Season 1 – American Hostage

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Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

17 Reviews

94%

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Fred Heckman, a beloved local radio reporter, is thrust into the middle of a life-or-death crisis when hostage-taker Tony Kiritsis demands to be interviewed on his popular radio news program.

Critics Consensus

Though this rehashed bit of history may not seem ripe for a retelling, American Hostage benefits from the always excellent John Hamm and a game Giovanni Ribisi in a production that more than justifies its existence.

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Daniel Fienberg

The Hollywood Reporter

Sep 28, 2026

There’s so much potential in American Hostage, mostly squandered.

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John Anderson

Wall Street Journal

Sep 24, 2026

The performances by Messrs. Hamm and Ribisi couldn’t be more disparate. One is chamber music, the other death metal.

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Jared Richards

The Age (Australia)

Sep 17, 2026

3/5

[The] weariness builds throughout American Hostage, with Hamm’s minute expressions – used so well in Mad Men – revealing an inner turmoil that, while fascinating, probably could have been conveyed in five episodes rather than eight.

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Kyle Wolfe

Pop Culture Leftovers

1 day ago

True stories rarely stay confined to a single interpretation, and American Hostage arrives with the challenge of dramatizing one that only recently hit the screen.

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Dustin Rowles

Pajiba

Sep 24, 2026

It’s a solid miniseries, anchored -- just like the podcast -- by Jon Hamm, who clearly excels at playing old-school, suit-and-tie Midwesterners and brings the perfect voice to radio.

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Randall King

Winnipeg Free Press

Sep 24, 2026

3.5/5

It gets a little tricky straddling all those genres after a few episodes. But the dramatic stuff ultimately holds it together.

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Id L

@idler 2 days ago

Excellent series. Interesting story and fantastic acting. Highly recommended.

Roberto P

@RobertoPaul 5 days ago

This is an amazing series! Jon Hamm perfectly captures the feeling of that era - and the uncomfortable sensation of watching a media circus and wondering how to make a difference. And Giovanni Ribisi kills it - as does the rest of the cast. MGM+ feeling like the days of OG cool HBO!

Brenda P

@bplummer Oct 2, 2026

I'm really enjoying this show. The acting and story are excellent

Christine M

@RT13719211 Sep 30, 2026

It feels incredibly well done. All the furniture and small details make it feel like you’re actually in the time period. I also really like the split screen moments. The hair all looks super good too. Very well done.

Nina P

@NinaP681 Sep 28, 2026

The show itself is an intriguing, absurd true story that is very well crafted. But it's the "Mad Men" vibes that bring me over the top.

Tyler H

@thedude7785 Sep 27, 2026

Great writing that almost draws you back into the late seventies. The performance by Jon Hamm is perfect so much that you can trust he is a Midwest man on the make. Giovanni Ribisi plays the lovable bad guy that has you rooting for him and keeps you on the edge of your tv set waiting to see what is next. This story of Midwest mayhem is a must see.

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Jon Hamm

Fred Heckman

Giovanni Ribisi

Tony Kiritsis

Kristoffer Polaha

Dick Hall

William Jackson Harper

Ben Hairston

Mireille Enos

Barbara

Adam Arkin

Director

Episode 1

Aired Sep 20, 2026

My Town Indy

WIBC News Director Fred Heckman gets the story of his career when a hostage-taker, Tony Kiritsis, demands to be interviewed live on air; Fred must decide whether to air the explosive interview.

Details

Episode 2

Aired Sep 20, 2026

McMahon, Martinis & Madness

Fred has a groundbreaking on-air interview with Tony, only to find himself pulled further and further away from his role as news director.

Details

Episode 3

Aired Sep 27, 2026

Magic Ticket Sweepstakes

When a report from WIBC sends Tony into a deadly spiral, Fred is forced to embrace the role of hostage negotiator to prolong Dick's life.

Details

Episode 4

Aired Oct 4, 2026

A Taste of Indianapolis

Fred, in trying to talk Tony through a dark period of despondency, ends up revealing deep personal truths that have repercussions for his marriage.

Details

Episode 5

Aired Oct 11, 2026

WIBC Mystery Science Theater

Fred is pushed to the brink as he waits to see whether Tony will accept the DA's immunity offer; a moment of connection between him and FBI Special Agent McNally shifts into a tense game of cat and mouse, and Fred must face a moral reckoning.

Details

Episode 6

Airs Oct 18

Moon News and Markets

Fred wrestles with selling the false immunity agreement to Tony over the air, taking the story back to 1972.

Details

Episode 7

Airs Oct 25

Tomorrow Is Here

Having sold the lie of immunity on-air and successfully convinced Tony to sign the agreement, Fred now finds himself shut out of law enforcement's plans to bring this crisis to an end today, one way or another.

Details

Episode 8

Airs Nov 1

Break the Bank

Fred must do everything he can to keep Tony alive when they're thrust into the spotlight.

Details

American Hostage: Season 1 Trailer

2:36

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American Hostage: Season 1 Episode 1 Exclusive Sneak Peek - Antenna

3:06

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Director: Adam Arkin, Nina Lopez-Corrado
Executive Producer: Adam Arkin
Network: MGM+
Genre: Crime, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date: Sep 20, 2026

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Season 1 – American Hostage

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