The Last Defense 6/12 on ABC

Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s Documentary Series, ‘The Last Defense,’ to Premiere Tuesday, June 12, on ABC

   VIOLA DAVIS AND JULIUS TENNON’S DOCUMENTARY SERIES,
  ‘THE LAST DEFENSE,’ TO PREMIERE TUESDAY, JUNE 12, ON ABC

Executive producers Viola Davis and Julius Tennon have teamed up with XCON Productions and Lincoln Square Productions for the powerful, new documentary series, “The Last Defense,” premiering TUESDAY, JUNE 12 (10:00 – 11:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. The seven-episode docu-series explores and exposes flaws in the American justice system through emotional, in-depth examinations of the death row cases of Darlie Routier and Julius Jones. The series will seek to trace the path that led both Routier and Jones to their places on death row, while taking a deep look into their personal stories.

In 1997, Darlie Routier, wife and mother, was sentenced to death for the brutal stabbing murder of her two young sons, a crime she insists she did not commit. Now 20 years on death row in Texas, the contentious debate over the fairness of her trial is more polarized than ever.
In 2001, Julius Jones, a 21-year-old African-American college student with an academic scholarship, was sentenced to death for the carjacking murder of a white father of two, in Edmond, Oklahoma. Twenty years later and having exhausted his appeals, Jones maintains his innocence.  
As previously announced, the world premiere of “The Last Defense” will screen at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, on Friday, April 27, with the first hour of the Julius Jones case followed by a panel discussion with executive producers Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, Christine Connor and attorney Dale Baich.

“The Last Defense,” executive produced by Viola Davis, Julius Tennon and Andrew Wang for JuVee Productions; Christine Connor and Lee Beckett for XCON Productions; Vanessa Potkin, Aida Leisenring and Morgan Hertzan for Lincoln Square Productions, will air on The ABC Television Network.

About JuVee Productions
  JuVee Productions is an artist driven, Los Angeles-based production company that develops and produces independent film, television, theater and digital content across all spaces of narrative entertainment. JuVee Productions seeks to produce economical, yet premium, sophisticated and character-driven stories. With an emphasis on producing narratives from a diverse range of emerging and established voices alike, JuVee Productions aims to become the go-to creative hub where the next generation of filmmakers and artists have the space to craft dynamic stories spanning the broad spectrum of humanity.

About XCON Productions
  XCON Productions is an idea-driven television production company dedicated to bringing big ideas to the small screen with the goal of understanding the past, questioning the present and impacting the future. Established by veteran television producer Christine Connor in 2010, XCON Productions creates premium non-fiction narrative and documentary television for network, cable and streaming platforms from the genre-busting true-crime anthology series “Final Witness” for ABC to the critically acclaimed “Going Deep with David Rees” on NatGeo, and the Emmy® Award-winning “A Crime to Remember.”

About Lincoln Square Productions 
  ABC News’ Lincoln Square Productions produces original content for broadcast, cable and digital distribution specializing in compelling ways to tell fact-based stories, including ABC’s “What Would You Do?,” “In An Instant,” John Ridley’s critically acclaimed documentary on the LA Riots “Let It Fall,” the “Madoff” miniseries starring Richard Dreyfuss and the “Oscars® Opening Ceremony: Live From the Red Carpet,” Investigation Discovery’s “Barbara Walters Presents,” as well as documentary programming for a wide array of partners, including PBS, Discovery Communications and A&E Networks. Lincoln Square Productions is wholly-owned by the American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. The headquarters are located in New York City’s Lincoln Square neighborhood.

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The Last 100 Days of Diana on ABC 5/7

A New Primetime Special Reexamines Princes Diana's Final 100 Days Leading Up to Her Untimely Death -- A Tulmultuous Summer of Romance and Untimely Tragedy

A NEW PRIMETIME SPECIAL REEXAMINES PRINCESS DIANA’S FINAL 100 DAYS LEADING UP TO HER UNTIMELY DEATH – A TUMULTUOUS SUMMER OF ROMANCE AND ULTIMATELY TRAGEDY

‘The Last 100 Days of Diana,’ Hosted by Martin Bashir, Airs Sunday, May 7

In a primetime special, “The Last 100 Days of Diana,” ABC News retraces the events of Princess Diana’s first and last tumultuous summer as a single woman, divorced from Prince Charles, caught between romantic affairs until the moment of her tragic and untimely death in a car accident in Paris. The two-hour broadcast is hosted by former ABC News “Nightline” co-anchor Martin Bashir and premieres SUNDAY, MAY 7 (9:00 – 11:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network.

In 1996 Bashir won a prestigious BAFTA Award for the only extended interview with the princess of Wales. It was a deeply revealing conversation about her personal struggles. Now he hears new accounts from people inside Diana’s inner circle. Rare interviews with close friends and her personal staff, including her former butler, chef, bodyguard, press secretary and personal trainer, expose what the Princess was thinking as she navigated between new relationships, romance, the press and the public eye. “The Last 100 Days of Diana” chronicles a romantic summer adventure with Dodi al-Fayed and her tender relationship with British Pakistani surgeon Hasnat Khan, and celebrates the emergence of a “new” Diana determined to chart her own path.

“Those who knew her best told us that it was no fluke Diana became the most glamorous woman in the world. She had exceptional intuition, street smarts and a charisma that no one could resist,” says executive producer Terence Wrong.

“The Last 100 Days of Diana” is the first project from Lincoln Square Productions’ U.K. office, led by Sheldon Lazarus. “Producing this poignant tribute to the world’s most famous woman 20 years after her tragic and untimely death has shown yet again what an incredible person we lost,” adds Lazarus. “Through testimonies of those nearest to her, this special showcases the everlasting impact Princess Diana has around the world.”

“The Last 100 Days of Diana” is produced by ABC News’ Lincoln Square Productions and distributed internationally by Disney Media Distribution. Terence Wrong and Sheldon Lazarus are executive producers and Rudy Bednar is director for Lincoln Square Productions.

About Lincoln Square Productions

ABC News’ Lincoln Square Productions produces original content for broadcast, cable and digital distribution specializing in compelling ways to tell fact-based stories, including ABC’s “What Would You Do?,” ABC’s “Madoff,” the OSCAR Red Carpet Opening Ceremony,” Investigation Discovery’s “Barbara Walters Presents,” as well as documentary programming for a wide array of partners, including PBS, Discovery Communications and A & E Networks. Lincoln Square Productions is wholly-owned by the American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. The headquarters are located in New York City’s Lincoln Square neighborhood. Danielle Rossen is vice president of unscripted production and Morgan Hertzan is senior vice president of Lincoln Square Productions.

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TV ONE LAUNCHES THE “CREATORS OF COOL” DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

TV ONE LAUNCHES THE “CREATORS OF COOL”

DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Network Invites Viewers to Imagine A World Without “Creators of Cool”

Offering Programming Highlighting Historic and Current Black Trendsetters

SILVER SPRING, MD – Jan. 27, 2017 – Kicking-off during Black History Month, TV One will recognize African Americans’ contributions to the world with a “Creators of Cool” campaign throughout February, featuring commentary from the cast of TV One’s original movie, MEDIA.  From music and sports legends, to dedicated civil rights leaders to extraordinary entertainers, TV One is presenting a stellar line-up of programming to celebrate African American culture and reflect upon its complex history, including new episodes of its signature and award-winning series Unsung; special feature segments about the Black experience during the network’s daily news program, NewsOne Now; the highly-anticipated premiere of Radio One Founder and Chairperson Cathy Hughes’ original movie, MEDIA; and the live telecast of the 48th NAACP Image Awards hosted by Emmy Award-nominated actor Anthony Anderson.

TV One’s commitment to highlighting “Creators of Cool” will also include commentary on what the world would be without these influential individuals and trends. In addition, the network will offer documentary and movie premieres of Soul Food Junkies, The Watsons Go To Birmingham and You Belong to Me: Sex, Race and Murder in the South.  An overview of TV One’s Black History Month programming is as follows:

ORIGINAL SERIES

NEWS ONE NOW

Live Weekdays: 7-8 a.m. ET (All Month Long)

TV One is the exclusive home of NewsOne Now, the only live daily news program targeting Black viewers, hosted by award-winning journalist Roland S. Martin. Now in its third season, each morning, Martin – who also serves as the program’s managing editor – focuses on the issues that impact the Black community, from politics and public policy to entertainment and beyond.

UNSUNG

Season 10: New Episodes Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET

Premiere Dates: Feb. 1 (Case), Feb, 8 (Dave Hollister), Feb.  15 (After 7), Feb. 22 (Tribute to James Brown)

Through first-hand accounts, interviews with family and friends, and archival footage, each episode of TV One’s signature series weaves a tale of the highs and lows of a life in the limelight. The poignant stories of Unsung offer insight into the trials and triumphs faced by musical artists in both private and public forums. Season 10 continues during the month of February with episodes featuring Case, Dave Hollister, After 7 and a special tribute to the legendary Godfather of Soul, James Brown.

ORIGINAL SPECIALS & MOVIES:

A NEWS ONE NOW PRIMETIME SPECIAL: EXCELLENCE IN BLACK HOLLYWOOD

Special Premiere: Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 9 p.m. ET

In the days leading up to the 48TH NAACP Image Awards, NewsOne Now Managing Editor and Host Roland S. Martin sits down with John Legend, Issa Rae and other members of the Black Hollywood community to discuss entertainment, culture and the Black experience in television and film.

48TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS

Live Red Carpet Pre-Show: Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Live Telecast: Saturday, Feb. 11 at 9-11 p.m. ET

Hosted by Anthony Anderson, the NAACP Image Awards celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. The nominees include Beyoncé, Solange Knowles, Viola Davis, Kevin Hart, Issa Rae, Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, Kerry Washington, Donald Glover, Nate Parker, Omari Hardwick, Anika Noni Rose and Sterling K. Brown among others. Additionally, LeBron R. James will receive the NAACP Jackie Robinson Sports Award and Harvard Law Professor Charles J. Ogletree, Jr. will receive the Chairman’s Award.

MEDIA

Original Movie Premiere: Saturday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. ET

MEDIA focuses on the Jones family, who owns and operates JUMP, a dynasty that has dominated the national urban media scene for years. Between affairs and conspiracies, backdoor deals, fierce rivalries and even murder, the Jones family is doing everything they can to stop anyone or anything trying to tear them apart. MEDIA stars Penny Johnson Jerald, Brian White, Gary Dourdan, Stephen Bishop, Pooch Hall, Chrystee Pharris, Denise Boutte, Finesse Mitchell and Blue Kimble. The original movie is executive produced by Radio One Founder and Chairperson Cathy Hughes with showrunner/writer Kevin Arkadie (New York Undercover, Soul Food, The Shield).

NETWORK DOCUMENTARY AND MOVIE PREMIERES:

SOUL FOOD JUNKIES

Network Documentary Premiere: Sunday, Feb. 5 at 11 a.m. ET

Encores: Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. ET

Filmmaker Byron Hurt sets out on a historical and culinary journey to learn more about the soul food tradition and its relevance to black cultural identity. Through candid interviews with soul food cooks, historians, and scholars, the film puts this culinary tradition under the microscope to examine both its positive and negative consequences.

THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM

Network Movie Premiere: Sunday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. ET

Encores: Sunday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET

Directed by Kenny Leon (The Wiz Live!, Hairspray Live!), The Watsons Go To Birmingham is set in the Summer of 1963. Daniel (Wood Harris) and Wilona Watson (Anika Noni Rose) take their three kids on a road trip from Flint, Michigan to Birmingham, Alabama to spend the summer with Grandma Sands (LaTanya Richardson Jackson) and her friend, Mr. Robert (David Alan Grier) who show them around town. The Watsons discover that life is very different there than in Flint - and not necessarily for the better. During that historic summer, the Watsons find themselves caught up in a historic milestone of the Civil Rights Movement.

YOU BELONG TO ME: SEX, RACE AND MURDER IN THE SOUTH

Network Documentary Premiere: Monday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. ET

Encores: Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 1 a.m. ET and Thursday, Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. ET

The story of Ruby McCollum, a prominent black woman in the Jim Crow south who killed a white doctor in Florida after suffering years of sexual abuse tied to practices in the Jim Crow South.

For more information about TV One’s Black History Month visit www.tvone.tv and check out TV One’s YouTube Channel. Viewers can also join the conversation by connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram  and Facebook (@tvonetv) using the hash tag #CreatorsofCool.

ABOUT TV ONE:

Launched in January 2004, TV One serves more than 60 million households, offering a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies and music designed to entertain and inform a diverse audience of adult black viewers. The network represents the best in black culture and entertainment with fan favorite shows Unsung, Rickey Smiley For Real, Fatal Attraction, Hollywood Divas and The NAACP Image Awards.  In addition, TV One is the cable home of blockbuster drama Empire, and NewsOne Now, the only live daily news program dedicated to black viewers. In December 2008, the company launched TV One High Def, which now serves 14 million households. TV One is solely owned by Radio One [NASDAQ: ROIA and ROIAK, www.radio-one.com], the largest radio company that primarily targets Black and urban listeners.