Written by Kirk Ellis (John Adams, Into the West), Drama is Adapted from Non-Fiction Book by Laton McCartney
Pasadena, CA – January 16, 2010 – AMC announced today, from the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, California, "Black Gold: The Teapot Dome Scandal" as a new mini-series in development. Written and executive produced by Kirk Ellis (Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Mini-Series for HBO’s "John Adams"), "Black Gold" is based on the non-fiction book, The Teapot Dome Scandal, by Laton McCartney. Set in the roaring ’20s, the series chronicles the infamous Teapot Dome Scandal, when big oil companies orchestrated the election of President Warren G. Harding for access to the coveted "Teapot Dome" oil fields in Wyoming. Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank (Into the West, "United States of Tara") serve as executive producers on the series.
"Teapot Dome is quite possibly the most outrageous political scandal in American history. It is bawdy and substantive at the same time; and reminds us that nefarious connection between the oil industry and our government is not a new phenomenon. In the hands of master storytellers like Kirk Ellis, we are convinced this can become a major television event that is not only highly entertaining, but also historically important," said Joel Stillerman, AMC’s SVP of original programming, production and digital content.
"What’s not to like here? Crooks, con-men, wildcatters, disgruntled secretaries and mistresses, yellow journalists and a philandering President," said Ellis.
"Black Gold" tells the sensational story of the biggest major political corruption scandal in U.S. history, when President Warren G. Harding ceded the U.S. Navy’s control of oil-rich lands in the West to the head of the Department of the Interior, who then leased the land to big-oil tycoons in exchange for personal profit. The Senate launched a special investigation that would reveal an administration overwrought with corruption and a scandalous tale of greed and murder.
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AMC reigns as the only basic cable network to win back-to-back Primetime Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Drama Series and Golden Globe® Awards for Best Television Series – Drama and boasts a comprehensive library of the most entertaining movies of all time. Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade or creating acclaimed original productions, the AMC experience is an uncompromising celebration of great stories. AMC’s original stories include the Emmy® Award-winning dramas Mad Men and Breaking Bad, the upcoming miniseries The Prisoner and insightful non-scripted programming such as AMC News. AMC further demonstrates its commitment to the art of storytelling with curated movie franchises like AMC Hollywood Icon and AMC Complete Collection. Available in more than 95 million homes (Source: Nielsen Media Research), AMC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, which includes sister networks IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv and Wedding Central. AMC is available across all platforms including on-air, online, on demand and mobile. AMC: Story Matters HereSM.