The television crime dramas of the modern times now are no longer mere police investigations, but the exploration of the reality behind the court room and the emotional touches and social commentary. 61st Street is one of such a mighty series which intertwines the courtroom drama with the emotional story narration and the social commentary. The show takes place in Chicago and it investigates how one act can alter the fate of various people in a broken justice system. Full of captivating performances and based on the principles of the realistic story, the series explores the issues of race, power, corruption, and morality.
This article will provide complete information about Cast of 61st Street, Release date, Full cast and crew.
61st Street Overview
61st Street is an American crime thriller and legal thriller which aired on AMC April 10, 2022. The series was written as a two-season project initially and its initial season has eight episodes. The project also has executive producers, such as Michael B. Jordan, Alana Mayo, and Courtney B. Vance, who contributed a touch of creative power and star power to the project. The series was later bought by the CW when the second season, which had already been shot, was not aired by AMC as part of financial restructuring and provided it with a new venue. Throughout its existence, the show jumps back and forth between investigative tension and courtroom battles, exposing how the criminal justice system has failed.
| Category | Information |
| Title | 61st Street |
| Genre | Legal Drama, Crime Thriller |
| Creator | Peter Moffat |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Language | English |
| Total Seasons | 2 |
| Total Episodes | 16 |
| Original Network | AMC |
| Later Broadcaster | The CW |
| First Premiere | April 10, 2022 |
| Season 2 Premiere | July 22, 2024 |
| Music Composer | Laura Karpman |
Plot Overview
The main character is a high school athlete by the name of Moses Johnson who has a bright future and college ambitions. It is a blind ending in his life when he gets involved in a police probe after a drug bust that led to tragedies. When an officer of the police is killed in the course of the action, the law enforcement agencies rush to manage the masses and find Moses as a suspect. Moses is wrongfully entangled into the system that is keen to close the case despite having very little relation to criminal activity. His arrest brings about a ripple effect on his loved ones, community and his legal representatives. In comes Franklin Roberts, an old time public defender who is near retirement and who at first takes the case as a routine thing but soon discovers that there is more at stake.
Franklin finds out that there are multiple layers of wrongdoing, political pressure and institutional bias. The prosecutors are willing to get a conviction without care of the truth, police officers are in difficulty of preserving their image. The courtroom turns into a battle field where evidence, manipulations and personal agenda collide.
Season 1 is devoted to a legal battle of Moses and emotional stress of his family. Balanced with the hard court exchanges are personal moments that bring out fear, hope and strength. Season 2 goes further than the trial and expounds on consequences, moral compromise, and the long-term effects of injustice. The characters have challenging choices to make, alliances change, and the complexity of the system is made even more evident. The series eventually explores the question of whether justice can ever be realized in cases where institutions of justice are more concerned about existence than veracity.
Full Cast of 61st Street
| Actor Name | Character / Role |
| Courtney B. Vance | Franklin Roberts |
| Tosin Cole | Moses Johnson (Season 1) |
| Bentley Green | Joshua Johnson |
| Holt McCallany | Lt. Brannigan |
| Aunjanue Ellis | Martha Roberts |
| Andrene Ward-Hammond | Norma Johnson |
| Mark O’Brien | Officer Logan |
Recurring Cast of 61st Street
| Actor Name | Character / Role |
| Patrick Mulvey | Michael Rossi (Season 1) |
| Rebecca Spence | Jessica Rossi |
| Jarell Maximillian Sullivan | David Roberts |
| Matthew Elam | TJ (Season 1; Guest Season 2) |
| Jon Michael Hill | Pastor Richards |
| Ben Barten | James Frater |
| Kamal Angelo Bolden | Young |
| Emily Althaus | Nicole Carter |
| James Vincent Meredith | Dr. Algren (Season 1; Guest Season 2) |
| Erik Hellman | Peter |
| Julian Parker | Dante Blake |
| Jerod Haynes | Big Phil |
| Malkia Stampley | Marisol |
| Rashada Dawan | Janet Porter (Season 1) |
| Madison Dirks | Marty Gallagher |
| Morocco Omari | Speak (Season 1) |
| Sammy A. Publes | Coach Angelo (Season 1) |
| Michael Patrick Thornton | Himself (Season 1) |
| Jayson Lee | Calvin Harris (Season 1) |
| Al’Jaleel McGhee | Lotty |
| Antonie Pierre | Deputy Moss (Season 1) |
| David Parkes | Rick Leonard (Season 2; Guest Season 1) |
| Manuk Aret | Alex (Season 2; Guest Season 1) |
| Karen Aldridge | Naimah Watts (Season 2) |
| Paul Turner | Wayne Morris (Season 2) |
| Brenda Strong | Kim Pearson (Season 2) |
Main Cast of 61st Street
Courtney B. Vance as Franklin Roberts
Courtney B. Vance or Courtney Bernard Vance (born on March 12, 1960, Detroit, Michigan) is a well-regarded American actor whose high-powered stage and screen performances have made him very respected. He had attended Harvard University and trained in Yale School of Drama and gained a good theatrical grounding. In Fences (1985), Vance also got his first critical acclaim and nomination of Tony Awards. He is the winner of Emmy Awards in the role of The People v. O.J. Simpson (2016) and Lovecraft Country (2020) over the years.
He also stars in the legal drama 61st Street in which he portrays Franklin Roberts, a strong willed defense attorney who defies systemic injustice, racial bigotry, and corruption to defend a young client, accused of murdering a police officer.
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Courtney Bernard Vance |
| Birth Date | March 12, 1960 (Age 66 in 2026) |
| Role | Franklin Roberts |
| Debut Work | Fences (Broadway, 1985) |
| Known For | The People v. O.J. Simpson, Lovecraft Country |
Tosin Cole as Moses Johnson (Season 1)
Tosin Cole is a Nigerian British actor who was born on October 23, 1992. He has international fame as a result of popular television roles, mainly in Doctor Who and Supergirl. Cole, who is known to possess an emotional spectrum and a screen presence, has managed to switch between science fiction and high-intensity drama.
In 61 st st season 1, he plays the role of Moses Johnson, a high-school athlete who is a talented athlete and whose life is transformed when he is falsely accused of killing a police officer, making him the focal point of a legal tussle.
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Tosin Cole |
| Birth Date | October 23, 1992 (Age 34 in 2026) |
| Role | Moses Johnson (Season 1) |
| Debut Work | Hollyoaks (2011) |
| Known For | Doctor Who, 61st Street |
Bentley Green as Joshua Johnson
Bentley Green is a new American actor who has gained prominence due to his good roles in the TV dramas. Although there is some scanty information about his young years, he has in a very short time been able to draw attention due to the depiction of emotionally based characters.
He stars in 61 st Street, where he takes up the role of Joshua Johnson, the younger brother of Moses, who is struggling with his family as they go through the trial and are pressured by the people.
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Bentley Green |
| Birth Date | Not publicly documented |
| Role | Joshua Johnson |
| Debut Work | 61st Street (2022) |
| Known For | 61st Street |
Holt McCallany as Lt. Brannigan
Holt McCallany was born to Jeffrey Holt McCallany on April 3, 1963, in Nashville, Tennessee and is a veteran actor who is mostly known as an actor who played strong and commanding roles. Having played boxing and classical theatre, he makes his characters very realistic. He is particularly known to play his roles in Mindhunter and movies such as Fight Club and Sully. At 61st Farm, McCallany is playing the role of Lt. Brannigan, a hard-nosed and powerful police lieutenant who is in the middle of the case and power structure in the department.
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Jeffrey Holt McCallany |
| Birth Date | April 3, 1963 (Age 63 in 2026) |
| Role | Lt. Brannigan |
| Debut Work | The Mission… Kill (1980) |
| Known For | Mindhunter, Fight Club |
Aunjanue Ellis as Martha Roberts
Aunjanue Ellis was born on 21 February 1969 in San Francisco, California and is an award winning actress who is admired due to her strong and emotion filled performances. She has earned Oscar and Emmy nominations and has gained a considerable amount of acclaim in the roles of Ray, King Richard, and Lovecraft Country. She plays the role of the powerful and supportive wife to Franklin Roberts in 61st Street called Martha Roberts whose strength offers the family the emotional stability through the tough path it is going through.
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Aunjanue Ellis |
| Birth Date | February 21, 1969 (Age 57 in 2026) |
| Role | Martha Roberts |
| Debut Work | Girls Town (1996) |
| Known For | King Richard, Lovecraft Country |
Andrene Ward-Hammond as Norma Johnson
Andrene Ward-Hammond is a beautiful TV actress who has played in critically acclaimed dramas including The Chi and 61 st street. She is known to depict realistic and heart-felt characters.
She stars in the series as Norma Johnson, the devoted mother of Moses and Joshua as she struggles to save her family against all odds including the social and legal pressures against her.
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Andrene Ward-Hammond |
| Birth Date | Not publicly documented |
| Role | Norma Johnson |
| Debut Work | Television guest appearances |
| Known For | The Chi, 61st Street |
Mark O’Brien as Officer Logan
Mark O’Brien, May 7, 1988, Nova Scotia, Canada, is an all-round actor in the roles of realistic depictions of ordinary people and a law-enforcement officer. He has starred in other mainstream productions like Reacher, The Rookie, and sci-fi film Arrival.
He stars in 61st Street as Officer Logan, a policeman with a close relationship to the main investigation and the tension at the precinct.
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Mark O’Brien |
| Birth Date | May 7, 1988 (Age 38 in 2026) |
| Role | Officer Logan |
| Debut Work | The Listener (2009) |
| Known For | Reacher, Arrival |
61st Street Episode Structure
Season 1 establishes the central legal conflict, while Season 2 explores deeper emotional and societal consequences
| Season | Episodes | Release Period | Network |
| Season 1 | 8 | April – May 2022 | AMC |
| Season 2 | 8 | July – September 2024 | The CW |
61st Street Production Background
The production of 61st started in 2019 when AMC was in need of an anchored courtroom drama that would be more social. Character-driven storyteller Peter Moffat designed the series to feature those who are trapped within institutional systems of greater scale. There was great confidence by the network in the project and it ordered two seasons at once.
Outlier Society Productions led by Michael B. Jordan came in as executive producer, focusing on authenticity and a variety of storytelling. The shooting was in a realistic style, with a non-spectacular, down-to-earth cinematography and a subdued visual language that minimized the side effects of making a spectacle of the shooting.
| Production Element | Details |
| Development Year | 2019 |
| Executive Producers | Peter Moffat, Michael B. Jordan |
| Production Companies | AMC Studios, BBC Studios |
| Filming Approach | Realistic urban storytelling |
| Original Plan | Two-season narrative arc |
61st Street Release Date
The release of 61st Street is not as typical in comparison to most of the television dramas. The first season of the show premiered on AMC in April 2022 and was well-received regarding its acting and topics. But even after shooting Season 2 in advance, AMC canceled broadcast plans in its restructuring process as a company.
The CW revived the interest among the audiences by purchasing the series in May 2023. Before the eventual release of Season 2 in July 2024, Season 1 was reintroduced. This second opportunity gave the show a chance to reach out to those who had not seen it before and has helped to increase the fan base.
| Event | Date |
| AMC Premiere | April 10, 2022 |
| AMC Drops Season 2 | January 2023 |
| CW Acquisition | May 2023 |
| Season 2 Broadcast | July 22, 2024 |
61st Street Music and Soundtrack
The background music written by Laura Karpman is rather insignificant yet critical in creating the mood of the show. Rather than action music with the dramatic applicability, the soundtrack dwells on emotional undertones which indicate anxiety and tension. Minimalistic scoring supports courtroom scenes, and the only dialogue and acting have an emotive value. The music is supportive of the storytelling and does not overpower the story, which supports the grounded tone of the show.
| Music Aspect | Details |
| Composer | Laura Karpman |
| Style | Atmospheric, Emotional |
| Key Usage | Courtroom drama & investigative scenes |
| Impact | Enhances realism and tension |
61st Street Reviews and Ratings
Most critics had a positive reaction to 61st Street, complimenting its acting and socially topical motifs. Emotional depth and authenticity were specifically identified in Courtney B. Vance in his role of Franklin Roberts. Critics liked the way the series dealt with the problem of systemic injustice without being excessively sensational.
Criticism was directed at pacing and clichés of legal drama, though most of the time it was noted that the content was enhanced by good acting and intelligent writing.
| Platform | Rating |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 69% Approval |
| Metacritic | 66/100 |
| Audience Response | Mostly Positive |
Conclusion
61st Street is an interesting example of contemporary television storytelling that combines entertainment with substantial social commentary. The series brings out the issues of justice in modern society through excellent performances, realistic writing and emotionally charged narrations. Its non-traditional path of broadcasting proves the quality storytelling can resist industry difficulties and identify new followers. The show creates an impression that is hard to forget and makes the audience ponder on the issues of fairness, responsibility, and truth because it does not center around any sensational crime but human beings in the legal system.
FAQs
It is based on a young sportsman who was unjustly imprisoned in the criminal justice system and his attorneys struggle to defend him.
The show debuted April 10, 2022, on AMC.
The show consists of 16 episodes and two seasons.
The lead is played by Courtney B. Vance as a defense attorney Franklin Roberts.
The second season was broadcasted on The CW, and the show can be watched in CW services and streaming platforms (depending on the location).
