 Weinstein created the series with the intention of helping blacklisted American writers.She commissioned scripts by 22 Americans writers blacklisted after being identified as communists by HUAC, such as Waldo Salt, Ring Lardner Jr., Ian McLellan Hunter who all adopted pseudonyms (they were still generally living in Los Angeles and New York City, usually with their passports confiscated), but were paid less than their usual fees.Weinstein instituted security measures to ensure that the writers' true identities remained secret.