A new episodic series produced by Clark Richey and the award-winning Six Shooter Studios will begin filming this fall. The docuseries, “Tallahatchie,” which will air in 2026 on Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB), explores the history of the Tallahatchie River and the eight counties in Mississippi through which it runs.
The docuseries will be presented in eight episodes, each less than 30 minutes long.
“The Tallahatchie River flows 230 miles across north Mississippi, from Tippah County to Leflore. It joins the Yalobusha River to form the Yazoo in Greenwood and ultimately flows into the Mississippi at Vicksburg. Our series will tell the stories of the numerous historical events and important figures that have emerged from the unique eight-county region that holds the river,” said Richey.
Research for the Tallahatchie project began over a year ago when Richey, a native of Baldwyn, launched excursions into Tippah, Union, Lafayette, Marshall, Quitman, Panola, Tallahatchie and Leflore counties — treks numbering in the hundreds.
He has visited historic sites from Greenwood to Ripley, meeting with experts in fields as far-ranging as Mississippi’s prehistoric inland sea to the latest automotive manufacturing innovations. Richey has prepped dozens of stories for inclusion in the series, widely known and interestingly obscure, all linked historically to the lands and people along the Tallahatchie River.
“Our show won’t be your typical documentary. We are taking a more dynamic approach in how we present the information. Our host, Amye Gousset, will visit the places and people along the river in person, and the viewer will see the story weave itself together right along with her, every bend in the river. And yes, we will be putting her in a boat on the river itself from time to time,” Richey said with a mischievous grin. “That’ll be worth tuning in for.”
Gousset, a Tupelo-based film and television actress, is looking forward to hosting the series and said she’s enjoyed visiting with the people who make the towns special.
“I’ve spent time visiting many of the counties and learning about what makes each place unique. I have heard story after story about Bobbie Gentry and Morgan Freeman, and I’ve seen so many fossils and big bones, huge Mammoth bones. The show tells such a vast story, I know it will appeal to so many. I look forward to getting started this fall.”
Gousset will begin shooting the new MPB show just off the heels of wrapping a Hulu TV series in Atlanta. “Murdaugh: Death in the Family” began shooting in March, and Gousset was cast as Elizabeth Murdaugh, sister-in-law to the infamous Alex Murdaugh, played by actor Jason Clarke. The cast also includes Patricia Arquette, Brittany Snow, Tony-nominee J. Smith-Cameron and Mississippi’s own Gerald McRaney, as Randolph Murdaugh III.
Tallahatchie, the show, will take the viewer back in time to explore the birth of the river. Gousset and a throng of experts will guide viewers from the geological formation of the river through a chronological series of impactful tales that highlight the uniqueness of those who have lived along the Tallahatchie.
“The river has been a significant waterway in Mississippi for thousands of years. And it’s played a crucial role not just in local history and culture, but in American history and culture, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries,” said Richey. “Our eight episodes will provide an ‘in-depth synopsis’ of the river’s timeline and history,” said Richey.
Richey said his love of history and his North Mississippi home is what prompted him to create the show. Richey is already working on plans to film the next installment in 2026.
In the meantime, Tallahatchie will begin shooting this fall, and Richey, Gousset and a North Mississippi crew are lacing up their wading boots to spend the fall of 2025 knee-deep in the Tallahatchie.
