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 SummarySeason# of EpisodesFirst AiredLast Aired110200920102102010201131020112012410201420155102015201761020182021
Episodes
+Season 1No. In SeriesNo. In SeasonEpisode TitleWritten ByDirected ByViewers (in thousands)11Covet Thy NeighborAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.03222Breaking The SurfaceAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.01533Beware of The Fine PrintAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.01344Always Bet on Black (Part 1)Anthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.01155Always Bet on Black (Part 2)Anthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.01766L.O.V.E.Anthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.01177Bad GirlAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.01188You've Got The LookAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.00999The End Is ComingAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.0131010Arrivals & DeparturesAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.012 +Season 2No. In SeriesNo. In SeasonEpisode TitleWritten ByDirected ByViewers (in thousands)111Scar TissueAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.012122What Will I Tell My Heart?Anthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.010133Hello Like BeforeAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.042144The Wheels on The BusAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.012155Checks and BalancesAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.011166One For The RoadAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.009177A House Is Not a HomeAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.010188Business as UsualAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.008199Sins of The PastAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.0102010And Justice For AllAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.011 +Season 3No. In SeriesNo. In SeasonEpisode TitleWritten ByDirected ByViewers (in thousands)211Where Do We Go From HereAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.013222Only In My DreamsAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.034233Sign Your NameAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.024244Helping HandsAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.023255The Bigger They AreAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.028266Show and TellAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.023277The Gangs All HereAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.021288The Power of GoodbyeAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.038299Break-up To Make-upAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.0283010Till Death Do Us PartAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.025 +Season 4No. In SeriesNo. In SeasonEpisode TitleWritten ByDirected ByViewers (in thousands)311Don't Leave Me This WayAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.015322Once Upon a TimeAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.016333Never Say NeverAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.014344What Happens In VegasAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.010355R.S.V.PAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.007366Do Unto OthersAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.007377ChoicesAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.006388What a Fool BelievesAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.006399When The Bough BreaksAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.0074010ProxyAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.008 +Season 5No. In SeriesNo. In SeasonEpisode TitleWritten ByDirected ByViewers (in thousands)411You AgainAnthony Anderson & Martha ByrneAnthony Anderson & Martha Byrne0.013422Why Me (Part 1)Anthony Anderson & Martha ByrneAnthony Anderson & Martha Byrne0.010433Why Me (Part 2)Anthony Anderson & Martha ByrneAnthony Anderson & Martha Byrne0.006444I Can See YouAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.007455Road KillAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.004466Speak No EvilAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.003477The KnockAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.003488Call It By Its NameAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.002499Lost and FoundAnthony Anderson & Martha ByrneAnthony Anderson & Martha Byrne0.0025010ConfessionsAnthony Anderson & Martha ByrneAnthony Anderson & Martha Byrne0.004 +Season 6No. In SeriesNo. In SeasonEpisode TitleWritten ByDirected ByViewers (in thousands)511AftermathAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.010522Like Father, Like SonAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.00853315 MinutesAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson0.008544One WishAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson555Man In The MirrorAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson566The Life Of A LiarAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson577Let Me Love YouAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson588Fourth Of JulyAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson599Secrets, Lies & Rollercoaster RidesAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson6010Stormy WeatherAnthony AndersonAnthony 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 2011 2nd Indie Soap Awards Outstanding Lead Actor Anthony Anderson Breakthrough Performance Pasha Diallo 2012 3rd Indie Soap Awards Best Guest Appearance (Drama) Martha Byrne Best Writing (Drama) Anthony Anderson 2013 4th Indie Soap Awards Best Supporting Actress (Drama) Pasha Diallo 2015 42nd Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding New Approaches Drama Series Outstanding Performer in a New Approaches Drama Series Martha Byrne 6th Indie Series Awards Best Ensemble (Drama) 2016 43rd Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series Elizabeth Hubbard 7th Indie Series Awards Best Lead Actress (Drama) Tamieka Chavis Best Supporting Actress (Drama) Tia Dae Best Guest Actress (Drama)Elizabeth Hubbard Best Ensemble (Drama) 2017 44th Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series Anthony Anderson as Sean Williams-Grey 8th Indie Series Awards Best Lead Actor (Drama) Anthony Anderson Best Supporting Actress (Drama) Marion A. Akpan Best Guest Actor (Drama) Tremayne Norris Best Guest Actress (Drama) Elizabeth Hubbard Best Ensemble (Drama) Best Makeup Lora Lee 20189th Indie Series AwardsBest Drama Best Lead Actor (Drama)Anthony Anderson Best Supporting Actor (Drama)Wil Lash Best Guest Actress (Drama)Dee Freeman Best Guest Actress (Drama)Jennifer Bassey Best Guest Actress (Drama)Judi Blair Best Guest Actor (Drama)Tremayne Norris 45th Daytime Creative Arts Emmy AwardsOutstanding Guest Performer in a Digital Daytime Drama SeriesJennifer Bassey 201910th Indie Series AwardsBest Guest Actress (Drama)Lauren B. Martin 46th Daytime Creative Arts Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama SeriesWil Lash 202274th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy AwardsOutstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama SeriesAnthony A. Anderson
In December 2010, Anderson was named by We Love Soaps as one of the 15 Most Fascinating People of 2010.