The Americas

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Back in January 2020, NBC unveiled its series order for The Americas. At that time, Peacock, their streaming service, was not even in existence yet. Since then, there have been several shifts in leadership within NBC’s entertainment division, but The Americas has managed to remain on schedule amidst these changes at NBC.

The five-year-old nature documentary series, titled “The Americas,” produced by BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit (known for “Planet Earth” and “Prehistoric Planet”) and narrated by Tom Hanks, finally premiered on April 20 after a long wait. The show has been a ratings success in the U.S. and internationally, with an average of 5.5 million viewers on NBC (including delayed viewing). This makes it the most-watched nature documentary on linear TV in the last 15 years. NBCUniversal reports that approximately 56 million people worldwide have tuned into at least a few minutes of “The Americas.

Following this achievement, two key executives who have been instrumental since the beginning – Toby Gorman, president of Universal Television Alternative Studio, and Shelby Shaftel, senior vice president for alternative programming and development at NBCUniversal Entertainment – are both enjoying their well-deserved triumphs. After five years of tireless work, the investment has proven fruitful, and they are now eagerly considering new opportunities for NBCU in the realm of natural history productions.

Shaftel shares with The Hollywood Reporter that it’s a unique feeling when you begin receiving messages from various individuals in your circle, “You understand you have something extraordinary when diverse individuals reach out to you.” He’s currently experiencing a phase where many of his friends are parents. “They’re enjoying the content with their entire families, and that’s truly remarkable. This is why we create, and learning that people are tuning in and relating to it, it’s just fantastic.

Shaftel and Gorman chatted with THR regarding their perspective on America, discussing Hanks as a potential narrator for the series, and hinting at future possibilities.

Hey Shelby, could you share some memories about the initial discussions at NBC regarding this particular project? Given that it’s quite unusual for a broadcast network to produce unscripted programming like this, I’m curious about what led to this decision.

SHELBY SHAFTELOFF We saw this coming. With our upcoming streaming project, we knew it would be popular given its success on UK broadcasts. People here are accustomed to watching similar shows online, and we’re one of the few platforms offering both. So, we decided to air it on traditional TV. However, since we operate globally, this content could work well across various regions. Furthermore, UTAS has had a history of distributing successful programs like this, and it would also serve as an asset for our future streaming service, which eventually came to be.

Toby, you joined NBCU right as this was about to be greenlit, correct?

Toby Gorman: I had only recently joined when Shelby was already deeply immersed in the initial discussions. Since then, my experience has been unlike any other, as this project is truly exceptional and one-of-a-kind for me.

The first time I stepped foot in Bristol, where our team was headquartered, I’ll never forget it. They shared some preliminary footage with me, and though I knew what to expect and was eager to see it, nothing could have prepared me for the sheer amazement I felt. As soon as I watched a couple of scenes, this raw, early material, I couldn’t help but call Pearlena Igbokwe, our chairman, exclaiming, “You must come and witness this!” A few weeks later, we returned, and as we watched it unfold on the screen, her jaw dropped too. It’s been an awe-inspiring journey to be a part of something so vast, so fruitful, and to see it continually improve – from having Tom [Hanks] join us, to the addition of the score, even visiting the stage as the orchestra scored it. It’s a dream come true.

As a gamer, have I ever found myself questioning, “Can we speed things up a bit,” or “Will this strategy actually pan out?” Absolutely, there have been moments like that.

SHAFTEL We anticipated it would take some time, and indeed it did. The initial blueprint for our project required approximately a year of planning, focusing on developing story ideas and deciding where we wanted to explore. This process was quite engaging as we’d gather around a map, marking potential locations, and trying to identify the most compelling stories. Our choices were then considered in relation to research, and feedback was provided. Since NBC hadn’t collaborated with affiliates previously, we felt these locations would appeal greatly to their viewers. They took everything into account, including popular viewing areas, significant stories, and scientific discoveries. Naturally, the pandemic prolonged the process somewhat, but once we recognized its unique qualities, we didn’t want our adventure to conclude prematurely. I’m thrilled that it was received as positively as we had hoped.

Was it difficult to convince Tom Hanks, whom you had chosen as your favorite narrator quite soon, to agree to the project?

GORMAN Initially, we were unsure if the concept of the show resonated with our subject. As we began to share some preliminary materials, it started to take shape as we had envisioned. I contacted his representatives and shared all relevant details with them. Later, we involved Mike Gunton, who is a renowned executive producer and creative director at the BBC Natural History Unit, in the discussion. Given his expertise, he was able to grasp the essence of our project quickly. At that stage, we couldn’t provide any footage, so it was all about presenting our ideas on paper. To our surprise, we heard back within two days with a positive response – he was intrigued by the project and saw its potential. In essence, the material we presented seemed to strike a chord with him, which led to his agreement that the project would meet our expectations.

Have you found out whether he’s watched any of the BBC’s nature documentaries, such as Planet Earth or Blue Planet?

His actions proved beneficial. When GORMAN conversed with Mike, it became evident that they would quickly form a strong bond. Indeed, this occurred. Their time together in the booth was filled with enjoyment and laughter.

SHAFTEL We’ve got an entire digital series featuring them conversing about the show. The moment we learned he might be open, our thought was: all we need is to bring him together with Mike for a chat! They’ll become fast friends and host unforgettable dinner parties.

GORMAN And we were right.

SHAFTEL [Hanks] said it was bucket list for him, which was pretty cool.

Were you involved in determining how the narrative should be structured for this movie, given that it needs to be factually accurate while incorporating humor and dramatic elements through editing and arrangement?

One important aspect we focused on was ensuring that the style matched Tom’s unique voice. We aimed for a conversational and entertaining tone, while still allowing room for learning. Compared to productions like Planet Earth, The Americas stands out due to its distinct tone and delivery in our writing.

It’s crucial that every aspect is perfect for this show, which is why we carefully selected our narrator since the story is primarily delivered through voiceover and narration. Our aim was to create a sense of exploration with this series, setting it apart from shows like Planet Earth. We want viewers not only to learn about the destination but also understand how animals and their environment influence each other. We believed that by telling compelling stories, we could engage our audience’s emotions, a key aspect across all our productions. Mike often emphasized, “I don’t want you to care about all bears; I want you to connect with this bear specifically.” This focus helps viewers concentrate on the subject at hand.

As a creator looking back, I can’t help but feel a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction knowing that my game, which took us five years to produce and refine, has found its audience and is doing well.

The show has been incredibly successful globally, airing in approximately 180 countries. Even my family back home in the U.K. are watching it on BBC every Sunday night. I frequently receive messages from my parents and extended family expressing their love for the series. It’s an indescribably satisfying feeling. My 7-year-old son recently asked if we could watch another episode, which isn’t something he often asks about our shows [laughs]. So, it seems that everyone, from grandparents to young children, is captivated by the series.

SHAFTEL My children used to watch the series with me, thinking it was just one of our household shows, similar to my animal program on TV. They’ve essentially grown up alongside it. I also have a 7-year-old who was only two when I began working on this project, and now, their school friends are discussing it as well.

Can you see doing more of this type of programming?

We’re definitely exploring the idea internally. It’s still in its early stages. I must say that The Americas is surpassing all our predictions, and we’re already considering what a second season might entail. It’s another long-term project that could take years to materialize, so if we’re fortunate enough to continue, it won’t be seen for a few more years. However, there seems to be a positive storyline suggesting why we might do it again. To be honest, we didn’t know how this would turn out – it was quite an experiment, but fortunately, it’s been successful so far.

In 2022, you announced a show called Surviving Earth — is that still in the pipeline?

Currently, we’re wrapping up the final stages of computer-generated imagery (CGI) post-production. This project delves into the history of our planet, focusing on mass extinctions that have wiped out various species throughout time. It explores how a tiny fraction of those species survived, flourished, and ultimately evolved into the diverse life forms we see today. Essentially, it’s a journey through our past, and it promises to be another thrilling venture for us.

Could it be possible that you’re considering a strategy where you initiate new projects approximately every few years to ensure a more consistent flow of programs similar to this one?

Ideally, we’d establish a system tailored for projects similar to the one you mentioned. Historically, NBC has been a network where shows are best enjoyed together, particularly in unscripted programming. We’ve always aimed to create content suitable for family gatherings on the couch. This extends to long-term projects like our current one, as well as shows such as “The Voice” and “America’s Got Talent”. However, natural history documentaries hadn’t been part of that category before, but it seems they can fit perfectly into our repertoire, serving another audience segment effectively.

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2025-04-22 17:27