or


[06/14/23 - 11:03 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights "Abducted by My Teacher: The Elizabeth Thomas Story," Executive Produced by Elizabeth Smart, Starring Michael Fishman and Summer Howell
Based on the true story of Elizabeth Thomas, the movie stars Michael Fishman and Summer Howell and is the harrowing account of a young girl whose kidnapping by a trusted teacher captivated the country and led to a nationwide manhunt.
[via press release from Lifetime]

LIFETIME CONTINUES PARTNERSHIP WITH ELIZABETH SMART WITH GREENLIGHT OF NEW RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES MOVIE "ABDUCTED BY MY TEACHER: THE ELIZABETH THOMAS STORY" STARRING MICHAEL FISHMAN AND SUMMER HOWELL PREMIERING AUGUST 12

FOLLOWING THE MOVIE LIFETIME TO AIR THE DOC SPECIAL "BEYOND THE HEADLINES: THE ELIZABETH THOMAS STORY WITH ELIZABETH SMART"

NEW YORK, NY (June 14, 2023) - After the recent success of The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story, which reached over two million total viewers when it debuted this past February, Lifetime reteams with Elizabeth Smart to executive produce the network's authorized Ripped from the Headlines movie Abducted by My Teacher: The Elizabeth Thomas Story, premiering Saturday, August 12 at 8p/7c. Based on the true story of Elizabeth Thomas, the movie stars Michael Fishman (Roseanne) and Summer Howell (Harland Manor) and is the harrowing account of a young girl whose kidnapping by a trusted teacher captivated the country and led to a nationwide manhunt. Following the movie at 10p/9c, Lifetime will air the doc special Beyond the Headlines: The Elizabeth Thomas Story with Elizabeth Smart.

Abducted by My Teacher: The Elizabeth Thomas Story

Elizabeth Thomas (Howell) was just a 15-year-old high schooler who wanted to make friends when she caught the eye of Tad Cummins (Fishman), a trusted, beloved and married high school teacher. Making her feel safe and loved, he groomed Elizabeth for months, and ultimately coerced her to go on the run with him after another student reported seeing him kiss Elizabeth. Elizabeth's abduction set off a nationwide manhunt and her over month-long ordeal came to an end when the pair was discovered in northern California and Cummins was arrested. After enduring sexual abuse at the hands of Cummins, Elizabeth was left to face those in her home town who thought that she was responsible for her own kidnapping. Ultimately, Elizabeth bravely stood up in court and helped send the teacher she once trusted to prison.

Smart continues her relationship with Lifetime after executive producing the films The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story and I Am Elizabeth Smart, as well as the doc specials Elizabeth Smart: Finding Justice and Smart Justice: The Jayme Closs Case.

Beyond the Headlines: The Elizabeth Thomas Story with Elizabeth Smart.

In the one-hour special executive produced by Elizabeth Smart, Elizabeth Thomas sits down for her first interview in five years, providing intimate and revealing details about her ordeal which has been extremely isolating and confusing. The topic of grooming continues to be widely misunderstood and Elizabeth Thomas' revelations provide rare insight into the experience of survivors. Elizabeth Smart, who intimately understands the personal trauma and fallout experienced by survivors travels to Tennessee to meet Elizabeth Thomas, hear her story and share their common experiences.

Abducted by My Teacher: The Elizabeth Thomas Story is executive produced by Joseph Freed and Allison Berkley of Marwar Junction Productions, Howard Braunstein and Elizabeth Smart. The film is produced by Juliette Hagopian of ET MB Films Inc. Shawn Linden directs from a script written by Kristine Huntley.

Beyond the Headlines: The Elizabeth Thomas Story with Elizabeth Smart is produced by Marwar Junction Productions. Executive producers are Allison Berkley and Joseph Freed from Marwar Junction, Elizabeth Smart and Leane Vandeman. Amy Winter and Nicole Vogel are executive producers for Lifetime.

###

ABOUT LIFETIME

Celebrating over 35 years of entertaining audiences, Lifetime is a premier entertainment destination for women dedicated to offering the highest quality original programming spanning award-winning movies, high-quality scripted series and breakout non-fiction series. Lifetime has an impressive legacy in public affairs, bringing attention to social issues that women care about with initiatives such as the long running Stop Breast Cancer for Life now in its 25th year, Stop Violence Against Women which relaunched in 2018, and Broader Focus, a major global initiative dedicated to supporting and hiring female directors, writers and producers, including women of color, to make its content. Lifetime Television(R), LMN(R), Lifetime Real Women(R) and Lifetime Digital(TM) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A+E Networks. A+E Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation. Interact with Lifetime on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook





  [june 2023]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· ABDUCTED BY MY TEACHER: THE ELIZABETH THOMAS STORY (LIFETIME)




[10/08/26 - 02:26 PM]
ABC News Wins in Late Night and Friday Night
"20/20: Home Alone" ranked as the Friday's No. 1 newsmagazine in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49 on Friday, October 2.
[10/08/26 - 02:01 PM]
HBO Orders New Drama Series "Crazy Rich Asians"
Based on the global bestselling books written by Kevin Kwan, the series will pick up after the events of the blockbuster film that became the highest-grossing Hollywood studio romantic comedy at the North American box office in nearly a decade.

[10/08/26 - 01:03 PM]
Video: "Apocalypse Z: New World" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
A rabies-like disease spreads across the planet, transforming people into aggressive creatures.
[10/08/26 - 11:25 AM]
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" Leads Late Night with Live Shows from Brooklyn Academy of Music
The series topped late-night for the second week in a row this season, scoring 2.66 million Total Viewers and a 0.27 rating among Adults 18-49.
[10/08/26 - 11:15 AM]
"Dexter: Resurrection" Surprises NYCC Fans with an Early Screening of Season Two Ahead of October 30 Premiere on Paramount+
The panel featured stars Michael C. Hall, Uma Thurman, James Remar, Jack Alcott, Bokeem Woodbine and Krysten Ritter, alongside showrunner and executive producer Clyde Phillips, executive producers Scott Reynolds and Marcos Siega, and surprise guest Eric Stonestreet.
[10/08/26 - 11:01 AM]
Jennifer Coolidge Returns for Season Two of "The Watcher"
Coolidge joins the previously announced returning cast: Naomi Watts (Nora Brannock), Bobby Cannavale (Dean Brannock), Margo Martindale (Maureen "Mo"), and Isabel Gravitt (Ellie Brannock).
[10/08/26 - 10:51 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights New Ripped from the Headlines Movie "The Girl Who Disappeared" (wt) Starring Jaime Pressly, Casey Deidrick and Alexa Blair
Based on a true story, the film follows a young woman whose romance with a married man sets off a dangerous chain of obsession, jealousy and betrayal.

[10/08/26 - 10:31 AM]
First Look & Date Announcement: Hulu's "The Land"
"The Land," from "Paradise" and "This Is Us" creator Dan Fogelman, premieres on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the US, and Disney+ internationally on February 15.
[10/08/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Grey's Anatomy" - Season 23 Official Trailer on ABC
New beginnings, complicated relationships and high-stakes emergencies await at Grey Sloan.
[10/08/26 - 10:00 AM]
The Soul Train Awards Nominees Are In, and Fans Decide the Winners in Two New Categories!
For the first time, fans will have a say in who takes home the trophies, with two new fan-voted categories: R&B/Soul Song of the Year, with voting on BET.com and Spotify's RNB X International Artist, with voting in the Spotify app.
[10/08/26 - 09:01 AM]
AspireTV to Premiere "A Memorable Christmas" Dec. 4
Asia'h Epperson, Mike Merrill, Kamel Goffin, and Stephen Cofield Jr. star in the movie.
[10/08/26 - 09:01 AM]
Prime Video Orders Untitled Karen Read Series from Justin Noble, Inspired by the Hit Law&Crime and Audible Original Podcast Series "Karen," Starring and Executive Produced by Four-Time Emmy Nominee Elizabeth Banks
The series follows the trial that captivated the country and turned Read into a household name.
[10/08/26 - 08:54 AM]
FOX Nation Set to Premiere "Houdini: Back from the Dead," Marking Platform's First Full-Length Project Created Entirely with AI-Generated Imagery
The new three-part series will premiere Wednesday, October 14.
[10/08/26 - 08:22 AM]
HBO Original Series "City of God: The Fight Rages On" Returns for Its Second Season November 8
The new season examines the impact of escalating violence, political corruption, and community resistance as it explores the complex dynamics between crime, politics, justice, and culture.
[10/08/26 - 08:13 AM]
Food Network Unwraps Its Most Delicious Holiday Season Yet
Highlights include new seasons of "Holiday Baking Championship," "Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking," "Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas" and "Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown."