May 19th, 2015

CNN Travels Back In Time To ‘The Seventies’

New Docu-Series from Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman,
in association with HBO and Mark Herzog, Premieres Thursday, June 11

Premiere Episode Explores TV of the ‘70s and Features Legendary Producers and Actors including Hanks, Garry Marshall, Norman Lear, Bob Newhart, Valerie Harper, LeVar Burton and More

CNN will launch the new eight-part documentary series, The Seventies, on Thursday, June 11, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.  From EMMY® Award-winning producers Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman (Playtone), in association with HBO and EMMY® Award-winning producer Mark Herzog (Herzog & Company), The Seventies examines the individuals and events that influenced and shaped a decade that had a profound impact on America.  Through the use of raw and rarely seen archival footage, as well as interviews with journalists, historians, musicians and television artists who were eyewitnesses to history, The Seventies paints a vivid portrait of a period of lasting consequence.

The Seventies takes a look at the decade that was just as dramatic as the 1960’s.  The hour-long series, airing Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, delves into the impact of the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, the evolving music scene, the Iran Hostage Crisis, violent crimes in America, the sexual revolution, and the rise in terrorism at home and abroad.

The premiere episode, “Television Gets Real,” explores how television matured into the medium people know today with network programming like MASH, the half-hour comedies of Norman Lear (All in the Family, The Jeffersons), new formats including the made-for-TV movie and miniseries (Roots), and two of the most successful franchises in television history (Monday Night Football and Saturday Night Live). The episode features commentary from TV titans Tom Hanks, Garry Marshall, Norman Lear, Ed Asner, Bob Newhart, Valerie Harper, and LeVar Burton among many others.

The Seventies follows in the footsteps of the top-rated, critically-acclaimed series The Sixties and precedes the recently announced The Eighties, launching in 2016.  Viewers can find more information on The Seventies and episode guides by visiting www.cnn.com/shows/the-seventies.

The Seventies will be simulcast via CNNgo by logging in with a TV provider username and password on CNN’s iPad app or by visiting www.cnn.com/go.

About CNN Original Series 
The CNN Original Series group develops non-scripted programming for television via commissioned projects, acquisitions and in-house production. Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent and content development, oversees CNN Original Series and CNN Films for CNN Worldwide. Vinnie Malhotra, senior vice president of development and acquisitions, works directly with filmmakers and producers to develop original projects for CNN Original Series and CNN Films.

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Press Contact: 

Heather Brown, (212) 275-8428, Heather.Brown@turner.com