Sundance Channel And Entertainment Weekly Set To Premiere 'The Writers' Room' On Monday, July 29, Hosted By Academy Award©-Winning Screenwriter And 'Community' Star Jim Rash

Sundance Channel And Entertainment Weekly Set To Premiere 'The Writers' Room' On Monday, July 29, Hosted By Academy Award©-Winning Screenwriter And 'Community' Star Jim Rash

PREMIERE SEASON TO FEATURE STELLAR LINE-UP OF HIT SCRIPTED SERIES 'BREAKING BAD', 'DEXTER', 'GAME OF THRONES', 'AMERICAN HORROR STORY', 'PARKS AND RECREATION' AND 'NEW GIRL'

NEW YORK, May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Presented by Sundance Channel and Entertainment Weekly, "The Writers' Room" is set to premiere on Monday, July 29 and will be hosted by Academy Award©-winning screenwriter ("The Descendants"), comedian and actor Jim Rash ("Community"). The six episode half-hour series will spotlight an array of scripted television shows - from today's pioneering cable dramas, including "Breaking Bad", "Dexter," "Game of Thrones" and "American Horror Story" to the most critically acclaimed and popular network sitcoms, including "Parks and Recreation" and "New Girl." The roundtable talk show will delve deep into the world of TV's creative masterminds, divulging inside details about their smartest choices, toughest decisions and biggest mistakes. The announcement was made today by Sarah Barnett, Sundance Channel President and General Manager.


"Television today inspires communities of passionate and vocal fans who crave a never-ending amount of new information about their favorite shows," said Barnett. "Entertainment Weekly speaks to fans of television like no other brand which makes them the perfect partner for this series. We also found the perfect host in the multi-talented Jim Rash. He brings the perspective of someone who is hugely talented both behind and in front of the camera, and he intimately understands the unique highs and lows of a being a writer."

"As a writer and fan, I'm honored to have such a spectacular opportunity to sit down with colleagues whose work I respect and admire and talk about shows that have had such tremendous impact in pop culture. It's a delight to be able to share with our audience what makes their creative teams tick and share a behind-the-scenes look at how their genius programs come to life," said Rash. "Having Sundance Channel and Entertainment Weekly behind the production, is the icing on the cake."


"As longtime followers and admirers of Jim Rash's work, we're elated to have his brilliance be a part of 'The Writers' Room'. TV continues to become more and more riveting, as proven by the fantastic line-up of series featured in the premiere season and Rash, who's a writer himself, is in a unique position to explore the creative process behind these shows," said Jess Cagle, the editor of Entertainment Weekly.

Panelists include (in alphabetical order):

American Horror Story
Panelists
Brad Falchuk (Co-creator, Show-runner, Executive Producer)
Tim Minear (Writer, Executive Producer)
Ryan Murphy (Creator, Show-runner, Executive Producer)
Lily Rabe (Cast member)

Entertainment Weekly Featured Expert: Lynette Rice, West Coast News Editor

Breaking Bad
Panelists
Sam Catlin (Writer, Co-Executive Producer)
Bryan Cranston (Cast Member; Producer)
Vince Gilligan (Creator, Executive Producer, Show-runner)
Peter Gould (Writer, Co-Executive Producer)
Gennifer Hutchison (Writer/Executive Story Editor)
George Mastras (Writer, Co-Executive Producer)
Thomas Schnauz (Writer, Co-Executive Producer)
Moira Walley-Beckett (Writer, Co-Executive Producer)

Entertainment Weekly Featured Expert: Jess Cagle, Editor

Dexter
Panelists
Scott Buck (Show-runner, Executive Producer)
Sara Colleton (Executive Producer, originally brought book to network)
Manny Coto (Executive Producer, Writer)
Michael C. Hall (Executive Producer, Cast)
Wendy West (Executive Producer, Writer)

Entertainment Weekly Featured Expert: Dan Snierson, Sr. Writer

Game of Thrones
Panelists
David Benioff (Co-creator, Show-runner, Executive Producer)
D.B. Weiss (Co-creator, Show-runner, Executive Producer)

Entertainment Weekly Featured Expert: Jess Cagle, Editor

New Girl
Panelists
Brett Baer (Exeuctive Producer, Writer, Co-Show-runner)
Dave Finkel (Executive Producer, Writer, Co-Show-runner)
Elizabeth "Liz" Meriwether (Creator, Show-runner, Executive Producer)
Jake Johnson (Cast member)

Entertainment Weekly Featured Expert: Jess Cagle, Editor

Parks and Recreation
Panelists
Dan Goor (Writer, Executive Producer)
Joe Mande (Writer)
Amy Poehler (Star, Writer, Producer)
Michael Schur (Co-creator, Executive Producer, Show-runner)

Entertainment Weekly Featured Expert: Jess Cagle, Editor

Jim Rash is an Academy Award(®) winning writer, as well as an acclaimed actor and director. In 2012, Rash won an Oscar(® )for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Descendants, which he co-wrote alongside Alexander Payne and writing partner Nat Faxon. Next up for Rash is the Fox Searchlight film, The Way, Way Back, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Joining his writing partner, Nat Faxon, Rash co-wrote, co-directed and stars in the film which is set for limited release on July 5(th), 2013. In addition, Rash is currently writing with Faxon on an untitled action comedy for Indian Paintbrush featuring Kristen Wiig. Beyond his work in film, Rash has appeared in a number of noteworthy roles in television. He most recently completed production on season four of NBC's hit comedy series, Community, where he plays the cross-dressing educator, "Dean Pelton". The series has just been renewed for a 5(th) season. In addition, Rash has been seen in recurring roles on Reno 911!, That 70's Show, and Help Me Help You . Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Rash graduated from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill where he received a Bachelor's Degree in radio, television and motion picture arts.

"The Writers' Room" joins Sundance Channel's impressive slate of offerings including hit docu-series "Push Girls", Jane Campion's critically acclaimed mini-series "Top of the Lake," and the network's latest addition and first wholly owned scripted series, the critically lauded "Rectify."

Relativity Television will produce "The Writers' Room" with its CEO Tom Forman and EVP Brad Bishop serving as Executive Producers along with Neal Kendall ("Tavis Smiley"). Marco Bresaz will executive produce for Sundance Channel.

Join in the "Writers' Room" conversation on Twitter using #writersroom.

About Sundance Channel
Sundance Channel is the destination for What's Next, Now. Showcasing both today's creative icons and the emerging talent of tomorrow, Sundance Channel tells bold stories with a fresh point of view. In addition to award winning films, Sundance Channel is home to daring new original programming. Launched in 1996 and owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc., Sundance Channel provides perspectives dedicated to founder Robert Redford's mission to celebrate creativity.

About Entertainment Weekly and EW.com
Entertainment Weekly helps readers have fun. It is your all-access pass to Hollywood's most creative minds and most fascinating stars. The print weekly was introduced by Time Inc. in 1990 and is America's leading consumer magazine in the entertainment category, with a guaranteed circulation rate base of nearly 1.8 million and a combined audience of over 17 million loyal, engaged fans. It is a winner of four National Magazine Awards (two for General Excellence, one for Design and one for Special Interest) and was named one of min's 25 Most Notable Magazine Launches of the Last 25 Years. Entertainment Weekly is the first to know about the best (and worst) in entertainment, and with sharp insight and a trusted voice, EW keeps readers plugged into pop culture. This is where buzz begins.

Each day, EW.com publishes a myriad of online-only articles, blog posts, videos, and photo galleries - plus a complete archive of Entertainment Weekly magazine. Over the last year EW.com has received more than a half dozen industry awards including the 2012 Min Editorial and Design Award for our feature writing and a 2012 Folio Gold Eddie award for Best Online News coverage. In July 2012, the site set new records with 130mm pageviews. As of Dec 2011, Entertainment Weekly is also available on the iPad®, NOOK Color(TM), HP Touchpad, Kindle Fire and select Android(TM) devices.

About AMC Networks Inc.
Dedicated to producing quality programming and movie content for more than 30 years, AMC Networks Inc. owns and operates several of the most popular and award-winning brands in cable television. AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, and IFC Films produce and deliver distinctive, compelling and culturally relevant content that engages audiences across multiple platforms. The company also operates AMC/Sundance Channel Global, an international programming business, and AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, a full-service network programming feed origination and distribution company.

About Relativity Television
Relativity Television, under the leadership of award-winning producer Tom Forman (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Kid Nation), has quickly become one of the country's largest suppliers of unscripted television and has recently expanded to scripted programming with the development of scripted sitcoms, dramas, and sketch comedy series. Relativity Television currently has 70 projects in active production, including 17 original series currently airing or that will air in the upcoming television season. The company, which was launched in 2008 as RelativityREAL and recently rebranded as Relativity Television, has overall production deals with TV veterans Jay Blumenfield and Tony Marsh, Ashley Tisdale's Blondie Girl Productions, executive producer Ellen Rakieten (The Oprah Winfrey Show), Ray Ricord, Bogner Entertainment and This is Just a Test Productions.

SOURCE Sundance Channel

Sundance Channel

CONTACT: Katie Lanegran, Sundance Channel, (646) 273-7154, Katie.lanegran@sundancechannel.com; Kayla Hurne, FerenComm on behalf of Sundance Channel, (612) 354-3600, kaylah@ferencomm.com

Web Site: http://www.sundancechannel.com


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