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Native America Calling: Falling for ‘Rutherford Falls’
Monday, April 26, 2021
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A new comedy on NBC’s streaming service Peacock TV proves border towns can be funny.

The setting for Rutherford Falls is a town near the fictional Minishonka reservation in New York state. The two main characters, Nathan Rutherford, played by Ed Helms, and Regan Wells played by Jana Schmieding (Mniconjou and Sicangu Lakota) are best friends who are trying to get their communities excited about history and culture.

RUTHERFORD FALLS
Jana Schmieding as Reagan Wells in Episode 1 of Rutherford Falls, a new show on NBC’s streaming service Peacock TV. Photo by Colleen Hayes / Peacock

Half of the writers are Native, as are the showrunner and main character. Sierra Teller Ornelas (Navajo) is the first Native American to run a TV comedy.

Native America Calling will talk with Teller Ornelas, Schmieding and writer/actor Bobby Wilson (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota) about this history-making TV series.

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