HARRIET TUBMAN WILL BE-THE SOLE FEATURED CHARACTER, ON UNDERGROUND FOR A WEEK.

 WGN America announced today that the sixth installment of its gripping, hit series, "Underground," slated to air at a special time on Wednesday, April 12 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, will in its entirety feature a solo performance by Aisha Hinds ("Under the Dome," Star Trek Into Darkness), whose electrifying portrayal of Harriet Tubman has already captivated viewers and critics around the country.  Tubman, the Underground Railroad's most famous conductor, risks her life repeatedly in order to free her family members and lead anyone willing to journey north across hostile territory, to freedom – a task she believes is her God-given mission.

"When introducing someone as iconic as Harriet Tubman, we felt compelled to attempt an episode as revolutionary as her spirit.  When we learned through research in 1858 she began to give talks about her life to like-minded abolitionists to raise money for the cause, we knew we had our in: A 'Ted Talk' with Harriet Tubman," said "Underground" Creators, Writers and Executive Producers Misha Green and Joe Pokaski.  "Our amazing crew, led by our director/executive producer Anthony Hemingway, set a beautiful stage for Aisha Hinds'powerhouse performance.  And we can only hope we did Araminta 'Minty' Ross proud."

"This episode is truly one of a kind.  It alone, masterfully revolutionizes TV storytelling," said Anthony Hemingway, "Underground" Director and Executive Producer.  "Aisha surrenders herself to the spirit of Harriet Tubman and gracefully reintroduces us to Harriet's humanity by sharing her story, in a chillingly exceptional performance.  I am extremely proud of the amazing artistry that every cast and crew member poured into making 'Underground,' it's the most exhilarating experience I've had as a filmmaker."

Hinds remarked, "Playing Harriet Tubman is both a great honor and also a tremendous call to duty as we examine how familiar the pain of our past can be felt in the present.  In sight of and in spite of the overwhelming obstacles stacked against her, Harriet transcended bondage and inspired generations in the pursuit of liberty."

In the all-new, extended episode entitled, "Minty," written by series co-creators Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, and directed by Emmy and Golden Globe Award® winner Anthony Hemingway, Tubman delivers a monumental and definitive speech about her life, her divine purpose and the perilous but necessary fight for freedom. Set in 1858 against the backdrop of a nation deeply divided by race, class and gender, Tubman makes a passionate plea to abolitionists to shift their thinking as she challenges them to take swift action against those who are determined to oppress others. In a career defining move, Hinds unleashes a transcendent performance that is not to be missed. "Minty" will air on Wednesday, April 12 during a special time slot at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on WGN America, with back-to-back encore airings throughout the night. 

Aisha Hinds' performance as Harriet Tubman is widely critically lauded, including this sampling of recent reviews:

• "Hinds' Tubman is a masterstroke" – Dominic Patten, Deadline
• "Aisha Hinds' rifle-toting Harriet Tubman only underlines how righteously fun and feminist the show has become." – Tim Goodman and Daniel Fienberg, Hollywood Reporter
• "Riveting performance by Aisha Hinds." – Mariya Moseley, Essence 
• "…from the moment she appears onscreen, she oozes that larger-than-life image." – LaToya Ferguson, Entertainment Weekly
• "Offering the show's devoted fan base a living, breathing tribute to Tubman's heart, resourcefulness and courage that dusty history books couldn't possibly convey."– Lori Acken, TV Insider
• "Harriet Tubman, played by Aisha Hinds, brings the real-life hero…from historical figure to three-dimensional person this season." – Malcolm Venable, TV Guide
• "Aisha Hinds is a … bonafide scene-stealer… and heartstring puller." – Satchel B. Jester, Upscale Magazine
• "[Aisha Hinds'] most recent role to date is her finest — Harriet Tubman." – Monique Meneses, US Magazine
• "…incandescent, slyly funny Aisha Hinds"– Matt Brennan, Paste
• "Hinds channels all of the grit, gravitas and ungrammatical profundity of a mid-life Tubman with brilliant forte… She gives flesh, blood, sweat, and tears to Tubman in a way that we have never seen before." – Kelisha Graves, BlackFilm.com
• "Aisha Hinds is killing it at Harriet Tubman…I don't think anyone else could've have done a better job, and I'm loving everything about her." – Eddie Villanueva Jr., NerdReactor.com
• "Aisha Hinds makes her much-anticipated debut as Harriet Tubman and if there was ever a time where sistahs were doing it for themselves, this is it." – Krystal Franklin, BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM 
• "Hinds… entrance is undeniably exciting." – Danette Chavez, AVLCUB.COM 
• "A good character introduction is one of the greatest joys television can offer, and in the March 8"Underground" season premiere, viewers were treated to two of them. [Aisha Hinds and Jasika Nicole] – Maureen Ryan, Variety 

The 10-episode second season of "Underground" follows an unremitting struggle for freedom within a divided America on the brink of civil war, each side vying to enact their own justice. The celebrated season two cast includes: Jurnee Smollett-Bell ("Friday Night Lights," The Great Debaters), Aldis Hodge (Straight Outta Compton, Hidden Figures), Jessica de Gouw ("Arrow," "Dracula"), Alano Miller (Loving, "Atlanta"), Christopher Meloni ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), Amirah Vann ("Girls," And So It Goes) and Marc Blucas ("Blue Bloods"). Additional guest stars this season include Aisha Hinds ("Under the Dome," Star Trek Into Darkness) in the pioneering role of Harriet Tubman, along with Bokeem Woodbine ("Fargo"), Jasika Nicole ("Fringe," "Scandal"), DeWanda Wise ("Shots Fired"), Michael Trotter ("Rosewood"), Jesse Luken ("Justified," 42), Sadie Stratton ("Code Black," "Boy Meets World"), Robert Christopher Riley ("Hit the Floor"), and Academy Award® and Golden Globe® winner and ten-time Grammy Award® winning singer-songwriter John Legend as renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Hailing from Sony Pictures Television, "Underground" is created and written by Misha Green ("Sons of Anarchy," "Heroes") and Joe Pokaski ("Heroes," "Daredevil"), who serve as Executive Producers alongside Emmy-winning director Anthony Hemingway ("The People v. O.J. Simpson," "Treme"); Academy Award-winning writer Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind, I Am Legend) of Weed Road Pictures; Tory Tunnell (King Arthur, Holy Rollers) and Joby Harold (King Arthur, Edge of Tomorrow) of Safehouse Pictures; John Legend, Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius of Get Lifted Film Co (La La Land, Southside with You); and Mark Taylor ("MadTV"). 

ALEC HARDISON IS MAKING THE UNDERGROUND HOT- FOR THE MASSES!

The pulse-pounding season one finale of WGN America's hit Underground Railroad thriller "Underground," created by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, was the #1 scripted original series on cable last Wednesday night among sought-after demos Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 in Live + 3 viewing.  Underground at 10 p.m. posted strong lifts over Live + Same day, increasing  +81% in Adults 25-54 (911,000 vs. 502,000), +80% among Adults 18-49 (866,000 vs. 481,000) and +76% in Total Viewers (1.8 million vs. 1 million).  On its finale night, "Underground" drew 2.5 million Total Viewers in Live + 3 delivery.  Season-to-date, "Underground" has scored 3 million Total Viewers in Live + 7 viewing, and ignited Twitter as the #1 most social cable drama on Wednesday nights.  "Underground" continues to outperform WGN America's 2015-2016 primetime average by an outstanding +506% in Total Viewers, +918% among Adults 25-54 and +1,100% among Adults 18-49 in Live +7 viewing to date.
 
Executive-produced by Misha Green, Joe Pokaski, John Legend, Akiva Goldsman, Tory Tunnell, Joby Harold, Mike Jackson, Ty Stiklorius and Anthony Hemingway, and produced by Sony Pictures Television and Tribune Studios, "Underground" follows a courageous group of American heroes who attempt a daring flight to freedom in the greatest escape in history.  "Underground" was recently renewed for a second season that is set to begin production this summer for a 2017 debut.

The For Your Consideration Emmy campaign for WGN America's "Underground" is underway across print, online, social media, out-of-home and on-air ads for the standout series that has been praised as one of the best dramas of the year.   The entire 18,000+ Academy of Television Arts and Sciences membership body recently received DVD screeners of "Underground," along with online access to view the series' full first season across multiple devices.

The celebrated cast of "Underground" includes Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Rosalee, Leverage's Aldis Hodge as Noah, Christopher Meloni as August Pullman, Alano Miller as Cato, Jessica de Gouw as Elizabeth Hawkes, Marc Blucas as John Hawkes, Adina Porter as Pearly Mae, Mykelti Williamson as Moses, Amirah Vann as Ernestine, Johnny Ray Gill as Sam, Chris Chalk as William Still, Reed Diamond as Tom Macon, Theodus Crane as Zeke, James Lafferty as U.S. Marshall Kyle Risdin, Renwick Scott as Henry and Jussie Smollett as Josey.

"Underground" is created by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski who executive produce alongside Academy Award-winner Akiva Goldsman of Weed Road Pictures; and Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell of Safehouse Pictures.  Visionary artist and producer John Legend, an Academy Award, Golden Globe^® and multi-Grammy Award winner, and his Get Lifted partners Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius executive produce.  Additionally, Get Lifted oversees all elements of the show's music.  Anthony Hemingway directs and serves as executive producer for the first four episodes. 
[Source:  Nielsen Media Research -- Live + 7, Live + 3]

WGN AMERICAN HOPES- UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND WHITE TRASH/EVIL WALTONS SERIES, SCORE WITH VIEWERS.

Expanding its slate of original programming (From sleazy, Game of Thrones knockoff Salem & the critically acclaim Mad Men-like Manhattan), WGN America today announced its next straight-to-series order for the scripted drama "Titans," and the start of pre-production and a writers' room, with an eye toward a series order, for the scripted series "Underground."  Both series will be produced by Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and Tribune Studios for an expected 2015 premiere.  

"These projects, each exploring a world we find to be unique and fascinating, continue our aggressive expansion into original scripted programming," said Matt Cherniss, president and general manager, WGN America and Tribune Studios.

 "Everyone at WGN America is pleased to enter this next phase of our growth with Sony Pictures Television as an important partner on these projects, along with such talented creators and producers."

"WGN America has made a commitment to quality programming and we are happy that working together is a significant part of their growth strategy," said Zack Van Amburg, president of programming and production for SPT.  "High-quality original series have consistently helped establish channel brands with the audience, and WGN appreciates and takes that value proposition seriously," added Jamie Erlicht, president of programming and production for SPT.

For a slave living in the pre-Civil War South, the only road to freedom was a dangerous journey where failure often meant death. 

"Underground" follows the slaves who set foot on the fabled Underground Railroad, the secret network of men and women who risked their lives aiding them, and the mercenaries tasked with hunting them down at any cost.  "Underground" is created and written by Misha Green ("Sons of Anarchy," "Heroes") and Joe Pokaski ("Heroes," "CSI") who also serve as Executive Producers with Academy Award^®-winning writer Akiva Goldsman ("A Beautiful Mind," "I Am Legend") from Weed Road Pictures, along with Tory Tunnell ("King Arthur," "Holy Rollers") and Joby Harold ("King Arthur," "Edge of Tomorrow") from Safehouse Pictures. No stars or roles have been named,including the famed Harriet Tubman position.

A struggle for power and control set in the rugged and mysterious hills of Appalachia, "Titans" tells the story of the Farrell clan, a family of outsiders who've been in these parts since before anyone can remember.  Living off the grid and above the law on their mountaintop homestead, they'll protect their world and defend their way of life using any means necessary.  "Titans" is created and written by award-winning playwright Peter Mattei who also serves as Executive Producer with Emmy Award^®-winning Peter Tolan ("Rescue Me," "Analyze This") from Fedora Entertainment.
Emmy Award^®-winning actor Paul Giamatti ("John Adams," "Sideways") and Dan Carey ("All Is Bright") from Touchy Feely Films and Fedora Entertainment's Michael Wimer ("2012," "Rake").  WGN America has ordered 13 episodes of the one-hour drama.

MEL GIBSON LASHES OUT, OVER HIS ANTI-SEMITIC TIRADE