AMC offers an intriguing case study in the evolution of scripted series on cable television. At its inception, the network boasted one of the most stable and coherent brands on cable, and it now harbors one of the least. In spite of this shift, it has cultivated successful and noteworthy dramatic series. This article explores AMC’s contribution to the twenty-first-century television canon by examining its financial constraints, industrial misfortunes, and leadership changes. This article will construct a history of AMC by drawing from an interview with Vlad Wolynetz, former VP of production, series, and movies at AMC, and from two decades of trade and journalistic articles. AMC has adjusted its programming over time to accommodate the challenges that its minimal resources could not surmount, and its history calls into question the power of the brand and its connection to quality television.
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