JERICHO, N.Y., June 3, 2002 – BACKSTORY: BROADCAST NEWS, premiering Monday, June 10 at 10:00 PM (ET), looks at the making of a movie about real life in the newsroom. Interviews with director James Brooks, actress Holly Hunter and Susan Zirinsky, one of Brooks' inspirations for the leading role, are included.
BACKSTORY: BROADCAST NEWS examines the hit movie that took Hunter from obscure actress to movie star. Hunter's anxiety about her novice status was successfully incorporated into her performance. Albert Brooks relocated to Washington to prepare for the role before filming, while William Hurt was coming off a brief stay at the Betty Ford clinic.
BROADCAST NEWS hit theatres in December of 1987 and went on to gross over $50 million. Its eclectic mix of romance, comedy and social criticism won the hearts of critics and audiences nationwide and led to seven Academy Award® nominations.
BROADCAST NEWS is the story of neurotic network news producer Jane Craig (Hunter) who falls for news reporter Tom Grunnick (Hurt), a pretty boy who represents the trend towards entertainment news she despises. Aaron Altman (Albert Brooks), a talented, but plain correspondent, carries an unrequited torch for Jane. Sparks fly between the three as the network prepares for big changes, as both the news and Jane must decide between style and substance.
BACKSTORY is AMC's award-winning weekly series that shines a spotlight on the defining moments in a film's creation. Cast members, directors, producers and other Hollywood players provide revealing inside "backstories" about the events that affected each film, its success and its stars.
Executive Producer for BACKSTORY: BROADCAST NEWS is Kevin Burns. This episode of BACKSTORY was produced by Prometheus Entertainment and Foxstar Productions in association with Fox Television Studios and AMC. Executive Producer for AMC is Jessica Falcon.
AMC is a premiere 24-hour movie network dedicated to the world of American film. With one of the finest, most comprehensive libraries of popular films, and a diverse blend of original series, documentaries and interstitials, AMC offers an elegant and contemporary entertainment destination. AMC is a fully distributed network reaching over 83,000,000 U.S. homes (as of May, 2002) and ranking #16 in size among all 55 networks.
Since its launch in 1984, AMC has been dedicated to deepening the movie experience for its viewers, featuring film-loving celebrity hosts and an increasingly visible, critically acclaimed slate of original programming. AMC has more than doubled its original programming over the past 3 years and garnered many of the industry's highest honors, including five Emmy awards.
AMC is owned and managed by Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc., a leader in news, sports and entertainment programming. A subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC) and NBC, Rainbow manages AMC, WE: Women's Entertainment, Bravo, The Independent Film Channel, muchmusic usa, Rainbow Sports Networks, News 12 Networks, MetroChannels and Mag Rack as well as the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. In addition, Rainbow is a fifty-percent partner in Fox Sports Net. AMC is one of the assets included in the Rainbow Media Group tracking stock (NYSE:RMG), a series of Cablevision common stock. MGM (NYSE:MGM) owns a 20% stake in four of Rainbow's national networks – AMC, Bravo, IFC, and WE: Women's Entertainment.