Who is John Adams?

By Nickie Wang/ MST

One might think that we are referring to a virtuoso musician or to a hunky actor. That happens when someone googles the name just to find the answer to the question. But to a world history-savvy, John Adams was nothing less than the second president of the United States of America.

Actors Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney

The truth is, even ordinary Americans can hardly identify the man because he is one of the more unpopular figures in American political history. Nevertheless, his contributions as a statesman during his time regarded him as one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States.

As the election nears here in the Philippines, and a lot of political figures are starting to parade in front of us, we can’t help but think if there’s anyone of them can be compared to John Adams. The man was stout, short, bald, and not a good-looking person by American standard. But he was an upright man and able to gain the sympathy and support of the people because of his virtues as a statesman. He was unpopular because of the unpopular decisions he made, which were eventually realized more significant and suitable to the people than they were initially perceived.

In an effort to reintroduce John Adams and make him relevant to local viewers, HBO held a special preview of John Adams, the award-winning mini-series, with US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney at the Embassy of the United States of America where she officially introduced the program. She even participated in the forum after the screening.

John Adams, the series, received 13 Emmys and four Golden Globe awards in 2008 and it is also based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book authored by David McCullough.

Executive produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, the same creative team behind HBO’s award-winning Band of Brothers, John Adams made its Asian premiere on Sept. 7 at 10 p.m. on HBO Signature and at 11 p.m. on HBO.

Starring Academy Award nominees Paul Giamatti (Cinderella Man) and Laura Linney (The Savages), John Adams chronicles the extraordinary life journey of this remarkable historical figure, one of the primary shapers of America’s independence and government —a man whose fiercely independent spirit, reverence for the rule of law and commitment to personal liberty profoundly influenced the values on which America was founded.

This sweeping seven-part mini-series also explores the extraordinary relationship between Adams (Giamatti) and Abigail (Linney), his wife of 54 years. Their marriage reflected a delicate balance between the personal and the political; enduring many long separations, sustained, while apart, primarily through their letters to each other. Stoic and reserved in their public personas, their unedited correspondence revealed their shared insecurities, flaws and fears, as well as their great love and respect for each other.

Set against the backdrop of a nation’s stormy birth, John Adams is a moving love story, a gripping narrative and a fascinating study of human nature. Above all, at a time when the nation finds itself increasingly polarized politically, this story celebrates the shared values of liberty and freedom upon which America was built.

This mini-series also stars Stephen Dillane (The Hours) as Thomas Jefferson, Academy Award nominee Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton) as Benjamin Franklin, Danny Huston (Children of Men) as Samuel Adams, David Morse (The Green Mile) as George Washington, Sarah Polley (writer and director, Away From Her) as Nabby Adams, Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Evening) as John Quincy Adams, Rufus Sewell (The Illusionist) as Alexander Hamilton, Justin Theroux (HBO’s Six Feet Under) as John Hancock, Guy Henry (HBO’s Rome) as Jonathan Sewall and Zeljko Ivanek (HBO’s Oz) as Pennsylvania delegate, John Dickinson.

John Adams is directed by Tom Hooper (HBO’s Elizabeth I), Kirk Ellis (Into the West) writes and serves as co-executive producer with Frank Doelger (HBO’s The Gathering Storm); David Coatsworth (HBO’s Grey Gardens) and Steven Shareshian (HBO’s Starter for 10) produce.

New episodes of John Adams are shown daily on HBO Signature at 10 p.m. Meanwhile, HBO also airs the same episodes every Monday at 11 p.m.