FX Orders New Cold War-Era Spy Drama

FX announced today that they've ordered up 13 episodes of The Americans - a period drama about the complex marriage of two KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington DC shortly after Ronald Reagan is elected President.

The Americans was created by Joe Weisberg and stars Keri Russell (Felicity), Matthew Rhys (Brothers & Sisters) and Noah Emmerich (Super 8). The series will revolve around the arranged marriage of Phillip (Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Russell), who have two children who know nothing about their parents true identity. As the marriage grows more passionate and genuine by the day, it is still constantly tested by the escalation of the Cold War and the intimate, dangerous and darkly funny relationships they must maintain with a network of spies and informants under their control. Complicating their relationship further is Phillip’s growing sense of affinity for America’s values and way of life. Tensions also heighten upon the arrival of a new neighbor, Stan (Emmerich), an FBI agent working in counter intelligence.

Keri Russell in FOX's Running Wilde.

“We’re proud to welcome The Americans, a taught series that crackles with incredible performances rooted in character perspectives never explored on a U.S. television series, to FX’s line up of quality dramas,” said John Landgraf, President and General Manager, FX Networks. “We’re equally excited to welcome Graham Yost’s talented young Padawan Joe Weisberg as Creator/Showrunner. He joins a long line of gifted writer/producers who have taken their first shot at greatness on FX.”

Weisberg is Executive Producer/Showrunner, alongside Executive Producer Graham Yost (Justified). The series begins production in October and is scheduled to premiere in early 2013.

Source : ign[dot]com

EA Joins Opposition to Defense of Marriage Act

EA has joined many other businesses in stating its opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act, a US law instituted in 1996 that does not legally recognise gay marriage. The Act itself, which defines marriage in Section 3 of its text as "only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife", has been under attack for the past few months after it was ruled unconstitutional by the US appeals court in Boston.

"Electronic Arts has joined with dozens of leading US employers in signing an amicus brief that opposes the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and urges the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to find portions of the Act unconstitutional," reads the statement on EA's official site.

It continues, "DOMA presents a number of problems for businesses like EA, as it creates regulatory, tax, and discrimination complications for employers, and that’s why we’re standing against it. The underlying lawsuit impacts all employers no matter how big or small, and no matter the industry, and we encourage other business to join these efforts."

This is the latest of many laudable anti-discrimination efforts from EA, which has published many games featuring LGBT characters and has taken part in both LGBT Pride Month and the It Gets Better campaign.

For a brief history of egalitarianism in games, take a look at our Gay History of Gaming from earlier this year.

Source : ign[dot]com