SHOWTIME® today announced that it has picked up the six-part limited series GEORGE & TAMMY, starring Oscar winner Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) and Oscar nominee Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals, Revolutionary Road). The series is created by Abe Sylvia (The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Nurse Jackie), directed by John Hillcoat (The Road) and produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios, Freckle Films, Mad Chance, Brolin Productions, Aunt Sylvia’s Moving Picture Co. and Blank Films Inc.
The premiere episode of GEORGE & TAMMY will debut simultaneously on SHOWTIME and on the Paramount Network behind Yellowstone commercial free on Sunday, December 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The remainder of the season will be available exclusively on SHOWTIME, with new episodes available on streaming and on demand for all SHOWTIME as well as PARAMOUNT+ with SHOWTIME bundle subscribers on Fridays, before making its on-air debut on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The series will also begin rolling out across additional Paramount+ markets outside the US and Canada.
“Jessica and Michael are truly extraordinary as Tammy and George and their searing performances and undeniable chemistry bring to life the legendary relationship of the King and Queen of country music,” said Chris McCarthy, President/CEO, Showtime and Paramount Media Networks. “The creators and the entire cast have delivered a series with the subtlety, nuance and complexity that are the hallmarks of the SHOWTIME brand and what our viewers deserve and demand.”
“We are exhilarated to finally bring this epic story about two of country’s most loved legends to a global audience with SHOWTIME and Paramount Networks,” said Kelly Carmichael, President of Production & Development, Freckle Films. “This story has been a profound journey of love for Freckle Films and we are eager for audiences to experience the magic that this exemplary cast will bring into their homes.”
“I am thrilled SHOWTIME is bringing George & Tammy to audiences all over the world,” said David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios and Executive Producer. “This has been Jessica, Abe & Andrew’s labor of love for 11 years and to see it all come together is pure joy. Jessica and Michael bring all of the heart, love, tragedy and drama to this epic love story of George & Tammy. There is no better home for this than SHOWTIME which is as passionate about this project as we are at 101 Studios.”
GEORGE & TAMMY chronicles the country music power couple, Tammy Wynette and George Jones, whose complicated-but-enduring relationship inspired some of the most iconic music of all time. Remembered as the “First Lady of Country Music,” Wynette’s most successful song “Stand by Your Man” remains one of the most iconic and best-selling country singles by a female artist. George Jones’ song “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” is still widely called the greatest country song of all time. With over 30 number-one country songs between them, including duets “We’re Gonna Hold On,” “Golden Ring” and “Near You,” George and Tammy’s legacy, both musically and romantically, remains one of the greatest love stories ever told.
Starring alongside Chastain and Shannon, the impressive ensemble cast includes:
- Steve Zahn (The White Lotus) as ‘George Richey,’ Tammy Wynette’s final husband and manager.
- Kelly McCormack (A League of Their Own) as ‘Sheila Richey,’ George Richey’s former wife and one-time friend and confidante of Wynette.
- Walton Goggins (The Righteous Gemstones) as ‘Earl “Peanutt” Montgomery,’ a songwriter and collaborator of Jones.
- Pat Healy (Station 19) as ‘Don Chapel,’ Wynette’s second husband and collaborator.
- David Wilson Barnes (Perry Mason) as ‘Billy Sherrill,’ record producer and songwriter.
- Katy Mixon (American Housewife) as ‘Jan Smith,’ a makeup and hair artist who becomes one of Tammy’s closest friends.
Abe Sylvia serves as creator and executive producer along with executive producers Andrew Lazar (American Sniper), Josh Brolin, Chastain and Kelly Carmichael. David C. Glasser, David Hutkin and Bob Yari are executive producers from 101 Studios (Yellowstone). John Hillcoat (The Road, Lawless) serves as director and executive producer. The series is based on the book, The Three of Us: Growing Up with Tammy and George, penned by the couple’s daughter, Georgette Jones.
About Showtime Networks Inc.:
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.
About Paramount Media Networks & MTV Entertainment Studios:
Paramount Media Networks & MTV Entertainment Studios is one of the preeminent media entities in the world that connects with global audiences through its nine iconic brands – MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, CMT, Pop, Logo, The Smithsonian Channel, Paramount Network and TV Land – and its Studios arm which produces acclaimed series and movies as well as award-winning documentaries through MTV Documentary Films.
About 101 Studios:
101 Studios is a global entertainment company dedicated to the acquisition, financing, development, production and distribution of high-caliber, creator-driven storytelling. 101 empowers content creators through first-class collaboration and innovation. On the television side, 101 produces Taylor Sheridan’s Emmy nominated series “Yellowstone,” “Mayor of Kingstown,” “1883” and the upcoming “George & Tammy,” “Tulsa King,” “Lioness” and “Bass Reeves.” 101 Studios oversees and manages the newly formed Sports Illustrated Studios, a content platform based on the most compelling stories, characters and moments in sports past, present and future. Upcoming projects include “Paradise Found” based on the true story of high school football coach Rick Prinz; a docuseries about the sexual abuse and cover-up at Ohio State University, co-produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures; and the docuseries “Covers,” a behind-the-scenes look at Sports Illustrated’s top cover stories of all time. SI Studios has also exclusively partnered with iHeartMedia to create and distribute original podcasts through the iHeartPodcast network. On the film side, past releases include “The Current War: Director’s Cut,” the Sundance Audience award winner “Burden” as well as the family comedy “The War with Grandpa.”
About Freckle Films:
Freckle Films is a New York based film and television production company launched by Academy Award winning actress Jessica Chastain in 2016. Most recently, they wrapped production on “Mother’s Instinct”, starring Chastain and Anne Hathaway. Earlier this year, the Freckle Films produced “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” won two Academy Awards [Best Actress and Best Hair & Makeup] at the 94th Academy Awards along with numerous other accolades. Freckle Films other work includes “The 355,” an international spy thriller based on an original idea by Chastain, starring Chastain, Penelope Cruz, Fan Bing Bing, Diane Kruger and Lupita Nyong’o. Currently in development is a series adaptation of the novel HIS & HERS written by Alice Feeney alongside Fifth Season as well as THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD MOTHERS written by Jessamine Chan.
About BLANK FILMS Inc:
The work of Australian director John Hillcoat aims to eviscerate Hollywood of its mythologies and moral certitudes. Dark. Poetic. Human. Films such as The Proposition, The Road, Lawless and Triple 9 reflect the belief that unflinch- ing realism can breathe new life into genre pictures. Hillcoat created Blank Films Inc to expand these sensibilities across the mediums of film and television. Our mission is to produce character-driven elevated genre projects that are narratively gripping, visually expansive, and emotionally hard-hitting. Blank Films Inc’s current slate includes, Witchfinder (Nicolas Refn/ Vertigo Films), Family Secrets (Studio 8/Taylor Materne), Running Wild (ZQ Productions/David Leland/based on the J.G. Ballard novella), Red Leaves (Mad River/ Stephen Graham Jones/based on the William Faulkner short story), Electric Church (John Sayles/Marc-Edouard Leon), and Western Heavens (Michelle Yeoh/Marc-Edouard Leon).
Source: Showtime
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The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.