A Wilderness of Error (TV series)

Last updated

A Wilderness of Error
Genre
Based on A Wilderness of Error: The Trials of Jeffrey MacDonald
by Errol Morris
Written by
Directed by Marc Smerling
Starring
  • Clay Boulware
  • John Morgan
  • Logan Stearns
  • Roger Hervas
  • Bryan King
  • Gina Mazzara
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes5
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Marc Smerling
  • Jason Blum
  • Scott Curtis
Cinematography
  • Philipp Friesenbichler
  • Brian Jackson
Production companies
Original release
Network FX
ReleaseSeptember 25 (2020-09-25) 
October 2, 2020 (2020-10-02)

A Wilderness of Error is an FX documentary true crime five-part series premiered on September 25, 2020, directed by Marc Smerling. [1] [2] It is based on the book A Wilderness of Error: The Trials of Jeffrey MacDonald by Errol Morris.

Contents

Premise

The series examines the case of Jeffrey MacDonald, an Army surgeon who was accused of murdering his wife and two daughters on February 17, 1970. He was convicted of the crime on August 29, 1979, and has been in prison since 1982. However, MacDonald maintains his innocence. [3]

Cast

Main

Recurring and guest

Episodes

No.Title [4] Original air date [4] U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Girl in a Floppy Hat"September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)0.284 [5]
2"A Time of Suspicion"September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)0.162 [5]
3"Should the Jury Find..."September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)0.162 [5]
4"When a Narrative Becomes Reality"October 2, 2020 (2020-10-02)0.260 [6]
5"A Wilderness of Error"October 2, 2020 (2020-10-02)0.193 [6]

Production

In April 2020, Academy Award-nominated film producer Marc Smerling served as director for the series. [3]

Release

A Wilderness of Error premiered on FX on September 25, 2020. [2] The first official trailer was released by FX on July 30, 2020. [7] It was released internationally on Disney + as Star Original Series.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey R. MacDonald</span> Military physician, convicted of murder

Jeffrey Robert MacDonald is an American former medical doctor and United States Army captain who was convicted in August 1979 of murdering his pregnant wife and two daughters in February 1970 while serving as an Army Special Forces physician.

<i>A Wilderness of Error</i> Book by Errol Morris

A Wilderness of Error: The Trials of Jeffrey MacDonald is a book by Errol Morris, published in September 2012. It reexamines the case of Jeffrey MacDonald, the Green Beret physician accused of killing his wife and two daughters in their home in Fort Bragg on February 17, 1970, and convicted of the crime on August 29, 1979. MacDonald has been in federal prison since 1982.

<i>Review</i> (TV series) 2014–2017 Comedy Central series starring Andy Daly

Review is an American mockumentary comedy television series starring Andy Daly as professional critic Forrest MacNeil, who provides reviews of real-life experiences. The series was developed by Daly, Jeffrey Blitz and Charlie Siskel, and is an adaptation of the Australian television series Review with Myles Barlow. It premiered in the United States on March 6, 2014, on Comedy Central, and ended on March 30, 2017, with a total of 22 episodes over the course of three seasons.

<i>Snowfall</i> (TV series) American crime drama television series

Snowfall is an American crime drama television series, created by John Singleton, Eric Amadio, and Dave Andron. The series was broadcast on FX in the United States. Snowfall premiered on July 5, 2017 and ended on April 19, 2023, comprising 60 episodes over six seasons.

<i>The Sinner</i> (TV series) 2017 American crime drama television series

The Sinner is an American police procedural anthology television series developed by Derek Simonds for USA Network. It is named after Petra Hammesfahr's 1999 novel, which served as the basis for the first season. Bill Pullman stars as a police detective who investigates crimes committed by unlikely culprits and attempts to uncover their motivations. Only Pullman appears in every season, while the rest of the cast mostly changes for each season's story.

<i>American Rust</i> (TV series) American television drama series

American Rust is an American crime drama television series created by Dan Futterman based on the 2009 novel by Philipp Meyer. The series premiered on September 12, 2021, on Showtime. In January 2022, the series was canceled after one season by Showtime. In June 2022, the series was revived for a second season by Amazon Freevee. The second season was released on March 28, 2024 on Amazon Prime Video. In July 2024, the series was once again canceled after two seasons.

City on a Hill is an American crime drama television series created by Charlie MacLean, based on a story by Ben Affleck and MacLean. The series stars Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge, Amanda Clayton, Cathy Moriarty, Kevin Dunn, and Jill Hennessy. The series premiered on June 7, 2019 (online) and June 16, 2019 (Showtime). On August 2, 2019, Showtime renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on March 28, 2021. On June 2, 2021, the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on July 31, 2022. On October 27, 2022, Showtime cancelled the series after three seasons.

<i>Miracle Workers</i> (2019 TV series) American anthology comedy television series

Miracle Workers is an American anthology comedy television series created by Simon Rich for TBS. It is based in part on Rich's writings, with the first season being based on his 2012 novel What in God's Name, while the short story "Revolution" provided the basis for the second season. The series stars an ensemble cast comprising Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Buscemi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Jon Bass, Karan Soni, Sasha Compère, and Lolly Adefope. The show is a co-production between TBS and FX, whose in-house production company FXP is involved.

<i>The Hills: New Beginnings</i> American reality television series

The Hills: New Beginnings is an American reality television show, developed as a sequel to The Hills. The series documents the original cast members as they navigate from the carefree days that were their 20s to the more complicated reality of life in their mid 30s while still living in Los Angeles. The series was canceled after two seasons in January 2022.

<i>Blues Clues & You!</i> Television series from Nickelodeon

Blue's Clues & You! is an interactive educational children's television series developed by Traci Paige Johnson and Angela C. Santomero for Nickelodeon. Combining live-action and animation, it is a revival of the 1996–2006 Blue's Clues television series, which was created by Johnson, Santomero, and Todd Kessler. The revival features a new host, Josh Dela Cruz, and is produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, 9 Story Media Group, and Brown Bag Films Toronto. It premiered on Nickelodeon on November 11, 2019.

<i>Mr. Mayor</i> American TV sitcom (2021–22)

Mr. Mayor is an American sitcom television series created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock for NBC. The series stars Ted Danson, Bobby Moynihan, Holly Hunter, Vella Lovell, Mike Cabellon, and Kyla Kenedy. It aired from January 7, 2021, to May 17, 2022. In March 2021, the series was renewed for a second season. A holiday special episode aired on December 15, 2021, and the second season premiered on March 15, 2022. In May 2022, the series was canceled after two seasons.

<i>Family Guy</i> season 19 Season of television series

The nineteenth season of Family Guy aired on Fox from September 27, 2020, to May 16, 2021.

<i>The Hustler</i> (American game show) American game show

The Hustler is an American television game show that aired on ABC from January 4 to September 23, 2021. Hosted by Craig Ferguson, it follows five contestants who collaborate to build up a cash prize by answering a series of trivia questions. One of the contestants is secretly designated as the Hustler beforehand and given the answers to all the questions. By the end of the game, two of the honest contestants have been eliminated; the other two must correctly choose the Hustler in order to stop them from winning the entire prize.

United States of Al is an American television sitcom created by David Goetsch and Maria Ferrari. It stars Adhir Kalyan and Parker Young, with Elizabeth Alderfer, Kelli Goss, Dean Norris, and Farrah Mackenzie in supporting roles. The series follows Al (Kalyan), an interpreter from Afghanistan who moves to Columbus, Ohio, with his friend Riley (Young), a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Executive produced by Chuck Lorre, it is produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Television.

<i>Middlemost Post</i> American animated television series

Middlemost Post is an American animated comedy television series created by John Trabbic III and developed by Dave H. Johnson and Trabbic III for Nickelodeon. It aired from July 9, 2021, to October 21, 2022.

<i>Welcome to Flatch</i> 2022 American television mockumentary series

Welcome to Flatch is an American mockumentary sitcom that aired on Fox from March 17, 2022, to February 2, 2023. It is based on the British series This Country, which was created and written by Daisy May Cooper and her brother Charlie Cooper who also played the lead roles. The US adaptation was developed by Jenny Bicks. In May 2022, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on September 29, 2022. In October 2023, the series was canceled after two seasons.

<i>Crime Scene Kitchen</i> American reality TV series (2021– )

Crime Scene Kitchen is an American reality television series that premiered on Fox on May 26, 2021. The series is hosted by Joel McHale with Yolanda Gampp and Curtis Stone serving as judges.

<i>Law & Order: Special Victims Unit</i> season 23 Season of television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

The twenty-third season of the American crime-drama television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit was ordered on February 27, 2020, by NBC. It was set to air during the 2021–2022 television season, the season was produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television; the showrunner was Warren Leight, in the third and final season of his second stint in the role. The season premiered on September 23, 2021, and concluded on May 19, 2022. The series' milestone 500th episode aired this season as the sixth episode and saw the return of former Detective Nick Amaro and former SVU Captain Don Cragen. This is the last season for Jamie Gray Hyder and Demore Barnes as they departed in the premiere episode. The season consisted of 22 episodes.

<i>American Auto</i> American television sitcom series

American Auto is an American television sitcom created by Justin Spitzer, that aired from December 13, 2021, to April 18, 2023, on NBC. In May 2022, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on January 24, 2023. In June 2023, the series was canceled after two seasons.

<i>Atlanta</i> season 4 Season of television series

The fourth and final season of the American television series Atlanta premiered on FX on September 15, 2022. The season is produced by Gilga, 343 Incorporated, MGMT. Entertainment, and FXP, with Donald Glover, Paul Simms, Dianne McGunigle, Stephen Glover, Hiro Murai, and Stefani Robinson serving as executive producers. Donald Glover serves as creator and showrunner.

References

  1. "FX Sets Premiere Date for "A Wilderness of Error"". The Futon Critic . July 30, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Del Rosario, Alexandra (July 30, 2020). "'A Wilderness Of Error': FX Reveals Premiere Date, Trailer And Art For True Crime Docuseries". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  3. 1 2 N'Duka, Amanda (April 24, 2020). "Emmy Winner, 'All Good Things' Writer-Producer Marc Smerling Launches Truth Media". Deadline . Archived from the original on May 8, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "A Wilderness of Error – Listings". The Futon Critic . Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Mitch Metcalf (September 28, 2020). "Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.25.2020". Showbuzz Daily . Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Mitch Metcalf (October 5, 2020). "Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.2.2020". Showbuzz Daily . Archived from the original on October 5, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  7. Nakamura, Reid (July 30, 2020). "'A Wilderness of Error' Trailer Revisits the Jeffrey MacDonald Triple-Murder Case 40 Years Later (Video)". TheWrap . Retrieved July 31, 2020.