical storytelling. From best-in-class documentary events to a signature slate of industry leading nonfiction series and premium fact-based scripted programming, The HISTORY(R) Channel serves as the most trustworthy source of informational entertainment in media. The HISTORY(R) Channel has been named the #1 U.S. TV network in buzz for seven consecutive years by YouGov BrandIndex, and a top favorite TV network by Beta Research Corporation. For a deeper dive, visit history.com or follow @history on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. For additional press materials visit the A+E Networks Press Center at http://press.aenetworks.com.

About Propagate

Founded in 2015 by Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens, who pioneered the global format business in the late 1990s, Propagate has offices in Los Angeles, New York and Paris. Propagate's documentary credits include the Emmy-nominated Hillary for Hulu; LFG for HBO Max in partnership with CNN Films; the Untold franchise, November 13: Attack on Paris, Haunted, and the recently announced Anna Nicole Smith documentary for Netflix; Burning and Lore for Amazon Prime Video; recurring true crime series City Confidential for A&E Network; and Notre Dame: Our Lady of Paris for ABC. Unscripted series include American Song Contest for NBC, an adaptation of the iconic Eurovision Song Contest; Go- Big Show for TBS; In Search Of and Kings of Pain for History Channel; Million Dollar Wheels for Discovery+; Baking Impossible, Prank Encounters, and the upcoming Latin music competition series La Firma for Netflix. Scripted credits include Rebelde Way for Netflix; Charmed for The CW, Blood and Treasure and Broke for CBS; along with Let's Be Real and Our Kind of People for FOX, starring Yaya DaCosta and Morris Chestnut. Propagate also created and produced the original podcasts "An Oral History of The Office" with Spotify; and "The Office Deep Dive with Brian Baumgartner" and "XOXO with Jessica Szohr" with iHeartMedia. Propagate's expanding portfolio of companies includes Electus (You vs. Wild, Running Wild With Bear Grylls, Jane the Virgin, Fashion Star), Big Breakfast (Adam Ruins Everything, Hot Date), Notional (Chopped franchise), and talent management firms Artists First, Authentic Talent & Literary Management and Select Management.