Anacostia (web series)

Last updated
Anacostia
Anacostia (2009) Season 1 title.png
Season 1 main title
Created byAnthony Anderson
Written byAnthony Anderson
Directed byAnthony Anderson
Starring
  • Anthony Anderson
  • Marion Akpan
  • Christopher Bair
  • Martha Byrne
  • Tamieka Chavis
  • Pasha Diallo
  • Kena Hodges
  • Elizabeth Hubbard
  • Walter Maxfield Jones
  • William Lash
  • Tandrea Parrott
  • Melan Perez
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes60
Production
Executive producers
Production company
  • Southeast Boy Productions


Original release
Network
ReleaseOctober 15, 2009 (2009-10-15) 
present

Anacostia is a soap opera web series that premiered on October 15, 2009 on YouTube. It was created by Anthony A. Anderson (not to be confused with the actor of the same name), who also stars in, writes, produces, and directs the series. Anacostia chronicles the drama among residents of the titular community in Washington, D. C. Guest star Martha Byrne later became an executive producer on the series.

Contents

The series was nominated for a 2022 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor In A Short Form Comedy or Drama Series (Anthony Anderson). Anthony Anderson became the first actor in history to be nominated for both a Daytime and Primetime Emmy for the same role.

The series was also nominated for a 2015 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Approaches Drama Series, and Martha Byrne won a Daytime Emmy the same year for Outstanding Performer in a New Approaches Drama Series for her performance as Alexis Jordan. Elizabeth Hubbard was nominated in 2016 for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for her role as Eva Montgomery, and Anthony Anderson made history becoming the first African American to be nominated in 2017 for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for his role as Sean Williams-Grey. In 2017, actress Jennifer Bassey received the show's fifth nomination, in the Outstanding Guest Performer digital category. Anacostia has the most wins at the Indie Series Awards.

In 2018, Anacostia was picked up by Amazon Video for a multi year run on the streaming platform.

Cast

Series overview

Series Summary
Season# of

Episodes

First AiredLast Aired
11020092010
21020102011
31020112012
41020142015
51020152017
61020182021

Episodes

Season 1
No. In

Series

No. In

Season

Episode TitleWritten ByDirected ByViewers

(in thousands)

11Covet Thy NeighborAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.032
22Breaking The SurfaceAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.015
33Beware of The Fine PrintAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.013
44Always Bet on Black (Part 1)Anthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.011
55Always Bet on Black (Part 2)Anthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.017
66L.O.V.E.Anthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.011
77Bad GirlAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.011
88You've Got The LookAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.009
99The End Is ComingAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.013
1010Arrivals & DeparturesAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.012
Season 2
No. In

Series

No. In

Season

Episode TitleWritten ByDirected ByViewers

(in thousands)

111Scar TissueAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.012
122What Will I Tell My Heart?Anthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.010
133Hello Like BeforeAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.042
144The Wheels on The BusAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.012
155Checks and BalancesAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.011
166One For The RoadAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.009
177A House Is Not a HomeAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.010
188Business as UsualAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.008
199Sins of The PastAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.010
2010And Justice For AllAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.011
Season 3
No. In

Series

No. In

Season

Episode TitleWritten ByDirected ByViewers

(in thousands)

211Where Do We Go From HereAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.013
222Only In My DreamsAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.034
233Sign Your NameAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.024
244Helping HandsAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.023
255The Bigger They AreAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.028
266Show and TellAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.023
277The Gangs All HereAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.021
288The Power of GoodbyeAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.038
299Break-up To Make-upAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.028
3010Till Death Do Us PartAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.025
Season 4
No. In

Series

No. In

Season

Episode TitleWritten ByDirected ByViewers

(in thousands)

311Don't Leave Me This WayAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.015
322Once Upon a TimeAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.016
333Never Say NeverAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.014
344What Happens In VegasAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.010
355R.S.V.PAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.007
366Do Unto OthersAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.007
377ChoicesAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.006
388What a Fool BelievesAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.006
399When The Bough BreaksAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.007
4010ProxyAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.008
Season 5
No. In

Series

No. In

Season

Episode TitleWritten ByDirected ByViewers

(in thousands)

411You AgainAnthony Anderson & Martha ByrneAnthony Anderson & Martha Byrne0.013
422Why Me (Part 1)Anthony Anderson & Martha ByrneAnthony Anderson & Martha Byrne0.010
433Why Me (Part 2)Anthony Anderson & Martha ByrneAnthony Anderson & Martha Byrne0.006
444I Can See YouAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.007
455Road KillAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.004
466Speak No EvilAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.003
477The KnockAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.003
488Call It By Its NameAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.002
499Lost and FoundAnthony Anderson & Martha ByrneAnthony Anderson & Martha Byrne0.002
5010ConfessionsAnthony Anderson & Martha ByrneAnthony Anderson & Martha Byrne0.004
Season 6
No. In

Series

No. In

Season

Episode TitleWritten ByDirected ByViewers

(in thousands)

511AftermathAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.010
522Like Father, Like SonAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.008
53315 MinutesAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.008
544One WishAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson
555Man In The MirrorAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson
566The Life Of A LiarAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson
577Let Me Love YouAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson
588Fourth Of JulyAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson
599Secrets, Lies & Rollercoaster RidesAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson
6010Stormy WeatherAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson

Production

Anacostia was created in 2009 by Anderson, who also writes, executive produces and stars in the series. Byrne serves as executive producer. Lora Lee, Jamie Misiak and Alexis Robinson Smith are among the series' line producers. Marion Akpan, Christopher Bair, Pasha Diallo, India Doy-Young, Antonio Harrison Jr., Kena Hodges, William Lash, Rolfini Whidbee, and Spencer Bruttig serve as producers. [1] [2] Previous producers include Fritz Brekeller, the seasons 1-5 supervising producer, Tommy Zamberlan, as the seasons 1-5 Senior Producer, and Benjamin Bryant as co-executive producer of seasons 1-5.

Byrne, known for her longtime role on the defunct CBS soap opera As the World Turns , joined the series in the role of high-powered madame Alexis Jordan in 2011. [3] In September 2015, Soap Opera Digest reported that Byrne's former As the World Turns co-star Elizabeth Hubbard would also appear on Anacostia as Eva Montgomery, in scenes directed and co-written by Byrne. [3] [4] [5]

In early 2021, after an 18 month production hiatus, Spencer Bruttig was added to the team as the show's Cinematographer and producer.

The show has been photographed using RED, Sony and Blackmagic cinema cameras.

Over the series' successive seasons, Anderson has attempted to address a number of social issues through the series soap operatic lens, including realistic takes on mental illness, incest, male-male rape, and the real-life gentrification of the iconic D.C. neighborhood. [5]

Awards and recognition

Anacostia was nominated for a 2022 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor In A Short Form Comedy or Drama Series (Anthony Anderson).

Anacostia was also nominated for a 2015 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Approaches Drama Series, [1] [2] and Martha Byrne won a Daytime Emmy the same year for Outstanding Performer in a New Approaches Drama Series for her performance as Alexis Jordan. [6] Elizabeth Hubbard was nominated in 2016 for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for her role as Eva Montgomery. [7] [8] In 2017, Anthony Anderson was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for his role as Sean Williams-Grey. [9] Jennifer Bassey was nominated in 2018 for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for her portrayal of Beverly Newman. [10]

To date, the series has won fourteen Indie Series Awards, [11] and has been nominated for several more. Anthony Anderson holds the record for most Acting Nominations (18) and is also the leader for overall Nominations (26) at the Indie Series Awards.

YearAwardCategoryIndividualResultRef.
2010 1st Indie Soap Awards Best EnsembleWon [11]
2011 2nd Indie Soap Awards Outstanding Lead ActorAnthony AndersonWon [11]
Breakthrough PerformancePasha DialloWon [11]
2012 3rd Indie Soap Awards Best Guest Appearance (Drama) Martha Byrne Won [11]
Best Writing (Drama)Anthony AndersonWon [11]
2013 4th Indie Soap Awards Best Supporting Actress (Drama)Pasha DialloWon [11]
2015 42nd Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding New Approaches Drama Series Nominated [1] [2]
Outstanding Performer in a New Approaches Drama Series Martha ByrneWon [6]
6th Indie Series Awards Best Ensemble (Drama)Won [11] [12]
2016 43rd Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series Elizabeth Hubbard Nominated [7] [8]
7th Indie Series Awards Best Lead Actress (Drama)Tamieka ChavisNominated [13]
Best Supporting Actress (Drama)Tia DaeNominated [13]
Best Guest Actress (Drama) Elizabeth Hubbard Nominated [13]
Best Ensemble (Drama)Nominated [13]
2017
44th Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series Anthony Anderson as Sean Williams-GreyNominated [9]
8th Indie Series Awards Best Lead Actor (Drama)Anthony AndersonNominated [14]
Best Supporting Actress (Drama)Marion A. AkpanNominated [14]
Best Guest Actor (Drama)Tremayne NorrisWon [15]
Best Guest Actress (Drama)Elizabeth HubbardNominated [14]
Best Ensemble (Drama)Nominated [14]
Best MakeupLora LeeNominated [14]
20189th Indie Series AwardsBest DramaNominated
Best Lead Actor (Drama)Anthony AndersonNominated
Best Supporting Actor (Drama)Wil LashWon [11]
Best Guest Actress (Drama)Dee FreemanNominated
Best Guest Actress (Drama) Jennifer Bassey Nominated
Best Guest Actress (Drama)Judi BlairNominated
Best Guest Actor (Drama)Tremayne NorrisNominated
45th Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Performer in a Digital Daytime Drama Series Jennifer Bassey Nominated [10]
2019 10th Indie Series Awards Best Guest Actress (Drama)Lauren B. MartinWon [11]
46th Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama SeriesWil LashNominated
2022 74th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama SeriesAnthony A. AndersonNominated

In December 2010, Anderson was named by We Love Soaps as one of the 15 Most Fascinating People of 2010. [16]

In 2017, Gothamist Washington D.C. affiliate DCist named Anacostia "one of the best," in an article highlighting series set in the Washington D.C. area. [17]

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