The American West TV show on AMC. David H. Stevens as Jesse James. Photo Credit: Lawrence French/Getty Images For AMC.
Go West, young man, and grow up with the country. The American West TV series on AMC premieres Saturday, June 11, 2016, at 10:00pm ET. Spanning the years 1865 to 1890, The American West shows how, after the Civil War, the US became the “land of opportunity.” The American West is executive produced by Stephen David Entertainment and Robert Redford and Laura Michalchyshyn with Sundance Productions.
AMC says The American West features “the violent world of cowboys, Indians, outlaws and law men.” The eight-episode limited event series features Western legends including Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull. The series features exclusive interviews with Redford, James Caan, Burt Reynolds, Tom Selleck, Kiefer Sutherland, Mark Harmon, and Ed Harris.
Get a first look at the last season of Hell On Wheels (and the first season of The American West) from AMC.
Get more details from AMC’s dual-show press release.
AMC’S “HELL ON WHEELS” WILL REACH THE END OF THE LINE WITH THE FINAL SEVEN EPISODES
BEGINNING SATURDAY, JUNE 11 AT 9 PM ET
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE SERIES PREMIERE OF THE 8 EPISODE LIMITED EVENT SERIES “THE AMERICAN WEST,” EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY
ROBERT REDFORD AND STEPHEN DAVID
Featuring Exclusive Interviews with James Caan, Tom Selleck, Burt Reynolds,
Kiefer Sutherland, Ed Harris and Mark Harmon
NEW YORK, NY, April 27, 2016 – AMC announced today that the original series “Hell on Wheels” is set to premiere the last seven episodes of its fifth and final season on Saturday, June 11 at 9 PM, followed by the series premiere of the Robert Redford and Stephen David (“The Men Who Built America,” “The World Wars”) produced limited event series “The American West” at 10 PM, making Saturday nights on AMC must-watch television for Western fans.
The last seven episodes of “Hell on Wheels” is the end of the line for Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) and his work on America’s first transcontinental railroad. The final push to finish brings with it a reckoning for Bohannon and the men standing in his path: the bloodthirsty Swede (Christopher Heyerdahl); the mercenary Chang (Byron Mann); and the rapacious Thomas Durant (Colm Meaney). Bohannon contends with corruption, greed and murder as he leads the trek to complete the final stages of the building of the railroad from the Central Pacific through the Sierras and across the Utah desert to Promontory Point. While the railroad’s completion is certain, who and what will survive when the golden spike is finally planted remains in question — with no one more at risk than Cullen Bohannon.
Spanning the years 1865 to 1890, “The American West,” will show how – in the aftermath of the Civil War – the United States transforms into the “land of opportunity.” Viewers will be transported into the violent world of cowboys, Indians, outlaws and law men. The 8-episode limited event series chronicles the personal, little-known stories of Western legends such as Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. The series features exclusive interviews with notable names from classic Western films, including Redford, James Caan, Burt Reynolds, Tom Selleck, Kiefer Sutherland, Mark Harmon, Ed Harris and more.
“Over the last ten years, AMC has had wonderful success with Westerns in various formats: from the Emmy®-winning mini-series ‘Broken Trail,’ to the Saturday line-up of classic movies like Rifleman and Hondo, leading into our fan favorite scripted drama ‘Hell on Wheels’ and now with our wild west limited event series “The American West,” said Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for AMC and SundanceTV. “We’ve learned that the West may have been won over 150 years ago, but it continues to win with old and new fans alike. I have had the pleasure of working with some of the best in the business and John Wirth and his team are no exception. It has been a pleasure working with the entire ‘Hell on Wheels’ cast and crew over the last five seasons and on behalf of all of us at AMC, we thank you for creating an epic program that will live on through your many loyal fans and the new ones yet to come. As we continue to explore untold stories, I am proud to expand our partnership with Stephen David. Stephen’s storytelling has previously provided AMC viewers a look at the making of the mob and now, we are excited to share the story of the post-Civil War western expansion. We also welcome Robert Redford and Sundance production to AMC as we continue to provide the best in Western content to our audience with ‘The American West.’”
“Making this show has been the highlight of my career,” said John Wirth, executive producer, writer and showrunner of “Hell on Wheels.” “I can’t imagine a better cast, crew, group of writers or network. Thank you, Charlie Collier, Joel Stillerman and Susie Fitzgerald for supporting us every step of the way.”
“We are extremely excited to continue our partnership with AMC and share the untold stories of the west,” said Stephen David, president of Stephen David Entertainment. “The series will allow viewers the opportunity to explore an era of famous outlaws and lawmen who shaped American history, connected through a larger story that’s never been told before in this way.”
The fourth season of “Hell on Wheels” delivered 3.5 million viewers per episode on average, including 1.3 million adults 25-54, in Nielsen live+7 ratings. The show is consistently one of the top scripted originals on Saturday nights and is currently the #1 show on cable and #2 in all of television, cable and broadcast, for its time slot.
“Hell on Wheels” is executive produced by showrunner John Wirth (“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” “Falling Skies,” “The Cape”); Paul Kurta (“Veronica Mars,” Empire Records); Michael Rosenberg (“Hung”); Jeremy Gold, EVP, Endemol Shine Studios; and Mike Frislev and Chad Oakes from Nomadic Pictures. Entertainment One Television’s (eOne) Debra Curtis, SVP Current Programming, and David Shafer, VP Production, oversee production in partnership with producers. eOne is the worldwide distributor and licensed television rights in Europe to Endemol Shine. In addition to Mount, Heyerdahl, Mann and Meaney, “Hell on Wheels” stars Robin McLeavy, Phil Burke, Jennifer Ferrin, Dohn Norwood, Tim Guinee, Reg Rogers and Angela Zhou. The final seven episodes will serve as the series finale.
“The American West” is executive produced by Emmy® Award-winning Stephen David Entertainment and Robert Redford and Laura Michalchyshyn with Sundance Productions. DRG is the international distributor for “The American West.”
About AMC
AMC is home to some of the most popular and acclaimed programs on television. AMC was the first basic cable network to ever win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series with “Mad Men” in 2008, which then went on to win the coveted award four years in a row, before “Breaking Bad” won it in 2013 and 2014. The network’s series “The Walking Dead” is the highest-rated series in cable history and the number one show on television among adults 18-49 for the last four years. AMC’s other current original drama series include “Better Call Saul,” “Hell on Wheels,” “Turn: Washington’s Spies,” “Halt and Catch Fire,” “Humans,” “Fear the Walking Dead,” “Into the Badlands” and the forthcoming “The Night Manager,” “Feed the Beast,” “Preacher,” “The Son” and “The Terror.” AMC also explores authentic worlds and discussion with original shows like “Talking Dead,” “The Making of The Mob,” “Comic Book Men” and the upcoming “Ride with Norman Reedus” and “The American West.” AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, SundanceTV, BBC America and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile.
What do you think? Do you like the sound of The American West TV show? Do you plan to watch the first season on AMC?
This series is a joke. There are so many inaccuracies – to numerous to mention. Robert Redford, et al, should be ashamed to be associated with this piece of crap.
After watching several episodes of the American West, I can’t believe what a shameful assault on history this show is. And the episode on July 16,2016 was perhaps the worst. It showed Billy the Kid in a day long gunfight in an abandoned house in Lincoln New Mexico when it was actually a 5 day battle and Billy Bonney and a portion of his allies were hold up in Alex McSween’s house. Not one word about Alex McSween or his wife Sue—–not one mention of the men who rode with him. No mention of L,G, Murphy or John Chisum or… Read more »
I watched The American West episode tonight and saw an image of the Doolin-Daltin gang, who were killed in Coffeeville, Ks. In the show they were talking about how bad Las Vegas, NM was and they implied that the Doolin-Daltin gang died in Las Vegas, NM.
https://www.usmarshals.gov/history/dalton/doolin-dalton.htm
Another homogenized version void of relevant facts e.g., the origin of the term “cowboy”, along with totally ignoring the contributions of ex-slaves, women, Asians and Americans in building the west. Do we really need more idealized versions of Billy, Custer, Wyatt etc?
I agree. It’s clear that attention to historical much lacking. I’m surprised the historians interviewed went along with the portrayals. If you are going to present history, at least be realistic.
Custer was a prevented major General and at the close of the Civil War reverted back to Captain. He was promoted to Lt. Col. That was his rank at the time of his death. Also Custer’s scouts were Crow and Arikara native Americans not regular military. There are many other errors also.
” Custer was a “prevented” is not correct. Should be Brevet major general.
2nd episode of American West. Pinkerton receives a letter from the west with a Chicago zip code. Five digit zip codes were not implemented by the USPS until the 1960’s,
Lots of flaws in this, from the unsubstantiated claims of the Sioux coming over the Bering Strait to the theories of Jesse Jame’s motivation, to the depictions of Custer and others, and the chronology of the presidents.
Very weak research and background, comes off as largely propaganda.
I was really excited for this show, but upon watching it I was alarmed with the fact thatcher completely ignores the presidency of Andrew Johnson, making the claim that U.S. Grant was president in 1866. Grant didn’t become president until 1869. Perhaps rather than actors, they should interview historians next time… Maybe they would have avoided such a mistake… But it makes you wonder about what else they either messed up or altered.
This series started off good but after 15 min. went down hill,they did not have 1894 Winchesters in 1866-68 Peacemaker Colts were not around until 1875 Custer did not have dark brown hair , the fight on the Washita (Black Kettles village) did not happen as shown and on and on…if a series like Hell On Wheels can at least get the weapons right and a movie like The Long Riders can get it ALL right(Jessie James) so can A.M.C. this series is a joke!
Yeah- I was thinking the same… Wondering why they claimed the stuff with Custer happened in 1866 when it was actually like ten years later… I mean… Grant wasn’t even president when they claim in 1866… Johnson was pres until 1869. Ridiculous mistake/alteration.
The Battle of Washita River Took place in 1868 as the show indicates. Custer was involved in the Indian Wars from 1866 tilll his death in 1876. The show said clearly that Grant was Commanding General of the United States Army (1864-1869), not president.
The thing with the hair is a bit weird though since various discriptions online refer to Custer’s hair as blonde, golden locks, reddish blonde or dark blonde. The problem is all the dozen or so photographs of Custer I saw online look to be the same color hair that the show uses. With the Washita River battle I think the show would have needed a couple hours to get it accurate. In the few minutes that they devoted to the fight they may have just wanted to make the point that it was a massacre. Whether it was or not… Read more »
I just watched I believe the 2nd episode of American West! Love it! I just returned home from a week in Lead, South Dakota on June 11th. I spent a lot of time in Deadwood. The history is so fascinating! I am a Canadian, but with experiencing the history I absolutely did not want to return home. I love the fact I can watch this series and experience it all over again. The Black Hills of South Dakota is somewhere I would love to call home!
Thank you so much for this series!
I’ve seen the first show it’s not that good! The guy they got playing Jesse James looks like the before picture for Charles Atlas ads!
I think this is a great idea long as it is accurate when it comes to american indian history as well. We too have a proud and great history of the American west.
I hope this is a good series. This offers an opportunity to educate and inform as well as entertain. I only hope that it isn’t going to be a politically correct pity fest about what “we” did to this or that group. Tell the facts straight and unvarnished without opinion and let people make up their minds about what was done to whomever.
I can’t wait for it to start – looks like a really good series!
Why is a show about the American West, set 150 years ago, feature interviews with celebrities but not historians? Why do we think celebrities know anything at all about the subject, other than reading from cue cards?
I agree, whats with the celebrity thing? Does that somehow add more credence to this? Just because some famous face says so , makes it so?