'Mad Men' Meets 'True Detective' in Jon Hamm's Newest Crime Thriller | Review

Published Sep 18, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT

Meredith Loftus is a TV Lists Editor at Collider. As part of the Lists team, she creates both trending and evergreen list topics in order to engage Collider's active audience. Prior to this, she was a Features Author focused on both movie and TV topics. In addition to her editing role, she has covered major events for Collider, including San Diego Comic-Con and D23. Meredith has also conducted interviews with creatives across the entertainment industry. Some of her favorites include Margot Robbie, Luke Thompson, Yerin Ha, Gilmore Girls' Scott Patterson, Jon M. Chu, and the cast of Superman & Lois. 

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From Ted Bundy to the Son of Sam, the 1970s were the birthplace of ordinary people becoming infamous criminals. However, many crimes often fade into history despite making national news at the time. One such person is Tony Kiritsis, who captured the attention of Indianapolis residents after he kidnapped his mortgage broker. His story was revisited through a scripted podcast in 2022 starring Jon Hamm, and thanks to the actor, that dramatization is now getting the TV treatment.

While some true-crime podcasts have been able to make the leap to the screen, such as The Dropout, others, like Apple TV's WeCrashed, have been less successful. In the case of American Hostage, it falls into the former thanks to commanding lead performances, a strong supporting cast, and stylish editing, resulting in a crime thriller you don't want to sleep on.

What Is 'American Hostage' About?

Based on the podcast of the same name and inspired by true events, American Hostage recounts the story of Tony Kiritsis (Giovanni Ribisi), an Indianapolis man who kidnapped his mortgage broker, Dick Hall (Kristoffer Polaha), in February 1977. As the crisis unfolds, Tony wants his story to be told by the most trusted voice in local news, Fred Heckman (Hamm). What follows is a whirlwind 63 hours of radio conversations, ethical dilemmas, and a high-pressure situation that destroys two men in the process.

While the American Hostage podcast kept its story tight, at roughly 30 minutes per episode, the MGM+ series pushes closer to 50-minute installments. That additional time allows the show to flesh out its story with more flashbacks, while the medium of television gives American Hostage the creative freedom to get experimental. As Fred, Tony, and Dick cope with the life-or-death scenarios they're in, the state of their psyches is revealed as the situation progresses.

The score often relies on a ‘70s drum groove, while the editing features split screens. Many of Fred and Tony's scenes are over the radio, so this editing choice brings them together. It's not just for them — the split frames also show the reactions of Fred's station staff, the police officers, even Tony's family members in the vicinity as the action unfolds. It communicates the ripple effects Tony and Fred's conversations have on the surrounding audience.

Jon Hamm and Giovanni Ribisi Reach New Heights in 'American Hostage'

Hamm and Ribisi, who are at the center of American Hostage's first season, have been magnetic to watch for decades now, regardless of the genre or subject matter. A big reason the show works as well as it does is these actors bringing their A-game. Individually, they carry their characters' arcs forward thanks to exceptional performances, but together, they're at their best, whether in person or talking at either end of a phone call.

Hamm, who had the advantage of already playing Heckman in the previous podcast, clearly understands who this man is and carries that same gravitas to the screen. Yet, although the time periods are similar, Fred Heckman is no Don Draper. Fred has a code, a duty to his journalistic integrity that erodes as the hostage crisis drags on. He didn’t ask to become part of the story, but he's almost helpless to stop it. Fred is passionate about his duty to the news, but he rarely becomes explosive. What might be Hamm's best scene comes at the end of Episode 4, where, in his calmest voice, Fred details a devastating family secret on the air while trying to calm Tony down. It's a deeply moving scene that works because of Hamm’s restraint.

Ribisi is a chameleon when it comes to playing peculiar yet memorable characters, but his performance in American Hostage is genuinely distinctive. Tony has been pushed to his limits regarding what he believes he's owed. He's paranoid and unpredictable, leaving the viewer on edge, whether they know the story or not. Yet, it's hard not to root for him when he's seemingly a victim of big business and a system that wouldn't give him a fair shot. Ribisi holds the series together as the infamous kidnapper, striking a perfect balance between grandiose, erratic, and empathetic.

'American Hostage' Explores the '70s Through Its Supporting Cast

Image via MGM+

American Hostage's added runtime also allows the series to develop its supporting cast, including Fred's wife Barbara (Mireille Enos) and Fred’s coworkers Ben Hairston (William Jackson Harper) and Ginny (June Laporte). Harper, in particular, is a standout, as Hairston becomes a foil to Fred throughout the season, questioning Fred's impartiality as the situation continues. Through flashbacks, viewers see how he grows into his own as one of the few journalists of color in the newsroom. When Fred is temporarily ousted from WIBC, Ben offers a steadier command than station manager Jerry Morris (Joe Cobden).

Like Mad Men did with the 1960s, American Hostage examines the gender politics of the time, including the women's liberation movement, through characters like Ginny, Barbara, and Dick's wife, Ibby (Kat Cunning). Ginny's storyline highlights subtle workplace sexism when a news story she works on is axed by Fred moments before she's supposed to be on the air. Meanwhile, Barbara and Ibby are both housewives who bond throughout this larger-than-life situation. Barbara is the only one who can connect with Ibby while her estranged husband is a hostage, and Barbara opens up to Ibby about her heartbreak and her dreams beyond just tending to her garden.

American Hostage does what it sets out to do in both adapting the original podcast and recounting a true story in a thrilling, engaging way. The momentum of this crime thriller remains steady, even when the show slows down for a flashback or an extremely poignant scene. Since American Hostage is an anthology series like True Detective, its first season delivers a complete story without too many loose ends. Though it would be a shame to lose Hamm and Ribisi for a second season, it's up to the creative team to find another story to maintain the high bar the crime thriller has already set.

American Hostage premieres September 20 on MGM+.

American Hostage

An engaging true-crime thriller supported by strong lead performances from Jon Hamm and Giovanni Ribisi.

8 10

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  Fred Heckman

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  Tony Kiritsis

Pros & Cons

• Jon Hamm and Giovanni Ribisi deliver captivating performances, individually and together.
• The show utilizes stylish editing and creative liberties to get into the psyche of its characters.
• The supporting cast subtly reflects the culture and social issues of the 1970s.

• Some of the added backstory and flashbacks could've been cut down.
• There are hints of a potential romance that aren't expanded on and should've been cut out entirely.