Draft:American Classic (TV series)

In January 2025, [[MGM+]] gave an eight-episode series order to ''American Classic'', a half-hour comedy starring and executive produced by Oscar winner [[Kevin Kline]] and created by Bob Martin and Michael Hoffman. The series has been in the works at MGM+ for more than three years, and was announced as part of the development slate of the platform in February 2022. Following that, [[Fifth Season (company)|Fifth Season]] came on board as studio, with Mar-Key Pictures, [[Likely Story]] and [[Anonymous Content]] producing. Writers Hoffman and Martin as well as Ellen Fairey are executive producers alongside Kline, Leslie Urdang, Anthony Bregman, and Miriam Mintz, David Levine and Garrett Kemble for Anonymous Content, with Hoffman directing the pilot episode.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2025/01/kevin-kline-comedy-american-classic-mgm-plus-jon-tenney-1236270219/|website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=1 May 2025|title= Kevin Kline Comedy ‘American Classic’ Gets MGM+ Series Order; Jon Tenney Co-Stars In Fifth Season Production|first= Nellie|last= Andreeva|date=January 28, 2025}}</ref>

In January 2025, [[MGM+]] gave an eight-episode series order to ''American Classic'', a half-hour comedy starring and executive produced by Oscar winner [[Kevin Kline]] and created by Bob Martin and Michael Hoffman. The series has been in the works at MGM+ for more than three years, and was announced as part of the development slate of the platform in February 2022. Following that, [[Fifth Season (company)|Fifth Season]] came on board as studio, with Mar-Key Pictures, [[Likely Story]] and [[Anonymous Content]] producing. Writers Hoffman and Martin as well as Ellen Fairey are executive producers alongside Kline, Leslie Urdang, Anthony Bregman, and Miriam Mintz, David Levine and Garrett Kemble for Anonymous Content, with Hoffman directing the pilot episode.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2025/01/kevin-kline-comedy-american-classic-mgm-plus-jon-tenney-1236270219/|website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=1 May 2025|title= Kevin Kline Comedy ‘American Classic’ Gets MGM+ Series Order; Jon Tenney Co-Stars In Fifth Season Production|first= Nellie|last= Andreeva|date=January 28, 2025}}</ref>

===Casting===

The cast, led by Kline, also contained [[Jon Tenney]] and [[Laura Linney]], and included [[Harris Yulin]], [[Jane Alexander]], [[Jessica Hecht]], Billy Carter, Nell Verlaque, Ajay Friese and Elise Kibler. [[Principal photography]] was scheduled for New Jersey in the summer of 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2025/04/american-classic-mgm-adds-seven-actors-comedy-kevin-kline-1236379946/|website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=1 May 2025|title= ‘American Classic’ Adds 7 To Cast Of MGM+ Comedy Starring Kevin Kline & Laura Linney|date=29 April 2025|first=Lynette|last=Rice}}</ref> Filming had begun in June 2025 when Yulin died from a cardiac arrest. <ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=MGM+'s 'American Classic' Remains In Production Following Star Harris Yulin's Death As Role Faces Likely Recasting & EP Mourns Actor |url=https://deadline.com/2025/06/american-classic-impact-harris-yulin-death-1236431192/ |website=Deadline Hollywood| date=June 11, 2025 |access-date=July 8, 2025}}</ref>

The cast, led by Kline, also contained [[Jon Tenney]] and [[Laura Linney]], and included [[Harris Yulin]], [[Jane Alexander]], [[Jessica Hecht]], Billy Carter, Nell Verlaque, Ajay Friese and Elise Kibler. [[Principal photography]] was scheduled for New Jersey in the summer of 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2025/04/american-classic-mgm-adds-seven-actors-comedy-kevin-kline-1236379946/|website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=1 May 2025|title= ‘American Classic’ Adds 7 To Cast Of MGM+ Comedy Starring Kevin Kline & Laura Linney|date=29 April 2025|first=Lynette|last=Rice}}</ref> Filming had begun in June 2025 when Yulin died from a cardiac arrest prior to the commencement of his scenes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=MGM+'s 'American Classic' Remains In Production Following Star Harris Yulin's Death As Role Faces Likely Recasting & EP Mourns Actor |url=https://deadline.com/2025/06/american-classic-impact-harris-yulin-death-1236431192/ |website=Deadline Hollywood| date=June 11, 2025 |access-date=July 8, 2025}}</ref> Director Hoffman said in a statement "All of us at American Classic have been blessed by our experience with him. He will always remain the beating heart of our show.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/jun/11/harris-yulin-death|website=The Guardian|accessdate=8 July 2025|title= Harris Yulin, character actor and Broadway star, dies at 87|first=Benjamin|last=Lee|date=11 June 2025}}</ref>

== References ==

== References ==