‘These Hallowed Grounds and Underground Screening’
In celebration of Black History Month, the White House Office of Public Engagement hosted a panel and screening event for WGN America’s “Underground,” the upcoming original series, produced by Sony Pictures Television and Tribune Studios, set to premiere Wednesday, March 9 on WGN America. The February 22 White House event was attended by Senior Administration Officials including Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to the President of the United States of America, who welcomed attendees with opening remarks about the powerful and gripping new series being a perfect fit for the Black History Month event entitled “These Hallowed Grounds and Underground Screening.”
Cast and creative team from WGN America’s “Underground” participated in two panel discussions that included executive producers John Legend and Akiva Goldsman, creators Misha Green and Joe Pokaski and director and executive producer Anthony Hemingway, and cast including Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aldis Hodge, Christopher Meloni, Alano Miller, Jessica de Gouw and Amirah Vann, along with president and general manager, WGN America/ Tribune Studios, Matt Cherniss. The event was also attended by Peter Liguori, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tribune Media Company and Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, Presidents, Programming & Production, Sony Pictures Television, as well as leadership from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).
“Underground” production team and Matt Cherniss, president and general manager for WGN America/ Tribune Studios, join moderator Jeff Johnson for a discussion prior to a screening of the new original series premiering March 9. Pictured left to right: Akiva Goldsman, executive producer; John Legend, executive producer; Misha Green, creator and executive producer; Joe Pokaski, creator and executive producer; Jeff Johnson, panel moderator; Anthony Hemingway, executive producer and director; Matt Cherniss, president and general manager for WGN America/ Tribune Studios (PRNewsFoto/WGN America)
Executives from Sony Pictures Television and WGN America/Tribune Studios join “Underground” executive producer, John Legend, for a photo just before the White House event. Pictured left to right: Jamie Erlicht, president, U.S. programming and production for Sony Pictures Television (SPT); Matt Cherniss, president and general manager for WGN America/ Tribune Studios; John Legend, executive producer of “Underground”; Zack Van Amburg, president, U.S. programming and production for Sony Pictures Television (SPT) (PRNewsFoto/WGN America)
The cast of “Underground” gather for a photo outside of the White House. Pictured left to right: Alano Miller, Amirah Vann, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aldis Hodge, Jessica de Gouw, Christopher Meloni (PRNewsFoto/WGN America)
Creators and executive producers of “Underground” in front of the White House prior to the series’ screening as part of the White House Office of Public Engagement’s Black History Month event, “These Hallowed Grounds.” Pictured left to right: Joe Pokaski, Misha Green (PRNewsFoto/WGN America)
Senior Advisor to the President of the United States of America, Valerie Jarrett, joins the cast of “Underground” for a photo before making her opening remarks at the event. Pictured left to right: Jessica de Gouw, Amirah Vann, Alano Miller, Christopher Meloni, Valerie Jarrett, Aldis Hodge, Jurnee Smollett-Bell. (PRNewsFoto/WGN America)
