Yes, 'The Americans' creator knows it's weird to be making a show about Russian spies right now
The Americans creator Joe Weisberg is very aware that sometimes, life can imitate art.
His FX show follows follows Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell), two spies who live in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., with their two very American children, Paige (Holly Taylor) and Henry (Keidrich Stellati) in the 1980s.
The storyline is more relevant than ever, as Russia's relationship with the United States continues to be a critical topic. In December, President Barack Obama announced sanctions against Russia after the Democratic National Committee was hacked. And questions about ties between the upcoming Trump administration and Russia have consistently made headlines since the election.
Weisberg addressed the current events at FX's Television Critics Association presentation for The Americans, after a TV critic asked: “Remember when Russian infiltration was a cute thing you were able to confine to the 80’s?”
"There's something in a twisted way that's kind of fun seeing all this stuff in the headlines we're trafficking in all the time"
"There's something in a twisted way that's kind of fun seeing all this stuff in the headlines we're trafficking in all the time," Weisberg told reporters.
On the other hand, Weisberg said the initial premise for the show was actually, "Hey, look at these people who we think of as enemies; they are just like us."
“That was in a more peaceful time in U.S.-Russian relations,” he said. “And to see how things have spiraled so out of control frankly, just doesn’t feel so good."
The show returns for its fifth season on March 7.
Saba was a Los Angeles-based reporter who covers all things digital entertainment, including YouTube, streaming services and digital influencers. Prior to that, she spent two years at the Los Angeles Times covering entertainment for the Calendar and Company Town sections. Saba grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in journalism and B.A. in political science. When not reporting, she is usually binge watching shows online or looking for new coffee shops to frequent.
