Dateline: Missing In America - Shining a Light on the Missing with the Team Behind NBC’s “Found”

Episode Date: September 12, 2024

Josh Mankiewicz sits down with showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll and Shanola Hampton, lead actor and producer of the hit NBC drama Found, to talk about bringing attention to the missing. Don’t forget to watch Josh’s all-new Dateline this Friday at 10/9c on NBC, and Found premieres Thursday, 10/3 at 10/9c on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

Hi everybody, it's Josh Mankiewicz and this is kind of a bonus episode of Talking Dateline. We're going to do something a little bit different this time. What we're going to be talking about today is not a Dateline episode and it's not a murder investigation and it's also not going behind the scenes of a Dateline story. It's about bringing attention to people that we hope do not ever turn into a Dateline story. We're talking about the missing. Now, my two guests today are not the usual Dateline interviewees because they're not detectives or family members or lawyers and they aren't guilty of anything except making great television. They are the creative

team behind a hit NBC drama called found. Here's what we have in common. We all hope our work can help shed light on the missing. Dateline's been covering these stories for about 10 years in our Missing in America online series, and I just finished doing season three of the Missing in America podcast. Now Found is an NBC drama, and it tells the story of Gabby Mosley,

a public relations expert who is also a former kidnapping victim. And she's got a big secret. She's keeping her captor, her former captor, in her basement. I am done with your lies. I am done with your manipulations. You have cost me everything. I should have buried you the day I found you. Now according to the Department of Justice, about 600,000 people are reported missing every year in the United States to law enforcement every year. And the vast majority of those people are not found.

This is something I feel personally invested in because back in 2005, nearly 20 years ago, I did a story about how if you were watching television in the United States, you would get the impression that everybody who was missing was white, attractive, blonde, and female. I did not expect that discussion to last another 20 years. Maybe I was naive. I think things did change. They are a little bit better, but they're certainly not where they should be because there's a lot of missing cases in which the attention that could be paid

should be paid and might change things if it were paid isn't happening. So I think my guests today feel pretty much the same way about this. I'm delighted to welcome showrunner and catchy Okuro Carol. I'm going to call you NK if that's okay. Of course. And the lead actor and also producer, Shannola Hampton. Now, for the very few people out there who've made the colossal error of not watching Found yet, tell us a little bit about what it is

and what you want people to think about when they're watching. Well, Found is a missing person show that focuses on what we call the forgotten ones, which is the percentage of the population that it feels like not just America, but the world has sort of deemed disposable. So to your point earlier about the news coverage and sort of we would think that every person missing was a attractive white female, while things have improved still disproportionately.

Hugely. We are not reporting on a significant portion of the population. I mean, not only are we not reporting on it, it's not as if everything is equal, but we're not reporting on it. I mean, black women are about 6.5% of the United States, but there's some, they're like what, 29% of them missing

or something like that, so some giant number. And part of it is the chicken and there's some, they're like, what? 29% of them missing or something like that. It's just some giant number. And part of it is a chicken and an egg thing, right? Cause part of it is like, okay, well, are the police not looking as much? And therefore there's not as much attention being paid in the media. Is the media not paying enough attention? And therefore for the police,

it's sort of, they're not the high priority cases. There's no one bad guy in this. All of us play a role in sort of how this has become commonplace in this country. And so with a show like Found, what we were hoping we would do was entertain the public, of course. We're in the business of entertainment. Which I think what you're doing, yes.

Thank you. Yeah, it's great. But while we're doing that, if we can challenge our audience to just pay a little bit more attention, if we could challenge our audience when they hear about a missing person and it's someone that maybe isn't getting mainstream attention, that they pay closer attention, that they become part of the solution. And that is our hope that sort of through osmosis and watching the show and how dedicated

Gabby Mosley, which is the character that Shenola Hampton plays, how dedicated she is to finding those that just aren't the priorities to others, that that'll inspire something in our country as well. Because quite frankly, if even one person looks twice when they see something happening in the street or when they see a poster or they see a mom, a sister, an aunt, a grandmother crying on the news if one more person

plays closer attention. That's one more person that's focused on bringing this person home. And so that is our hope with the show. And you were to some extent inspired by a cluster of missing women back in DC? Yeah, so when it was around 2014, it was something that went viral online

that a lot of people started talking about, which was there were 13 to 14 missing black and brown women in the DC area. And a lot of people were talking about it online, especially within the black and Latino communities that I was so rattled by the fact that I was seeing something online within my community that was being discussed on such a magnitude and it was nowhere in

mainstream media. And so I just, I got so frustrated as a mother, as a woman, that this was happening on this level. And I always, I wish I was a rocket scientist. I wish I had all those skills. I don't. My skill is the keyboard. And so I was like, okay, well, how do I use the skill I have to help? How can I play a role and sort of draw attention to this and bringing people home? And so I was like, okay, well, how do I use the skill I have to help? How can I play a role and sort of draw attention to this and bringing people home? And so I started to think about, you know, what could make an interesting TV show that would shed light on this. Out of that, the character of Gabby Mosley was born. And then I just sort of built out the show from there.

So I mean, Chanel, you're playing somebody who's both a kidnapping victim and a kidnapper. Kidnapper, yeah. There's not a lot you can draw on from that. I don't think that, there's not a lot of that out there. No, I wasn't able to research and speak to someone who has done that, no. So. I mean, it's a, yeah, that comes from you, right?

I mean. Yeah. Well, it comes from the wonderful writing, right? Yes. And then you just kind of have to feel what it would be like to be in that space. I think what really helps with something like that is you imagine all those times where, like if somebody does something to your kid,

you imagine all the things you would want to do to them that you can't really do. So it's really taking that imagination and sometimes the worst of yourself and the worst mistake you can make. And that's how I was able to make it truthful because you want to pay people back. Everybody wants to pay people back. You want to sound like you're good and you know enlightenment. Oh, I forgive. But everybody wants a little revenge. And so to be able to have the writing to execute what that inner demon wants is really lovely.

Are people walking up to you on the street or in airports and saying you're Gabby Mosley? Yes. And it's really, it's interesting for me because I was so known for another character for so long, but now they're definitely saying Gabby Mosley. And quite honestly, I get a lot of, which is another reason why I wanted to play the character is because she's so beautifully flawed. I get a lot of, you locked the man in the basement, you're just as bad as him or worse in some ways that they will say because I'm out here, supposedly the hero for other people.

And so that's been a interesting reaction to get to, which I was expecting. I was. Anti-heroes are interesting, you know? I mean, they are. I think so. I think so. But I think we are finding the balance. I do. I really think we are finding that balance.

Oh yeah, I think you are. I remember when Law and Order, the original Law and Order was really sort of in its heyday. Some story would break in the news. And then a couple of months later, something very much like that would appear on Law and Order. I was thinking, oh heyday. Some story would break in the news, and then a couple of months later, something very much like that would appear on Law and Order. I was thinking, I'm reading the paper just like I am. Ripped from the headlines.

Yeah, are you guys doing that also? No, we don't rip directly from the headlines, but by nature, I love procedurals, I love Dateline. My husband and I always joke that we have six seconds to change the channel or we're stuck. Like the minute they're like, why did Bob show up at the house? I'm like, I'm in, I want to know why Bob showed up at the house too. And they've got me for the next hour.

And so just by nature, I always keep up to date sort of on these cases in real life and sort of as the worst thing we could possibly imagine. There's always someone who's taken it a degree further in real life. And so in the writer's room, every single person who works on this show in some way, shape or form is doing it from a place of passion, being passionate about finding missing people. And so by nature, they have absorbed a lot of cases, a lot of information. And so we sort of call it the jambalaya.

It's a mix between things that have happened in real life, things that have happened to us, you know, our writers, our actors, our crew have been very generous with their stories, their stories of healing, their journeys, that also gets sort of put into the jambalaya pot. And then our creative imagination and as long as it's grounded in reality and authenticity, we mix all of that up and out of that come our episodes.

["The Black and the Missing Foundation"] In your show, Gabby Mosley is in public relations. And I know that one of the things that was part of the creative process was the Black and Missing Foundation. Now, the Black and Missing Foundation, which I only found out recently, came about because they saw our story back in 2005,

was founded by a law enforcement professional, Derricka, and a public relations professional, Natalie. Now, far as I know, Natalie does not have anybody chained up in her basement. You know, Natalie and I have talked about that. You know, we've never seen her basement. Well, you take that away. There is, I do sort of feel a little bit like

I know Gabby because I know Natalie. Well, the surprise was I actually didn't know about the Black and Missing Foundation when I started creating the show. I'd read't know about the Black and Missing Foundation when I started creating the show. I'd read an article, I think it was in Time or something, that just talked about the role public relations plays in finding missing people and keeping it at the forefront of the media's attention, which sort of puts pressure on law enforcement.

And I consider myself a reasonably intelligent human being and it really shocked me. So that was what made me think, oh, of course that's what Gabby should have her background in because after what happened to her, she's like, this should never happen again. So we create the show and as I'm doing research after I've sold the script, I stumble on the black and missing foundation.

And I'm like reading Natalie's bio when I literally reached out to her because I was like, I feel like I just created you in my head, not knowing you existed. They're now very dear friends. We are such huge champions of their work. They're the real superheroes. Yes, I agree.

Natalie and Erica. I agree, they're great. They're doing God's work, and our hope is that anything we do on found makes their lives easier in terms of what they're trying to do in real life, on the ground, saving families in a very active way. They're just, they're phenomenal women.

They are the greatest. And you're right. They've made a huge difference. And, you know, part of the sort of rope trick of this is that, you know, you have to strike the right balance between engaging with law enforcement and the news media, and then sort of criticizing them or yelling at them. Nobody basically likes being told that they're not doing their job. So there's a sort of a middle ground there,

which I think Black and Missing have actually done a very good job of. And that's partly because Derricka is part of law enforcement and will not allow people to trash talk law enforcement agencies, particularly when what they do is so important vis-a-vis missing people. So it's all about sort of spurring them on

and recognizing, which is exactly what you said, that there's this dance between stories. If we know the police department is putting everybody on something, we're gonna do a story about it if I'm in a local newsroom. And also if the police department says, this is very important, we'll cover it. And if we're covering something,

they don't wanna look like they're not paying attention so that they'll put more people on it. So I mean, that definitely happens. And the families that I cover, both missing families and also people whose loved ones have been victims of violent crime, I always say to them, like, you've got to engage with law enforcement. You know, I mean, you've got a bang on their door, but you don't want to like, you know, burst in while they're having dinner either. You know,

you've got to find some middle ground, which is sort of what all this is about. Sadly, I kind of get the feeling that you're not gonna run out of missing cases. Unfortunately, you know, it's one of those things that we talk about where we're like, oh, you know, the engine of the show is something that allows it to have a long life. But then the sad part of it having a long life is because people are always getting creative

about how they take our kids. I mean, trafficking is still such a huge issue across the board, not just in black communities, but across the board. And hugely uncovered. Hugely uncovered, hugely uncovered. I will never forget we were doing a storyline around a trafficking ring and sort of the head of the trafficking ring was based out of a high school. And I remember as we were going through the process, and there were a few people who'd sort of challenged us

on the believability of sort of the principle and everything. Three months after that episode airs, in Ohio, there's a huge takedown of a trafficking ring. Who was behind it? Educators, there were a couple of military people. And it's just, and that was kind of the point we were trying to make is you cannot judge a book by its cover. You have to just follow the evidence.

Anyone is capable of it, unfortunately. And that's what, you know, Shinola and the rest of our cast so beautifully take sort of the words and elevate it to really sort of drive home that point. It is not about passing judgment. It is about finding the missing people and reuniting them with their families. So Shinola, like, tell me sort of how you, as a performer and also a producer, like you have to sort of find that middle ground

in which people are engaged but not repelled, because that's hard to do. Well, you know, really I can't even take any credit for that. That is really all N.K. and Sone and everyone in the writers' room. I think that they also add little tidbits of lines in there where Gabby Mosley says one time, she's like, I'm not anti-cop, I'm anti-bad cop. And making sure that we're very specific in our language and also recognizing that our

law enforcement gets so many cases. And we're not trying to bash them on our show. And I think we show the heart of law enforcement with the Trent character and how passionate he is. And so really playing the dance, Gabby Mosley says one time to the team who was really affected by a case, one day I hope I no longer have to do this job job One day I hope there is no need for us to be here But right now that need exists and while it exists, we're gonna do it so really finding the balance has Come from the heart of the writers room and I just say I get to just say the words

I get to just say the words beautifully and Never even have to give a note. What's ahead for this season? Ooh. It's so good. So here's the thing. I have to just take this because I have to just tell everyone, you talk about your shows that you do and you have like an obligation to go in and talk about it. But this show, when I say we come out of the gate swinging, it is so good. Edge of the seat from the first minute to the last.

And in the middle of all the crazy, what our show does well is we also have our, the characters, the core group of people who've gone through their own struggles and we get to tell their stories throughout finding the missing people. So having both things happen at the same time, it's insane. You won't be able to keep up. It's so good. Our writers have done such an amazing job telling stories that keep you on the edge of your seat. It's so exciting. And everybody is going to be satisfied. I mean, what else do I say? How do you top that?

I mean, I don't know. Thank you very much for that, Shinoah. I mean, listen, when you're working with this kind of talent, writing for them is a gift, right? Because they just take it and they run with it. I think the only other thing I'll add is how proud we are of the types of cases we're going into this season as well. We're really expanding that definition

of the forgotten ones because it's not just about finding, you know, missing black people or missing indigenous people or missing people from the Latinx community. It is all walks of life. It's addicts that people have decided they don't deserve a second chance at life because they did this to themselves. It's sex workers who, you know,

there's always judgment around, well, what did they do to get themselves taken? We're really digging deep in terms of our non-binary characters of what's happening in the queer community and really making sure that we're shedding a light on that as well. So, you know, I personally have just been so overwhelmingly proud of our writers in terms of really pushing us

on the cases we're doing this season. And then quite frankly, a shout out to our casting department because they then have to go cast those roles authentically. You know, and we push people on. If we're doing a non-abled person story, we're not just gonna put an actor in a wheelchair. Go find me that actor who has that disability

that we're referencing. And so I just wanna take a moment to shout out our casting department in Los Angeles and in Atlanta, because they've been killing it. Really killing it. Yeah, and you just touched on something that I see all the time,

which is that people who are marginalized in the good times get are marginalized in the good times get more marginalized in the bad times. Like, you know, Monday through Friday, you're just homeless, but then Saturday, something terrible happens to you and you're the victim of a crime. You're starting out behind any of the three of us. And that's an interesting thing to deal with on your show.

So thank you guys, found, which comes out of the gate swinging, I am told. I was coming back Thursdays at 10 o'clock, starting on October 3rd, that's on your local NBC station. Friday on an all new Dateline, I'm gonna have the story of Akeia Eggleston, a pregnant Baltimore woman who was featured in our Missing in America series after she disappeared in 2017.

In fact, in that episode, you're gonna hear from Natalie and Derricka Wilson, the founders of the Black and Missing Foundation, whom we spoke about earlier. That's Friday at 10 p.m. Eastern, 9 Central. I hope you'll join us. And the official Dateline season premiere is September 27th at 9 Eastern, 8 Central.

Thank you guys both for doing this. Thank you very much. Thank you for having us. It's a pleasure. We so appreciate Central. Thank you guys both for doing this. Thank you very much. Thank you for having us. It's a pleasure. We so appreciate it. Thank you so much. And thank you for your passion to tell the stories, real life stories, truly, truly,

truly. You can see it on your face, your body, how much it means, and it just resonates. Thank you very much. It's really lovely to see. Thank you. Very grateful. Quality human being. Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you. Thank you. Very grateful. Quality human being. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Thank you both.