Manhattan debuting July 27 on WGN America....

[Little Star]

WGN America has a message for potential audiences of its ambitious new series “Manhattan:” It’s not a boring history lesson.

The show may revolve around the Manhattan Project, whose scientists secretly built the first atom bombs used during World War II, but in developing its campaign for the series, debuting July 27, WGN America realized the subject may turn off potential viewers who might believe it’s a dull documentary.

In order to change any misconceptions, the network will air the half-hour special, “The Manhattan Project: Beyond the Bomb,” starting July 4, that introduces the suburban society of 1940s Los Alamos, N.M., featured in the show. (Watch an exclusive clip from the special above.)

While there have been a slew of other shows set during notable historical time periods (“Mad Men,” “Boardwalk Empire,” even WGN America’s own “Salem,” set during the 17th century witch trials) the challenge was to bring to life stories that had previously only been available in text books, while promoting the fact that the show isn’t meant to be strictly “a historical retelling of something that happened in American history,” said Brian Dollenmayer, executive VP of marketing and promotions, WGN America and Tribune Studios. “It’s not just World War II clips or tales. It’s a scripted drama that’s exciting, thrilling and dangerous.”
http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/manhattan-campaign-blasts-away-image-of-history-lesson-1201257170/

I've scheduled this one on my DVR. Hope it's as good as it looks. Will anyone else be giving it a try?

[Stardust]

1. I will, too. Any idea when the actual series begins?

[joshcryer]

2. "We'll end all war. Forever."

"Do you really believe that?"

Fascinating exchange in S1E03... I like this show but it's more an alternate reality show when you read others' accounts of the project. Feynman is probably the best. It wasn't that tyrannical for the scientists, if anything, they were elevated to prime status and the guards / army were second class citizens.

The show writers probably are appealing to US self-criticism by making the guards out to be these evil entities. The guards didn't know what was going on and the scientists being investigated didn't have to endure the insanity portrayed in the film. It was complete compartmantalization, the guards didn't know, the scientists didn't know, it was only a few dozen top guys who knew the full picture.

Don't take the show seriously as historical fact but as alternate reality fiction, it will probably become next years Breaking Bad if not better. Will be a top emmy winning show after that. Mark my words, it's damn good, even if there are a lot of problems with it (particularly language use and craploads of anachronisms, future seasons may fix that if WGN is able to keep it alive).