Series synopsis
John Adams is an American drama television series that premiered on HBO on March 16, 2008. It ended on April 20, 2008. It was created by Kirk Ellis. It stars Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, Stephen Dillane and Danny Huston.
Adapted from David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, this lavish seven-part miniseries chronicles the life of Founding Father John Adams, starting with the Boston Massacre of 1770 through his years as an ambassador in Europe, then his terms as vice president and president of the United States, up to his death on July 4, 1826.
Premise
Adapted from David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, this lavish seven-part miniseries chronicles the life of Founding Father John Adams, starting with the Boston Massacre of 1770 through his years as an ambassador in Europe, then his terms as vice president and president of the United States, up to his death on July 4, 1826.
Premise: He united the states of America.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Paul Giamatti as John Adams
- Laura Linney as Abigail Adams
- Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson
- Danny Huston as Samuel Adams
- David Morse as George Washington
- Sarah Polley as Abigail Adams Smith
- Tom Wilkinson as Benjamin Franklin
- Željko Ivanek as John Dickinson
Supporting cast
- Rufus Sewell as Alexander Hamilton
- Steven Hinkle as Young John Quincy Adams
- Madeline Taylor as Young Nabby Adams
- John Dossett as Benjamin Rush
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach as John Quincy Adams
- Samuel Barnett as Thomas Adams
- Andrew Scott as Colonel William Smith
- Kevin Trainor as Charles Adams
- Mamie Gummer as Sally Smith Adams
Guest cast
- Boris McGiver as Robert Goddard
- John Bedford Lloyd as Richard Palmes
- Ritchie Coster as Captain Preston
- Guy Henry as Jonathan Sewall
- Justin Theroux as John Hancock
- Bill Buell as Justice Lynde
- Clancy O'Connor as Edward Rutledge
- Brennan Brown as Robert Treat Paine
- Tom Beckett as Elbridge Gerry
- Vincent Renart as Andrew Holmes
- Ed Jewett as James Duane
- Del Pentecost as General Henry Knox
Episodes
This series spans 2 seasons with 9 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 2 | ||
| Season 1 | 7 | March 16, 2008 | April 20, 2008 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Making John Adams See the technology and artistry behind the making of the epic John Adams miniseries. |
|
| 2 |
David McCullough: Painting With Words In this intimate, informal portrait of an artist as a historian, Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough welcomes viewers into his public and private world, exhibiting the infectious curiosity, humor and humanity that have defined his work and life. Director Mark Herzog travels with the celebrated writer as he delivers a speech to rapt legislators; climbs the same Philadelphia church's steeple tower as did John Adams two centuries earlier; returns to the Massachusetts Historical Society to again study an original Adams letter written to his wife Abigail a day before July 4, 1776; visits his old Brooklyn neighborhood and makes his annual trek across the Brooklyn Bridge; sings songs, paints pictures, and reflects on his undiminished enthusiasm for writing while sitting in his tiny "world headquarters" (shed-like though not a shed, he insists) on the grounds of his home. Accompanied in most of these journeys by wife Rosalee (whom he met the summer before college), McCullough provides an insightful, anecdotal look into his life and career, while displaying a refreshing approachability and genuine interest in people he meets along the way. |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Join or Die In an emotionally charged trial John Adams defends the British sentries involved in the Boston Massacre who contend they were provoked into firing on the assembled crowd. John's success brings him offers of positions in the Massachusetts government. But after John Hancock rouses a crowd to tar and feather a representative of the British East India Tea Company and the British respond to the growing unrest with oppressive measures, John instead speaks against the British policies and chooses to represent Massachusetts in the Continental Congress. |
March 16, 2008 |
| 2 |
Independence After viewing the dead and wounded on the battlefield of Concord, John Adams takes up the cause of Independence. Frustrated by the caution of delegates from colonies that do not share Massachusetts plight, the inexperienced politician is abrasive, obnoxious and even insulting. But with the advice of Abigail and Ben Franklin he soon learns he has allies, to cultivate them, to bide his time and to seize opportunities. Following John's nomination, George Washington takes charge of the army and enjoys successes despite supply shortages. Back at home, Abigail and the children risk supporting the war effort in most tangible ways but find Mother Nature more threatening. |
March 16, 2008 |
| 3 |
Don't Tread on Me Over the emotional objections of Abigail, John Adam and his son endure turbulent seas and an encounter with the British Navy to join Ben Franklin on a diplomatic mission to Paris. But Ben cannot restrain John's abrasive personality which is even less well suited to Paris than Philadelphia. |
March 23, 2008 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | HBO |
|---|---|
| First aired | March 16, 2008 |
| Last aired | April 20, 2008 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 20:00:00 |