# Anacostia (web series)

Anacostia is a soap opera web series that premiered on October 15, 2009 on YouTube. It was created by Anthony A. Anderson (not to be confused with the actor of the same name), who also stars in, writes, produces, and directs the series. Anacostia chronicles the drama among residents of the titular community in Washington, D. C. Guest star Martha Byrne later became an executive producer on the series.
The series was nominated for a 2022 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor In A Short Form Comedy or Drama Series (Anthony Anderson). Anthony Anderson became the first actor in history to be nominated for both a Daytime and Primetime Emmy for the same role.
The series was also nominated for a 2015 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Approaches Drama Series, and Martha Byrne won a Daytime Emmy the same year for Outstanding Performer in a New Approaches Drama Series for her performance as Alexis Jordan. Elizabeth Hubbard was nominated in 2016 for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for her role as Eva Montgomery, and Anthony Anderson made history becoming the first African American to be nominated in 2017 for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for his role as Sean Williams-Grey. In 2017, actress Jennifer Bassey received the show's fifth nomination, in the Outstanding Guest Performer digital category. Anacostia has the most wins at the Indie Series Awards.
In 2018, Anacostia was picked up by Amazon Video for a multi year run on the streaming platform.

## Cast

* Anthony Anderson as Sean (2009–present)
* William Lash as Scott (2009–present)
* Tamieka Chavis as Mia (2009–present)
* Marion Akpan as Nancy (2009–present)
* Pasha Diallo as Dominique (2009–present)
* Kena Hodges as Nicole (2009–present)
* Christopher Bair as Cliff (2009–present)
* Antonio Harrison, Jr. as Que (2010–present)
* Kelvin Terrell as Ray (2011–present)
* Martha Byrne as Alexis Jordan/JoAnne Edwards (2011–present)
* India Doy as Jennifer (2011–present)
* Tandrea Parrott as Desiree' (2010–present)
* Rolfini Whidbee as Maurice (2011–present)
* Luis Valdez as Eric (2012–present)
* Alexis Robinson Smith as Melissa (2014–present)
* Tremayne Norris as Carlos (2014–present)
* Melan Perez as Salina (2014–present)
* Elizabeth Hubbard as Eva Montgomery (2015–present)
* Jennifer Bassey as Beverley Newman (2017–present)
* Lauren B. Martin as Chevonne (2018–present)
* Walter Maxfield Jones as Michael (2009–present)
* Chanté Bowser as Salina (2009–2012)
* Jermaine McNeal as Andrew (2009–2011)
* Kareem Petteway as Creeko (2009)
* Rabon Hutcherson as Andre (2009–)
* Deidra Taylor as Lashawn ("Cherry") (2011–2013)
* Darnell Lamont Walker as Julian (season 2–3)
* Carey Green as Jack (2010–present)
* Giselle Gant as Madison (2011–2013)
* Darnerien McCants as Cyrus (2011–2016)
* Tye Frazier as Brian (2011–2012)
* Tiana Harris as Ashley (2011–2012)
* Yohance Fleming as Chauncey (2011)
* Ashleigh McGill as April (2014)
* Dai Boggan as Tim (2015)
* Chris Deloatch as Clay (2015)
* Lauren Dorsey as Donatella
* Devin Nikki Thomas as Tracee James (2017–Present)

## Series overview

Series Summary :
| Season | # of Episodes | First Aired | Last Aired |
| 1 | 10 | 2009 | 2010 |
| 2 | 10 | 2010 | 2011 |
| 3 | 10 | 2011 | 2012 |
| 4 | 10 | 2014 | 2015 |
| 5 | 10 | 2015 | 2017 |
| 6 | 10 | 2018 | 2021 |

## Episodes

Season 1 :
| No. In Series | No. In Season | Episode Title | Written By | Directed By | Viewers (in thousands) |
| 1 | 1 | Covet Thy Neighbor | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.032 |
| 2 | 2 | Breaking The Surface | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.015 |
| 3 | 3 | Beware of The Fine Print | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.013 |
| 4 | 4 | Always Bet on Black (Part 1) | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.011 |
| 5 | 5 | Always Bet on Black (Part 2) | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.017 |
| 6 | 6 | L.O.V.E. | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.011 |
| 7 | 7 | Bad Girl | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.011 |
| 8 | 8 | You've Got The Look | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.009 |
| 9 | 9 | The End Is Coming | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.013 |
| 10 | 10 | Arrivals & Departures | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.012 |
Season 2 :
| No. In Series | No. In Season | Episode Title | Written By | Directed By | Viewers (in thousands) |
| 11 | 1 | Scar Tissue | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.012 |
| 12 | 2 | What Will I Tell My Heart? | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.010 |
| 13 | 3 | Hello Like Before | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.042 |
| 14 | 4 | The Wheels on The Bus | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.012 |
| 15 | 5 | Checks and Balances | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.011 |
| 16 | 6 | One For The Road | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.009 |
| 17 | 7 | A House Is Not a Home | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.010 |
| 18 | 8 | Business as Usual | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.008 |
| 19 | 9 | Sins of The Past | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.010 |
| 20 | 10 | And Justice For All | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.011 |
Season 3 :
| No. In Series | No. In Season | Episode Title | Written By | Directed By | Viewers (in thousands) |
| 21 | 1 | Where Do We Go From Here | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.013 |
| 22 | 2 | Only In My Dreams | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.034 |
| 23 | 3 | Sign Your Name | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.024 |
| 24 | 4 | Helping Hands | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.023 |
| 25 | 5 | The Bigger They Are | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.028 |
| 26 | 6 | Show and Tell | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.023 |
| 27 | 7 | The Gangs All Here | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.021 |
| 28 | 8 | The Power of Goodbye | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.038 |
| 29 | 9 | Break-up To Make-up | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.028 |
| 30 | 10 | Till Death Do Us Part | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.025 |
Season 4 :
| No. In Series | No. In Season | Episode Title | Written By | Directed By | Viewers (in thousands) |
| 31 | 1 | Don't Leave Me This Way | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.015 |
| 32 | 2 | Once Upon a Time | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.016 |
| 33 | 3 | Never Say Never | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.014 |
| 34 | 4 | What Happens In Vegas | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.010 |
| 35 | 5 | R.S.V.P | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.007 |
| 36 | 6 | Do Unto Others | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.007 |
| 37 | 7 | Choices | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.006 |
| 38 | 8 | What a Fool Believes | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.006 |
| 39 | 9 | When The Bough Breaks | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.007 |
| 40 | 10 | Proxy | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.008 |
Season 5 :
| No. In Series | No. In Season | Episode Title | Written By | Directed By | Viewers (in thousands) |
| 41 | 1 | You Again | Anthony Anderson & Martha Byrne | Anthony Anderson & Martha Byrne | 0.013 |
| 42 | 2 | Why Me (Part 1) | Anthony Anderson & Martha Byrne | Anthony Anderson & Martha Byrne | 0.010 |
| 43 | 3 | Why Me (Part 2) | Anthony Anderson & Martha Byrne | Anthony Anderson & Martha Byrne | 0.006 |
| 44 | 4 | I Can See You | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.007 |
| 45 | 5 | Road Kill | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.004 |
| 46 | 6 | Speak No Evil | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.003 |
| 47 | 7 | The Knock | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.003 |
| 48 | 8 | Call It By Its Name | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.002 |
| 49 | 9 | Lost and Found | Anthony Anderson & Martha Byrne | Anthony Anderson & Martha Byrne | 0.002 |
| 50 | 10 | Confessions | Anthony Anderson & Martha Byrne | Anthony Anderson & Martha Byrne | 0.004 |
Season 6 :
| No. In Series | No. In Season | Episode Title | Written By | Directed By | Viewers (in thousands) |
| 51 | 1 | Aftermath | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.010 |
| 52 | 2 | Like Father, Like Son | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.008 |
| 53 | 3 | 15 Minutes | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | 0.008 |
| 54 | 4 | One Wish | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | |
| 55 | 5 | Man In The Mirror | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | |
| 56 | 6 | The Life Of A Liar | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | |
| 57 | 7 | Let Me Love You | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | |
| 58 | 8 | Fourth Of July | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | |
| 59 | 9 | Secrets, Lies & Rollercoaster Rides | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | |
| 60 | 10 | Stormy Weather | Anthony Anderson | Anthony Anderson | |

## Production

Anacostia was created in 2009 by Anderson, who also writes, executive produces and stars in the series. Byrne serves as executive producer. Lora Lee, Jamie Misiak and Alexis Robinson Smith are among the series' line producers. Marion Akpan, Christopher Bair, Pasha Diallo, India Doy-Young, Antonio Harrison Jr., Kena Hodges, William Lash, Rolfini Whidbee, and Spencer Bruttig serve as producers. Previous producers include Fritz Brekeller, the seasons 1-5 supervising producer, Tommy Zamberlan, as the seasons 1-5 Senior Producer, and Benjamin Bryant as co-executive producer of seasons 1-5.
Byrne, known for her longtime role on the defunct CBS soap opera As the World Turns, joined the series in the role of high-powered madame Alexis Jordan in 2011. In September 2015, Soap Opera Digest reported that Byrne's former As the World Turns co-star Elizabeth Hubbard would also appear on Anacostia as Eva Montgomery, in scenes directed and co-written by Byrne.
In early 2021, after an 18 month production hiatus, Spencer Bruttig was added to the team as the show's Cinematographer and producer.
The show has been photographed using RED, Sony and Blackmagic cinema cameras.
Over the series' successive seasons, Anderson has attempted to address a number of social issues through the series soap operatic lens, including realistic takes on mental illness, incest, male-male rape, and the real-life gentrification of the iconic D.C. neighborhood.

## Awards and recognition

Anacostia was nominated for a 2022 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor In A Short Form Comedy or Drama Series (Anthony Anderson).
Anacostia was also nominated for a 2015 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Approaches Drama Series, and Martha Byrne won a Daytime Emmy the same year for Outstanding Performer in a New Approaches Drama Series for her performance as Alexis Jordan. Elizabeth Hubbard was nominated in 2016 for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for her role as Eva Montgomery. In 2017, Anthony Anderson was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for his role as Sean Williams-Grey. Jennifer Bassey was nominated in 2018 for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for her portrayal of Beverly Newman.
To date, the series has won fourteen Indie Series Awards, and has been nominated for several more. Anthony Anderson holds the record for most Acting Nominations (18) and is also the leader for overall Nominations (26) at the Indie Series Awards.
| Year | Award | Category | Individual | Result |
| 2010 | 1st Indie Soap Awards | Best Ensemble | | Won |
| 2011 | 2nd Indie Soap Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor | Anthony Anderson | Won |
| 2011 | 2nd Indie Soap Awards | Breakthrough Performance | Pasha Diallo | Won |
| 2012 | 3rd Indie Soap Awards | Best Guest Appearance (Drama) | Martha Byrne | Won |
| 2012 | 3rd Indie Soap Awards | Best Writing (Drama) | Anthony Anderson | Won |
| 2013 | 4th Indie Soap Awards | Best Supporting Actress (Drama) | Pasha Diallo | Won |
| 2015 | 42nd Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding New Approaches Drama Series | | Nominated |
| 2015 | 42nd Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Performer in a New Approaches Drama Series | Martha Byrne | Won |
| 2015 | 6th Indie Series Awards | Best Ensemble (Drama) | | Won |
| 2016 | 43rd Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series | Elizabeth Hubbard | Nominated |
| 2016 | 7th Indie Series Awards | Best Lead Actress (Drama) | Tamieka Chavis | Nominated |
| 2016 | 7th Indie Series Awards | Best Supporting Actress (Drama) | Tia Dae | Nominated |
| 2016 | 7th Indie Series Awards | Best Guest Actress (Drama) | Elizabeth Hubbard | Nominated |
| 2016 | 7th Indie Series Awards | Best Ensemble (Drama) | | Nominated |
| 2017 |
| 2017 | 44th Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series | Anthony Anderson as Sean Williams-Grey | Nominated |
| 2017 | 8th Indie Series Awards | Best Lead Actor (Drama) | Anthony Anderson | Nominated |
| 2017 | 8th Indie Series Awards | Best Supporting Actress (Drama) | Marion A. Akpan | Nominated |
| 2017 | 8th Indie Series Awards | Best Guest Actor (Drama) | Tremayne Norris | Won |
| 2017 | 8th Indie Series Awards | Best Guest Actress (Drama) | Elizabeth Hubbard | Nominated |
| 2017 | 8th Indie Series Awards | Best Ensemble (Drama) | | Nominated |
| 2017 | 8th Indie Series Awards | Best Makeup | Lora Lee | Nominated |
| 2018 | 9th Indie Series Awards | Best Drama | | Nominated |
| | | Best Lead Actor (Drama) | Anthony Anderson | Nominated |
| | | Best Supporting Actor (Drama) | Wil Lash | Won |
| | | Best Guest Actress (Drama) | Dee Freeman | Nominated |
| | | Best Guest Actress (Drama) | Jennifer Bassey | Nominated |
| | | Best Guest Actress (Drama) | Judi Blair | Nominated |
| | | Best Guest Actor (Drama) | Tremayne Norris | Nominated |
| | 45th Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Performer in a Digital Daytime Drama Series | Jennifer Bassey | Nominated |
| 2019 | 10th Indie Series Awards | Best Guest Actress (Drama) | Lauren B. Martin | Won |
| | 46th Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series | Wil Lash | Nominated |
| 2022 | 74th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series | Anthony A. Anderson | Nominated |
In December 2010, Anderson was named by We Love Soaps as one of the 15 Most Fascinating People of 2010.
In 2017, Gothamist Washington D.C. affiliate DCist named Anacostia "one of the best," in an article highlighting series set in the Washington D.C. area.