Memphis Declares ‘Underground’ Day to Celebrate WGN Drama Series

Tennessee city honors show about Underground Railroad with day-long events

underground wgn
WGN America

WGN America’s “Underground” will be honored by the city of Memphis as Mayor Jim Strickland officially declared Tuesday is “Underground” Day.   

Memphis is currently the highest-rated market for the critically-acclaimed Underground Railroad series, so WGN America will host a fan appreciation event with the drama’s stars, including Aldis Hodge, Alano Miller and Amirah Vannat the National Civil Rights Museum today.  

The event will feature a sneak peek of the season finale, followed by a Q&A with the stars and a fan meet and greet. Earlier in the day, the cast will also visit local Memphis schools and establishments to thank them for their support.

The celebration is a homecoming for “Underground,” which kicked off its awareness campaign in Memphis last October with an exclusive screening and panel event, also at the National Civil Rights Museum.  The original series also received a special presentation at The White House during Black History Month.  

In Memphis, “Underground” outperforms WGN America’s prior primetime average by 1,229 percent among households in live-plus-three viewing in its time slot. The series was recently renewed for a second season, which will premiere in 2017.

Produced by Sony Pictures Television and Tribune studios, “Underground” was created by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, who executive produce alongside Academy Award-winner Akiva Goldsman of Weed Road Pictures; and Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell of Safehouse Pictures. 

Grammy and Academy Award winner John Legend and his Get Lifted partners Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius also executive produce.  Additionally, Get Lifted oversees all elements of the show’s music. Anthony Hemingway directs and serves as executive producer for the first four episodes.

The Season 1 finale of “Underground” airs May 11 at 10 p.m./9c.

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