ABOUT THE SHOW: "John Adams" is a 2008 American television miniseries that chronicles the political life of John Adams, one of the Founding Fathers and the second President of the United States. Based on David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, the series spans the first 50 years of the United States, starting with the Boston Massacre of 1770 and continuing through Adams' presidency and beyond The show is directed by Tom Hooper and stars Paul Giamatti in the title role._x000B_ CAST: Paul Giamatti as John Adams Laura Linney as Abigail Adams Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson David Morse as George Washington Tom Wilkinson as Benjamin Franklin Danny Huston as Samuel Adams Justin Theroux as John Hancock ACCOLADES: "John Adams" received widespread acclaim, winning 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Miniseries and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Paul Giamatti. The series also won four Golden Globe Awards CREATED BY: The series was written by Kirk Ellis and directed by Tom Hooper, with executive producers Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman.