Hell on Wheels (TV series) explained

Theme Music Composer:Gustavo Santaolalla
Composer:Kevin Kiner
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:5
Num Episodes:57
List Episodes:List of Hell on Wheels episodes
Location:Calgary, Alberta, Canada[1]
Runtime:40-50 minutes
Network:AMC

Hell on Wheels is an American Western television series about the construction of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States, which broadcast in the United States and Canada on the cable channel AMC, from November 6, 2011[2] to July 23, 2016. The series, which features Anson Mount, Colm Meaney, Common, and Dominique McElligott, chronicles the Union Pacific Railroad and its laborers, mercenaries, prostitutes, surveyors, and others who lived, worked, and died in the mobile encampment, called "Hell on Wheels", that followed the railhead west across the Great Plains.

In particular, the story focuses on Cullen Bohannon (Mount), a former Confederate soldier who initially joins the railroad to track down Union soldiers who murdered his wife and young son during the American Civil War. In the process he becomes a foreman and eventually chief engineer on the railroad.

The series was created and produced by Joe and Tony Gayton, and developed by Endemol USA, under the stewardship of senior vice-president of scripted programming Jeremy Gold, and it is produced by Entertainment One and Nomadic Pictures.[2] In 2012, AMC announced creators Joe and Tony Gayton were no longer involved in the day-to-day production of the series. On December 12, 2012, AMC announced that writer John Wirth would take over as showrunner for the third season.

Season one (2011–12) began in 1865, shortly after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Season two (2012) covered 1866, seasons three (2013) and four (2014) opened in 1867, and season five (2015–16) carried the series into 1869.

Cast

Main cast

Cast Table

= Main cast (credited)

= Recurring cast (3+)

= Guest cast (1-2)

ActorCharacterSeasons
12345
Part 1Part 2
Anson MountCullen Bohannoncolspan="6"
Colm MeaneyThomas C. Durantcolspan="6"
CommonElam Fergusoncolspan="2"
Dominique McElligottLily Bellcolspan="4"
Tom NoonanReverend Nathanielcolspan="2"
Eddie SpearsJoseph Black Mooncolspan="4"
Ben EslerSeán McGinnescolspan="3"
Phil BurkeMickey McGinnescolspan="6"
Christopher HeyerdahlThor Gundersen "The Swede"colspan="5"
Robin McLeavyEva Toole (née Oates)colspan="5"
Kasha KropinskiRuth Colecolspan="2"
Dohn NorwoodPsalms Jacksoncolspan="4"
Jennifer FerrinLouise Ellisoncolspan="4"
Siobhan WilliamsNaomi Hatchcolspan="3"
MacKenzie Portercolspan="3"
Jake WeberJohn Campbell
Tim GuineeCollis Huntingtoncolspan="2"
Byron MannChangcolspan="2"
Reg RogersJames Strobridgecolspan="2"
Angela ZhouMei / Fongcolspan="2"
Chelah HorsdalMaggie Palmercolspan="2"

Recurring cast

Cast Table

= Recurring cast (3+)

= Guest cast (1-2)

ActorCharacterSeasons
12345
Part 1Part 2
April TelekNellcolspan="4"
Duncan OllerenshawGregory Toolecolspan="4"
Chris IppolitoYoung Engineercolspan="4"
Ian TraceyBolancolspan="5"
James D. HopkinSenator Jordan Cranecolspan="5"
Diego Diablo Del MarDixcolspan="5"
Wes StudiChief Many Horsescolspan="5"
Gerald AugerPawnee Killercolspan="5"
James DuganCarl the Bartendercolspan="4"
Grainger HinesDoc Whiteheadcolspan="3"
Virginia MadsenMrs. Hannah Durantcolspan="4"
James ShanklinAaron Hatchcolspan="2"
Kevin DaveyPaddy Quinncolspan="2"
Haysam KadriDutch Dufraycolspan="2"
Leon IngulsrudMajor Augustus Bendix
Tayden MarksEzra Dutsoncolspan="2"
Serge HoudeCongressman Oakes Amescolspan="3"
Damian O'HareDeclan Toolecolspan="3"
David Wilson BarnesMartin Delaneycolspan="3"
Gregg HenryBrigham Youngcolspan="2"
Andrew HowardDandy Johnny Sheacolspan="2"
Kevin BlatchJudge Webber
Jonathan ScarfeSydney Snowcolspan="2"
Billy WickmanHeckardcolspan="2"
Peter BensonMarshal Jessupcolspan="2"
Gia CrovatinMrs. Delaneycolspan="2"
Amber Chardae RobinsonMary Fields
Josh CarasPhineas Young
Tzi MaTao

Notable guest cast

Series overview

Season One (2011–12)

See main article: Hell on Wheels (season 1). In 1865, former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) journeys to the Union Pacific Railroad's westward construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad, seeking both work and vengeance on the Union soldiers who killed his wife and son. Cullen gets hired by the railroad and supervises an all-black "cut crew", including Elam (Common), whose job is to prepare the terrain for track laying. Through conversation with the railroad foreman, Daniel Johnson (Ted Levine), Cullen learns more about his wife's death, but tragedy strikes before Johnson reveals her killer's name. Thomas "Doc" Durant (Colm Meaney) begins his "mad, noble quest" to expand his Union Pacific westward, in order to complete the transcontinental railroad. Lily Bell (Dominique McElligott) accompanies her ailing husband, Robert (Robert Moloney), as he surveys the landscape for the Union Pacific; when Robert is killed by the Cheyenne natives, Lily must cope with being a widow on foreign soil. Reverend Nathaniel Cole (Tom Noonan) baptizes Joseph Black Moon (Eddie Spears), a Cheyenne, then takes him under his tutelage in the church. Season one ends with Bohannon killing a man he believes was responsible for the rape and murder of his wife, only to discover that man was not there at the time.

Season Two (2012)

See main article: Hell on Wheels (season 2). Bohannon tries to find himself again while continuing to drive the westward expansion of the Union Pacific Railroad, under Durant's leadership. Bohannon takes up with a gang of train robbers but is turned over to the Union Army and imprisoned. Durant manages to get him pardoned. The railroad construction enters the Sioux territory, where The Swede and a misguided Reverend Cole assist the natives in attacking the railroad. Lily Bell seeks to gain control of the railroad from Durant and mails his accounting ledgers to the government. Army officers arrive to find the town has been attacked by the Sioux.

Season Three (2013)

See main article: Hell on Wheels (season 3). Bohannon abandons his quest to avenge his wife and son's deaths, in order to battle Durant for control of the Union Pacific Railroad. Eva gives birth to a baby who was sired during her marriage to Gregory Toole. Elam proposes marriage to her, even though her post-partum depression weighs heavily on her. The Swede takes up with a Mormon family on their way to the fictional Fort Smith and later reveals his true nature.

Season Four (2014)

See main article: Hell on Wheels (season 4). Conflict arises among the government and businesses, ranchers, homesteaders, and the railroad as all of those interests compete with one another for control of Cheyenne, Wyoming, the most important railroad hub in 1867. Meanwhile, the Union Pacific Railroad continues its expansion westward, and Bohannon adjusts to being a husband and father again.

Season Five (2015–16)

See main article: Hell on Wheels (season 5). In season 5, set in California and Laramie, Wyoming,[3] Bohannon is hired by the Central Pacific Railroad to build the transcontinental railroad eastward over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He befriends its Chinese workers, including Mei, a woman disguised as a man known as Fong. President Ulysses S. Grant increases the competition between the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroad companies. This is further complicated by Thomas Durant's corruption.

Episodes

See main article: List of Hell on Wheels episodes.

Production

Development history

Hell on Wheels was created by Joe and Tony Gayton in late 2008, and Endemol USA's scripted television division, headed by senior vice president of original programming Jeremy Gold, came on board to develop the series for AMC.[4] On May 18, 2010, AMC placed a pilot order for Hell on Wheels with Endemol USA.[5] Joe and Tony Gayton wrote the pilot, David Von Ancken was attached to the project as director, and Jeremy Gold, Joe Gayton, and Tony Gayton served as executive producers. On July 6, 2010, Endemol USA announced that they had entered into a partnership with Entertainment One, which would serve as the production studio on the project.[6]

Part of the deal between the two companies included provisions of international distribution, with Endemol retaining rights to the series across Europe, while Entertainment One acquired rights to Hell on Wheels in all remaining territories. As a result of the deal, Entertainment One also holds global rights for DVD and Blu-ray sales, as well as video-on-demand and other digital distribution services. The Canadian production company Nomadic Pictures was brought onto the project to serve as co-producers alongside Entertainment One. The pilot was delivered to AMC executives in November 2010.[7]

On November 12, 2010 it was reported by Deadline that the executives at AMC were impressed with the pilot, and, coupled with the fact that the network had just cancelled their drama series, Rubicon, were likely to order Hell on Wheels to series.

On December 15, 2010, AMC green-lighted the series with an order of 10 episodes.[8] [9] [10] Along with the series pickup, AMC announced that Nomadic Pictures would again co-produce the series, as they had done for the pilot, with Mike Frislev and Chad Oakes joining the series as producers, while John Shiban and David Von Ancken joined the series as executive producers; Von Ancken had previously served as director on the pilot.[10] [11] The network also announced that John Morayniss and Michael Rosenberg would oversee production for Entertainment One, while Joel Stillerman and Susie Fitzgerald would oversee production for AMC.

On July 28, 2011, AMC announced that Hell on Wheels would premiere on November 6, 2011. The series is produced by Entertainment One and Nomadic Pictures.

On November 8, 2011, co-creator Joe Gayton spoke of the series' origins: "We [Tony and I] started talking and remembered this story, American Experience, which was this really great documentary, and I thought, 'God, that's great. I just learned a bunch of stuff I had never learned before.' You just have this cursory information that the Chinese and the Irish built the railroad, but it got in underneath all the dirt and stuff that went on, with the financing of it, and the greed and corruption. And then, I heard about this Hell on Wheels place and I went, 'What a great setting for a western.' So, we pitched that to Jeremy Gold [at Endemol] and ended up taking it to AMC, and they loved it," he said.[12]

On October 29, 2012, AMC renewed Hell on Wheels for a third season,[13] however it was also announced that the series creators and showrunners, Joe and Tony Gayton, "will no longer be involved day-to-day on the show" and series producer/writer/director John Shiban would take over.[14] Following the departure of Shiban, the renewal was put on hold until a replacement could be found.[15] On December 12, 2012, AMC announced that John Wirth, a writer for , would be the new showrunner, starting with the show's third season.[16]

Casting

Casting announcements began in July 2010, with Common first to be cast. Common portrays Elam Ferguson, "an emancipated slave who is working to achieve true freedom in a world entrenched in prejudice".[2] [17] Next to join the series were Anson Mount and Dominique McElligott, with Mount playing Cullen Bohannon, "a former soldier hell bent on avenging his wife's death", and McElligott playing Lily Bell, "a newly widowed woman trying to survive in a man's world".[18] Colm Meaney was next to be cast as Thomas "Doc" Durant, a "greedy entrepreneur taking full advantage of the changing times".[19] Ben Esler, Phil Burke and Eddie Spears were the last actors to be cast, with Esler playing Seán McGinnes and Burke playing Mickey McGinnes, "two young brothers looking to find their fortune in the new West". Spears was cast as Joseph Black Moon, "a Native American man torn between his culture and the changing world around him".It was later announced that Jesse Lipscombe, Gerald Auger, Robert Moloney and Ted Levine had joined the series as recurring guest stars.[20] [21]

Jennifer Ferrin joined the cast as a series regular for season three, playing a New York Sun journalist covering the construction of the railroad.[22] AMC announced that Dohn Norwood (Psalms) became a series regular for season three.[23]

Jake Weber joined the fourth season's cast. He was initially to portray a carpetbagger seeking to profit from the frontier,[24] but his role changed to John Allen Campbell, first governor of Wyoming. MacKenzie Porter has also been cast. She will replace Siobhan Williams in the role of Naomi, Bohannon's Mormon bride.[25]

Cast quotes

Common spoke about the challenges of playing a former slave: "Very challenging. And that's why I took it on. It's a lot of responsibility because what black people went through in slavery, within that system of slavery, was really treacherous. And for me, I felt like I owed it to the people that lived during that time to bring something truthful to the character. And even just revisiting some of the experiences of it, [there] was just a lot of emotion and a lot of pain. At the same time, a lot of strength came from it. What I enjoy most about the character is the fact that he was written so strong, not as just a person that was oppressed and kept his head down."[26]

Canadian actor Christopher Heyerdahl talks about how he got his role and the rarity of a Scandinavian character: "Well, luck and providence, I suppose. They say, 'What's luck? Preparation and opportunity.' So, I guess the opportunity came, in the form of an audition. I put myself on tape, and they responded to it. I went in and did a call-back audition, and they felt that we were on the same track. My idea of who The Swede was, was the same as theirs, and vice versa. This kind of character is very rare, with the fact that it fit so well with my background and my understanding of a Norwegian man. It all just fell into place. I still get a little choked up thinking about how often a character like this comes along. For the viewer, it's quite interesting. It's not a character that we see very often, and certainly not in this form. As an actor, it seemed to be tailor-made for me. It's quite wonderful."[27]

Irish actress Dominique McElligott never expected to be cast in a period American role: "I was hanging out in London, having drinks with friends who are all flight attendants, and they said that they would get me over to America for free, and I could stay and do some meetings and auditions. Hell on Wheels was the first one. I arrived on the 5th of July, and the Hell on Wheels audition was on the 6th or the 7th. It was crazy! They didn't know me, at all. Obviously, I loved the pilot and I loved the character, but I didn't anticipate ever actually getting the chance to do it. When you go up for these brilliant parts, you just figure, 'Okay, well, they're going to pick some American actress, and that will be that.' But, the opportunity was there, and I really enjoyed the audition. It was fun."[28]

Exterior filming

Filming of the first season took place in Calgary, as well as areas in central and southern Alberta.[29] The T'suu T'ina Native Indian Reservation, an Indian reserve in southern Alberta, was the location for most of the exteriors.[30]

Exterior filming of the second season was near the Bow River in Calgary. Interior filming was in a building near the city's airport. Series producers expected the filming of the season's ten episodes to take about 80 days.[1]

Filming of the third season was suspended part way through the sixth episode when the location was included in the mandatory evacuation area due to the flooding in southern Alberta.[31] Originally, producers had announced a two-day shut down, when the only road to the location was underwater.[32] Later, on June 21, producers announced that the production hiatus, scheduled to begin June 27, would take effect immediately.[31] Anson Mount shared pictures of the nearby river and exterior sets flooding on June 20 and 21.[31] [33] [34]

Filming of the fourth season's 13 episodes took place along the Bow River. Filming occurred from April 24 to September 24, 2014.[35]

The fifth season's production filming occurred on the CL Ranch, west of Calgary, for the Truckee, California, and Laramie, Wyoming, locations. The Kananaskis Country park system, 40 miles west of the ranch, served as the Sierra Nevada mountains the Central Pacific must cross.[36]

Reception

Critical response

For season one, the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 61% approval rating based on 36 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. The website's critical consensus states, "Its Old West setting and central revenge plot may be overly familiar, but Hell on Wheels holds just enough intrigue to keep things interesting."[37] The first season was given 63% on Metacritic based on 28 reviews, indicating a "generally favorable" impression.[38] The second season was given 60% on Metacritic, indicating "mixed or average" reviews,[39] while Rotten Tomatoes reported a 75% approval rating based on 12 reviews, with an average rating of 7.0/10, and a critical consensus that reads, "While it still feels like it's finding its legs, the second season of Hell on Wheels is more confident than the first and perfectly acceptable for those in need of a Western fix."[40]

The Washington Post Hank Stuever rated the show highly, commenting, "Hands down, the most intriguing show on the fall slate. Though imbued with epic sweep, Hell on Wheels is a western at heart, even if that heart is cold. Plenty of guns, knives, arrows, scalpings – mixed with the incendiary socio-psychological wounds left in the Civil War's wake."[41]

Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times says the show "...takes its cues more from the movies than from life. Never, in the episodes I watched, did I feel as if I were actually seeing how a railroad got built, and sometimes it took a bit of squinting not to see the characters as actors in a field, reading lines. Still, for all the unlikely things [the creators] make happen in order to get their characters into place, and the dogged refusal of a couple of those characters to become interesting at all, the show gathers steam as it goes on."[42]

The Wall Street Journal Nancy Dewolf Smith comments: " 'Hell on Wheels' finds enough beauty, danger and emotion to make some part of every episode seem fresh and worth waiting for. Not that new is always a good thing. Despite striking performances even in many of the smaller roles, the actors sometimes are made to symbolize very modern obsessions, e.g. with race and gender. The sight of modern sensibilities lurking behind the curtains can break ye olde spell."[43]

Brian Lowry of Variety writes: "While the diverse mix of characters could work to the program's advantage over the long haul, jumping to and fro among them creates a diluted, herky-jerky ride in the early going."[44]

The Washington Post reported that the series has been criticized for not depicting Chinese immigrants during the transcontinental railroad construction scenes. Creator Joe Gayton said "budget-wise and time-wise... we could really only concentrate on one side of [the railroad building], and that's probably why we, you know, that's why we chose the [emanating from the East Coast] Union Pacific as opposed to the [emanating from the West Coast] Central Pacific."[45] By the fifth season, the show expanded its focus to include a significant look at the role of Chinese immigrant workers in the growth of the railroad.

Ratings

The pilot, premiering November 6. 2011, was watched by 4.4 million viewers – AMC's second-highest series premiere in history, following The Walking Dead. Among key demographics, the pilot episode was viewed by 2.4 million viewers in the adults 18–49 category, and 2.3 million viewers in the adults 25–54 demographics, according to Nielsen. The total viewership bested network slot rivals and Pan Am.[46] The sixth episode was watched by 2.15 million viewers, the lowest viewership of the first season and had a 0.6 rating in the 18–49 age range.[47] The viewership numbers eventually rebounded with the season one finale being watched by 2.84 million viewers, maintaining its steady 0.7 rating in the 18–49 age range.[48] In January 2012, following the season one finale, AMC confirmed Hell on Wheels as the network's second-highest rated original series, behind The Walking Dead, averaging three million viewers per episode.[49]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResultRef
2012Emmy AwardOutstanding Original Main Title Theme MusicGustavo Santaolalla[50]
BET AwardsBest ActorCommon[51]
Directors Guild of Canada AwardsBest Production Design - Television SeriesJohn Blackie[52]
Golden Reel AwardsBest Sound Editing - Short Form Dialogue and ADR in TelevisionJohn Kincade, Todd Niesen, Shannon Beament[53]
2013Saturn AwardBest Supporting Actor on TelevisionColm Meaney[54]
BET AwardsBest ActorCommon[55]
Irish Film and Television AwardsBest Actor TVColm Meaney[56]
Hollywood Post Alliance AwardsOutstanding Color Grading - TelevisionSteven Porter[57]
Leo AwardsBest Casting in a Dramatic SeriesJackie Lind[58]
Best Guest Performance by a Male in a Dramatic SeriesRyan Robbins
Directors Guild of Canada AwardsBest Production Design - Television SeriesJohn Blackie[59]
Rosie AwardsBest Dramatic SeriesChad Oakes & Michael Frislev[60]
Best Performance by an Alberta ActorDuncan Ollerenshaw
Best Performance by an Alberta ActressSydney Bell
Best Editor (Drama Over 30 Minutes)Bridget Durnford
Best Overall Sound (Drama Over 30 Minutes)Frank Laratta
Best Production Designer/Art DirectorJohn Blackie & Bill Ives
Best Costume DesignerCarol Case
Best Make-Up ArtistGail Kennedy
Visual Effects Society AwardsOutstanding Compositing in a Broadcast ProgramAntonio Chang, Jason Fotter, Eric Hayden, Josh Miyaji[61]
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast ProgramMatt Von Brock, Jason Fotter, Tim Jacobsen, Bill Kent
ACTRA Montreal AwardsOutstanding Male PerformanceChristopher Heyerdahl[62]
2014Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild AwardsBest Period and/or Character Hair Styling - Television and New Media SeriesChris Glimsdale, Penny Thompson[63]
Best Period and/or Character Makeup - Television and New Media SeriesSharon Toohey, Rose Gurevitch
Rosie AwardsBest Dramatic SeriesChad Oakes & Michael Frislev[64]
Best Performance by an Alberta ActorKevin Davey
Best Editor (Drama Over 30 Minutes)Bridget Durnford
Best Overall Sound (Drama Over 30 Minutes)Michael Playfair & Frank Laratta
Best Production Designer/Art DirectorJohn Blackie & Bill Ives
Best Costume DesignerCarol Case
Best Make-Up ArtistSharon Toohey
Visual Effects Society AwardsOutstanding Created Environment in a Commercial or Broadcast ProgramSteve Meyer, Matt Von Brock, Mitch Gates, Antonio Chang[65]
Western Heritage AwardOutstanding Fictional DramaEpisode: "One Less Mule"
2015Episode: "Return to Hell"[66]
Leo AwardsBest Casting in a Dramatic SeriesJackie Lind[67]
Best Guest Performance by a Male in a Dramatic SeriesJonathan Scarfe
Best Guest Performance by a Female in a Dramatic SeriesSara Canning
Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic SeriesChristopher Heyerdahl
Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic SeriesChelah Horsdal
Rosie AwardsBest Dramatic SeriesChad Oakes & Michael Frislev[68]
Best Performance by an Alberta ActorJason Cermak
Best Editor (Drama Over 30 Minutes)Bridget Durnford
Best Overall Sound (Drama Over 30 Minutes)Michael Playfair & Frank Laratta
Best Production Designer/Art DirectorJohn Blackie & Bill Ives
Best Costume DesignerCarol Case
Best Make-Up & Hair Artist(s)Sharon Toohey & Chris Glimsdale
2016Western Heritage AwardOutstanding Fictional DramaEpisode: "Hungry Ghosts"
Leo AwardsBest Casting in a Dramatic SeriesJackie Lind[69]
Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic SeriesByron Mann
Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic SeriesChelah Horsdal
Golden Maple AwardsBest actor in a TV series broadcast in the U.SChristopher Heyerdahl[70]
Best actor in a TV series broadcast in the U.SByron Mann
Newcomer of the year in a TV series broadcast in the U.S.Christopher Heyerdahl
Rosie AwardsBest Dramatic SeriesChad Oakes & Michael Frislev[71]
Best Editor (Drama Over 30 Minutes)Bridget Durnford
Best Overall Sound (Drama Over 30 Minutes)Mike Markiw
Best Production Designer/Art DirectorJohn Blackie & Bill Ives
Best Costume DesignerCarol Case
Best Make-Up & Hair Artist(s)Sharon Toohey & Laura de Moissac
2017Rosie AwardsBest Dramatic SeriesChad Oakes & Michael Frislev[72]
Best Editor (Drama Over 30 Minutes)Bridget Durnford
Best Overall Sound (Drama Over 30 Minutes)Frank Laratta & Mike Markiw
Best Production Designer/Art DirectorJohn Blackie & Bill Ives
Best Costume DesignerCarol Case
Best Make-Up & Hair Artist(s)Sharon Toohey & Laura de Moissac
Leo AwardsBest Lead Performance by a Male in a Dramatic SeriesChristopher Heyerdahl[73]

International distribution

The series is shown in Australia on FX Australia[74] and in Ireland on RTÉ.[75]

Home media

All five seasons of Hell on Wheels have been released in DVD and Blu-ray formats.[76] [77] [78] [79] [80] [81] The complete series was also released in DVD and Blu-ray formats on November 1, 2016, comprising 17 discs.[82] As of June 2019, it is available in the United States on Netflix's online streaming service but is scheduled to be removed at the end of 2020. As of December 2023, It is available in the United States for streaming on Tubi.[83]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Producers build a better Hell for Hell on Wheels near Okotoks. Volmers. Eric. August 10, 2012. Calgary Herald. August 12, 2012. January 16, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150116123703/http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/television/Producers+build+better+Hell+Hell+Wheels+near/7072996/story.html. live.
  2. Web site: AMC Announces Premiere Date for 'Hell on Wheels'. https://web.archive.org/web/20120121202308/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/07/28/amc-announces-premiere-date-for-hell-on-wheels/99071/. dead. January 21, 2012. July 28, 2011. Seidman. Robert. TV by the Numbers. August 19, 2011.
  3. Web site: Hell on Wheels: Truth or Fiction . . July 23, 2015 . Wyoming Postscripts . Wyoming State Archives . 2016-01-04 . Hell on Wheels, a television series with the backdrop of the construction of the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s..., season 5, set in California and Laramie, Wyoming, premiered last Saturday. . 2016-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204132/https://wyostatearchives.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/hell-on-wheels-truth-or-fiction-update/ . live .
  4. News: USA unveils major TV plans . Schneider . Michael . . December 16, 2008 . August 19, 2011 . November 17, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201117165903/https://variety.com/2008/scene/markets-festivals/endemol-unveils-major-tv-plans-1117997501/ . live .
  5. Web site: Endemol AMC Orders Western Pilot From Endemol USA. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. May 18, 2010. August 19, 2011. July 1, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110701023753/http://www.deadline.com/2010/05/amc-orders-western-pilot-from-endemol/. live.
  6. Web site: E1 To Produce & David Von Ancken To Direct AMC Pilot 'Hell On Wheels'. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. July 6, 2010. August 19, 2011. October 6, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111006033150/http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/e1-to-produce-david-von-ancken-to-direct-amc-pilot-hell-on-wheels/. live.
  7. Web site: The Cancellation Of AMC's 'Rubicon' Opens The Door For 'Hell On Wheels'. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. November 12, 2010. August 19, 2011. August 5, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110805120401/http://www.deadline.com/2010/11/the-cancellation-of-amcs-rubicon-opens-the-door-for-hell-on-wheels/. live.
  8. Web site: It's Official: AMC Picks Up Period Drama Pilot 'Hell On Wheels' To Series. December 15, 2010. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. August 19, 2011. June 21, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110621161154/http://www.deadline.com/2010/12/its-official-amc-picks-up-period-drama-pilot-hell-on-wheels-to-series/. live.
  9. Web site: Hell, Yeah: AMC Orders Post-Civil War Drama. December 15, 2010. Mittovich. Matt. TVLine. August 19, 2011. January 12, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110112082252/http://www.tvline.com/2010/12/amc-orders-post-civil-war-drama-hell-on-wheels/. live.
  10. Web site: AMC Greenlights "Hell on Wheels" To Full Series Order . December 15, 2010 . . August 19, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120606032307/http://www.eonetv.com/press.asp?id=70 . June 6, 2012 .
  11. Web site: AMC Announces Production On New Series 'Hell on Wheels' . . August 19, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120217094728/http://www.eonetv.com/press.asp?id=72 . February 17, 2012 .
  12. Web site: Creators/Executive Producers Joe and Tony Gayton Talk HELL ON WHEELS . Christina . Radish . Collider.com . November 8, 2011 . December 10, 2011 . January 8, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120108011645/http://collider.com/joe-gayton-tony-gayton-hell-on-wheels-interview/124909 . live .
  13. Web site: AMC. 29 October 2012. 31 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121031235448/http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/10/29/amc-renews-hell-on-wheels/. live.
  14. Web site: AMC's 'Hell On Wheels' Renewed For Third Season, Creators Joe & Tony Gayton Exit. Andreeva. Nellie. October 29, 2012. Deadline Hollywood. October 29, 2012. October 30, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121030112040/http://www.deadline.com/2012/10/amc-hell-on-wheels-renewed-for-third-season/. live.
  15. Web site: Andreeva. Nellie. 'Hell on Wheels' showrunner John Shiban departs, series' renewal on hold. Deadline Hollywood.com. 1 November 2012. 1 November 2012. 2 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121102132120/http://www.deadline.com/2012/11/hell-on-wheels-renewal-on-hold-showrunner-departs-amc/. live.
  16. Weisman . Jon . December 12, 2012 . Hell Unfrozen on AMC . . December 12, 2012 . December 15, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121215013948/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118063520 . live .
  17. Web site: Common Cast In AMC Pilot 'Hell On Wheels'. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. July 27, 2010. August 19, 2011. May 27, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110527185738/http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/common-cast-in-amc-pilot-hell-on-wheels/. live.
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