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WGN America’s Spellbinding Drama ‘Salem’ Renewed For Second Season

By Suepafly 0 comments 10:41 AM

Ten All-New Episodes Remain This Season, Sundays at 10:00 PM ET

WGN America has picked up a second season of its first original, scripted drama “Salem,” it was announced today by Matt Cherniss, President and General Manager, WGN America and Tribune Studios. “Salem,” which is being renewed three episodes into its first season, is produced by Fox 21 and co-created and written by Brannon Braga and Adam Simon, who also serve as executive producers with Jeff Kwatinetz and Josh Barry of Prospect Park and David Von Ancken. The 13-episode second season will begin production later this year for a 2015 debut.

Starring Janet Montgomery, Shane West, Seth Gabel, Xander Berkeley, Ashley Madekwe, Tamzin Merchant, Elise Eberle and Iddo Goldberg, “Salem” continues for ten episodes, airing Sundays at 10 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. CT. “At WGN America, we are committed to delivering compelling, brand-defining programming rich with fascinating characters and ‘Salem’ has done just that,” said Cherniss. “Brannon Braga, Adam Simon, the talented cast and our great partners at Fox 21 have opened up an intriguing world that has captivated viewers. We look forward to bringing more great storytelling, scares and surprises to viewers as the saga unfolds.”

“I could not be more thrilled or more proud of our cast, writers and crew who made this show come alive,” said Braga. “The fans have been fantastic and we plan to continue keeping them on the edge of their seats.”

“Salem’s” debut premiered with more than 3.4 million Total Viewers and 1.5 million Adults 18-49 in time-shifted Live + 7 viewing for its premiere night on April 20. Through its first two telecasts in Live + 3 viewing, “Salem” has averaged nearly 1.7 million Total Viewers and 806,000 among Adults 18-49, a +776% increase over the network’s Adults 18-49 season-to-date average on Sundays at 10 p.m. ET.

“Salem” boldly re-imagines the infamous witch trials in the 17th century Massachusetts town. The storyline follows Captain John Alden (West) returning from war to his hometown of Salem where he finds it in the grip of a witch panic. Crushed that his lost love, Mary Sibley (Montgomery), is now married to his old nemesis, John is unaware she is also secretly the ruling witch of Salem, and her witches are running the witch trials.

In Sunday’s fourth episode, “Survivors,” an old adversary of Alden’s arrives in Salem with secrets that could destroy him.

[Source: Nielsen Media Research

About WGN America and Tribune Studios

ABOUT WGN AMERICA: WGN America, the flagship network of Tribune Broadcasting Company (TRBAA:OTC), is nationally distributed via cable, satellite and telco with entertainment programming consisting of the original series SALEM, premiering in second quarter of 2014, MANHATTAN, premiering Summer 2014, first-run programs, blockbuster movies and live sports. WGN America is currently available in 75 million homes. For program schedules or additional information please visit www.wgnamerica.com

WGN America Announces Start of Production on First Original ScriptedSeries, “Salem”

By Suepafly 0 comments 10:30 AM

Provocative Fox 21 Drama to Star Janet Montgomery, Shane West, Seth Gabel and Ashley Madekwe

WGN America enters the world of the most notorious witch trials in history with its first original scripted series “Salem,” as production begins today in Shreveport, LA on the provocative Fox 21 drama. On an expansive set reflecting volatile 17^th century Massachusetts, “Salem” explores what really fueled the town’s infamous witch trials and dares to uncover the dark, supernatural truth behind them. Created, executive-produced and written by award-winning writer/producer Brannon Braga (“24,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation, Voyager and Enterprise”) and Adam Simon (“The Haunting in Connecticut”), “Salem” launches WGN America’s strategy to become a dedicated purveyor of innovative scripted fare.

“Salem” stars Janet Montgomery (“Human Target,” “Made in Jersey”) as the ruthless but vulnerable Mary Sibley, Salem’s most powerful enchantress; Shane West (“Nikita,” “ER”) as handsome, hardened war veteran John Alden – and Mary’s onetime love interest; Seth Gabel (“Fringe”) as local aristocrat Cotton Mather who fans the flames of Salem’s witch hunt; Ashley Madekwe (“Revenge”) as Mary’s mysterious, carnal accomplice; Xander Berkeley (“Nikita,” “The Mentalist”) as chief politician Magistrate Hale; Tamzin Merchant (“Jane Eyre”) as the forthright Anne Hale, an artist with a perilous attraction to Alden; and Elise Eberle (“The Astronaut Farmer”) as the mysteriously afflicted Mercy Lewis.

In “Salem,” witches are real, but they are not who or what they seem. The show, which centers on an epic romance wrapped around this explosive revelation, delivers a bold new vision of Salem – and an even bolder new vision of witches.

Alongside Braga and Simon, Prospect Park’s Josh Barry and Jeff Kwatinetz executive produce, with co-executive producers Liz Sarnoff, Tricia Small, Jon Feldman and Vahan Moosekian. Richard Shepard directs. WGN America has ordered 13 episodes of the drama, which hails from Fox 21 (“Homeland,” “Sons of Anarchy”), the trailblazing cable production arm of Twentieth Century Fox Television. “Salem” is slated to premiere in Spring 2014 on WGN America.

About WGN AmericaWGN America, the flagship network of Tribune Broadcasting Company, is nationally distributed via cable, satellite and telco with entertainment programming consisting of the original series Salem, premiering in second quarter of 2014, Manhattan, premiering Summer 2014, first-run programs, blockbuster movies and live sports. WGN America is currently available in 75 million homes. For program schedules or additional information please visit www.wgnamerica.com.

About Fox 21Fox 21 is a production company housed within Twentieth Century Fox Television devoted to making creatively ambitious scripted series for the cable television market, as well as unscripted shows for both cable and broadcast networks. Led by President Bert Salke, Fox 21 produces the Emmy and Golden Globe winning Homeland, starring Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, the critically acclaimed smash hit Sons of Anarchy (with FX Productions) and the breakout animated comedy Brickleberry from Daniel Tosh. The studio also produces the upcoming Tyrant from Howard Gordon, Gideon Raff and Craig Wright, Open from Ryan Murphy, Legends from Howard Gordon and Jonathan Levin, Those Who Kill from Glen Morgan and Imagine TV, and The Witches of East End from Maggie Friedman and Erwin Stoff.

WGN America Facebook: http://facebook.com/wgnamericatv
Follow WGN America: @wgnamerica

Cast on Twitter:
Shane West: @shanewest_1
Seth Gabel: @sethgabel
Ashley Madekwe: @smashleybell
Elise Eberle: @eliseeberle
Tamzin Merchant: @tamzinmerchant

About WGN America and Tribune Studios

WGN America Orders First Original Series “Salem” From Fox21, ProspectPark and Producers Brannon Braga and Adam Simon

By Suepafly 0 comments 10:12 AM

WGN America has ordered the drama series SALEM from award-winning producers Brannon Braga (24, Star Trek: TNG, Voyager & Enterprise) and Adam Simon (The Haunting in Connecticut) it was announced today by Matt Cherniss, President/GM, WGN America. The series hails from Fox 21 (Homeland, Sons of Anarchy), the prolific cable production division of Twentieth Century Fox Television, and marks the first original scripted series for WGN America as it begins to aggressively expand its programming slate.

Set in the volatile world of 17th century Massachusetts, SALEM explores what really fueled the town’s infamous witch trials and dares to uncover the dark, supernatural truth hiding behind the veil of this infamous period in American history. In SALEM, witches are real, but they are not who or what they seem. The show, which centers on an epic romance wrapped around this explosive revelation, delivers a bold new vision of Salem – and an even bolder new vision of witches.

WGN America has ordered 13 episodes entering production this fall in for a 2014 premiere. The series was created and written by Brannon Braga and Adam Simon, who will serve as executive producers alongside Prospect Park’s Josh Barry and Jeff Kwatinetz. The series will be produced by Fox 21.

Said Cherniss, “Brannon and Adam have an amazing vision for the world and characters that comprise Salem, Massachusetts during the witch trials and we believe that a great adventure full of supernatural, romance, and action awaits the viewer. In addition, everyone here at WGN America feels fortunate to have the support of Fox 21 and 20th Television as we embark on our first foray in original scripted programming.”

“As WGN America launches its strategy of programming distinctive original content, SALEM is the perfect vehicle, and Gary, Dana, Bert and everyone at 20th with whom we have worked in the past is the perfect studio for us to begin this journey,” said Peter Liguori, CEO, Tribune Company. “Salem is a subject that has captivated readers and audiences, and this show gives us a chance to examine it with a fresh perspective through the eyes of great storytellers.”

“Our studio has had a long and successful relationship with Peter and Matt, so we are thrilled to be back in business with them on this fantastic new project ,” remarked Twentieth Century Fox Television Chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman. “And we’re excited to be working again with co-creator Brannon Braga, whose history with this company dates all the way back to ’24.’ As we expand our cable television business through Fox 21, we are always on the lookout for new opportunities, and we couldn’t be prouder to be the first studio to produce an original scripted series for WGN America.”

Added Fox 21 President Bert Salke, “SALEM is a passion project of ours at Fox 21, and Matt and Peter’s enthusiasm for it was instantaneous and incredibly gratifying. We are excited to be delivering WGN America its inaugural scripted series and look forward to continuing to develop with the network in the years ahead.”

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ABOUT FOX 21: Fox 21 is a production company housed within Twentieth Century Fox Television devoted to making creatively ambitious scripted series for the cable television market, as well as unscripted shows for both cable and broadcast networks. Led by President Bert Salke, Fox 21 produces the Emmy and Golden Globe winning Homeland starring Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, the critically acclaimed smash hit Sons of Anarchy (with FX Productions) and the breakout animated comedy Brickleberry from Daniel Tosh. The studio also produces the upcoming Tyrant from Howard Gordon, Gideon Raff and Craig Wright, Open from Ryan Murphy, Legends from Howard Gordon and Jonathan Levin, Those Who Kill form Glen Morgan and Imagine TV, and TheWitches of East End from Maggie Friedman and Erwin Stoff.

About WGN America and Tribune Studios