HBO'S EMMY(R)-WINNING DRAMA SERIES "BOARDWALK EMPIRE" BEGINS ITS EIGHT-EPISODE, FIFTH AND FINAL SEASON SEPT. 7

Atlantic City, 1931: As the country struggles to cope with the Great Depression and the end of Prohibition looms, Nucky Thompson looks to legitimize himself through alliances with liquor producers, while rivals Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky seek to consolidate their power in the wake of Arnold Rothstein's death and eliminate all competition - by any means necessary.

The Emmy(R)-winning HBO drama series BOARDWALK EMPIRE returns for its eight-episode, fifth and final season SUNDAY, SEPT. 7 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

From Terence Winter, Emmy(R)-winning writer of "The Sopranos," and Academy Award(R)-winning director Martin Scorsese, BOARDWALK EMPIRE is set in the Prohibition era and chronicles the life and times of Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, the leader of Atlantic City. The first four seasons took place during the 1920s. In the final season, which takes place in the depths of the Depression in 1931, Nucky recalls his Atlantic City roots and plots a post-Prohibition future.

BOARDWALK EMPIRE stars Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson; Kelly Macdonald as Margaret, Nucky's estranged wife; Michael Shannon as former Federal Agent Nelson Van Alden, caught up in gangland conflicts; Shea Whigham as Nucky's brother Eli, who went underground after killing a federal agent; Stephen Graham as gangster Al Capone; Vincent Piazza as gangster Lucky Luciano; Paul Sparks as gangster Mickey Doyle; Michael Kenneth Williams as Nucky's former ally Chalky White; Gretchen Mol as Gillian, now battling her demons; and Jeffrey Wright as Valentin Narcisse, Chalky's nemesis.

Other returning cast members in season five include Anatol Yusef as gangster Meyer Lansky; Ben Rosenfield as Eli's son, Willie Thompson, now a young prosecutor on the rise; Patricia Arquette as Nucky's ally, Sally Wheet, now based in Cuba; and Michael Zegen as gangster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel.

New cast members include Jim True-Frost as crimefighter Eliot Ness; Matt Letscher as wealthy, politically connected businessman Joseph Kennedy; Giampiero Judica as Salvatore Maranzano, the "boss of all bosses"; and Louis Cancelmi as Capone enforcer Mike D'Angelo.

September's shows:

Episode #49: "Golden Days for Boys and Girls"

Debut: SUNDAY, SEPT. 7 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT) Other HBO playdates: Sept. 7 (11:30 p.m., 2:00 a.m.), 8 (12:40 p.m.), 9 (midnight), 10 (8:00 p.m.), 11 (10:00 p.m.) and 13 (11:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Sept. 8 (8:00 p.m.), 10 (10:00 p.m.) and 14 (1:50 p.m.)

Nucky (Steve Buscemi) is awash in memories from pier-boy days growing up in 1884 Atlantic City, when the young Nucky (Nolan Lyons) caught the eye of the Commodore (John Elllison Conlee). In 1931 Cuba, Nucky joins Sally Wheet (Patricia Arquette) and, with a U.S. Senator in tow, forges ties with Bacardi Rum in hopes of Prohibition's repeal in the U.S. Working on Wall Street, Margaret (Kelly Macdonald) finds herself in the hot seat when her boss, facing an internal investigation, decides his own future. Down but never out, Chalky (Michael Kenneth Williams) seizes an opportunity to extricate himself from a difficult situation. In New York, Lucky Luciano (Vincent Piazza) sets in motion a bold plan that reverberates all the way to Nucky in Cuba.

Written by Howard Korder; directed by Tim Van Patten.

Episode #50: "The Good Listener"

Debut: SUNDAY, SEPT. 14 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Sept. 14 (11:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 15 (12:05 a.m.), 16 (11:30 p.m.), 17 (8:00 p.m.), 18 (10:00 p.m.) and 20 (11:30 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Sept. 15 (10:00 p.m.), 17 (10:00 p.m.) and 21 (3:45 p.m.)

Back from Cuba after a dangerous encounter, Nucky pays a visit to the now-retired Johnny Torrio (Greg Antonacci), who agrees to broker a meeting with the new "Boss of Bosses," Salvatore Maranzano (Giampiero Judica). In Chicago, Eli (Shea Whigham) and Van Alden (Michael Shannon) are tasked by Mike D'Angelo (Louis Cancelmi), Al Capone's (Stephen Graham) new right-hand man, to recoup money lost during a federal raid by Eliot Ness (Jim True-Frost). Fresh out of law school, Willie Thompson (Ben Rosenfield) has a job interview. Rebuffed by a group of would-be financiers, Nucky dines with Tonino Sandrelli (Chris Caldovino) before sending a message to Lansky (Anatol Yusef) and Luciano (Vincent Piazza). In 1884, a young Nucky deals with the death of his sister, Susan (Onata Aprile), while his father (Ian Hart) has a standoff with the Commodore.

Written by Terence Winter; directed by Allen Coulter.

Episode #51: "What Jesus Said"

Debut: SUNDAY, SEPT. 21 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Sept. 21 (11:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 22 (12:15 a.m.), 23 (11:00 p.m.) 24 (8:00 p.m.), 25 (10:00 p.m.) and 27 (1:45 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Sept. 22 (9:00 p.m.), 24 (10:00 p.m.) and 28 (12:15 p.m.)

Chalky heads in a new direction after assessing his latest partnership. In New York, Margaret finds herself in a quandary as a result of her association with Arnold Rothstein. Nucky hosts a prospective "big fish" partner from Boston. Luciano and Siegel meet with Narcisse (Jeffrey Wright) in Harlem, promising business as usual, but encounter resistance. In 1884, young Nucky is privy to the passion of a hotel guest, and flirts with a young girl.

Written by Cristine Chambers and Howard Korder; directed by Ed Bianchi.

Episode #52: "Cuanto"

Debut: SUNDAY, SEPT. 28 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Sept. 28 (11:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 29 (10:45 p.m.) and 30 (midnight), and Oct. 1 (8:00 p.m.), 2 (10:00 p.m.) and 4 (11:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdate: Sept. 29 (9:00 p.m.)

Facing a shared dilemma, Nucky and Margaret find common ground in Atlantic City. Luciano encounters an old adversary while meeting with Capone (Stephen Graham) in Chicago. Sally Wheet (Patricia Arquette) makes a payment in Cuba amidst concerns of a grass-roots uprising. In 1884, young Nucky shows young Eli (Oakes Fegley) how the other half lives, and takes another step up the Commodore's ladder.

Written by Howard Korder & Cristine Chambers & Terence Winter; directed by Jake Paltrow.

Among the critical raves for the fourth season of BOARDWALK EMPIRE, New York's Daily News said it "remains must-see television drama," while People called it "terrific" and a "gripping spectacle." The Chicago Tribune hailed the show's "achingly good performances," and Variety termed it "one of TV's most compelling dramas."

The show has received seven Emmy(R) nominations this year, including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Tim Van Patten). In Sept. 2013, BOARDWALK EMPIRE received five Emmy(R) Awards, the most of any series, in the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy(R) Awards competition, including Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Bobby Cannavale); Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series; Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series; Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour); and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series.

In 2012, the show received four Emmy(R) Awards, including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Tim Van Patten). In 2011, the series led all programming with eight Emmy(R) Awards, including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Martin Scorsese). In Jan. 2011, BOARDWALK EMPIRE received two Golden Globe Awards, for Best Television Series - Drama and Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama (Steve Buscemi).

In Dec. 2013, the show received three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, including Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Drama Series, Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (Steve Buscemi). In both 2012 and 2011, the series received two Screen Actors Guild awards, for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (Steve Buscemi).

Created by Terence Winter, BOARDWALK EMPIRE is executive produced by Terence Winter, Martin Scorsese, Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Tim Van Patten, Howard Korder and Eugene Kelly; producers, Joseph E. Iberti, Rick Yorn and Allen Coulter.