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After solid ratings for the recent original episodes of Southland on TNT, the critically praised cop drama has been renewed for a third season. The 10-episode Season 3 is slated to begin airing in January. TNT picked up Southland after NBC dropped the dark drama before airing its second season. “Southland is a challenging, visceral show that engages viewers with its immersive style, provocative storylines and complex characters,” said Michael Wright, EVP and head of programming, for TNT, TBS and TCM.
TNT has been rapidly expanding its scripted slate over the past few months. In January, the network picked up to series all three of its pilots: the Steven Spielberg-produced alien-invasion drama starring Noah Wyle; the George Clooney-produced Delta Blues, starring Jason Lee; and Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander. That came on the heels of TNT renewing its freshman dramas Men of a Certain Age, Dark Blue and Hawthorne.
Created by Ann Biderman, Southland focuses on officers, detectives and members of a gang unit in Los Angeles. The series ensemble cast includes Kevin Alejandro, Arija Bareikis, Clifton Collins Jr, Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King, Michael McGrady, Ben McKenzie and Tom Everett Scott. Since the pickup came down pretty quickly, the options for the actors have not been picked up yet, so the cast is in the process of being secured for next season. John Wells, Biderman and Christopher Chulack executive produce for Warner Bros. TV.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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THANK YOU, TNT!
YES!!!!!!!!!!! There is a God!
I second the thank you to TNT and can only hope that among the core audience are enough viewers from ATAS to get Regina King the Emmy nomination she so deserves!
suck on that NBC…keep Jay Leno and Parenthood and your “safe” TV…cable is where all the good stuff is happening
i read that NBC recently said they were looking for quality shows like “southland.” they had it! then they dropped it. I’m glad it’s back.
Definitely deserves it. It was finding its pacing in the first season. IMO, the second was well done.
Bravo, TNT!
Awesome for production in Cali!
Eight comments from eight happy Southland viewers. Which, is two less than their total number of viewers.
Exactly. This show was average, at best. Yet another another mediocre cop show. There was nothing unique or groundbreaking about it. It is because of tired shows like this that viewers are fleeing the networks.
What’s next? A show about LA doctors? LA lawyers? Oh wait, that was done already better give that tired concept to theatrical to remake into a feature film.
Doctors, Lawyers, and Cops! Oh my!
TNT, go ask the Wizard for some fresh ideas, the Wicked Witch of NBC already killed this dud for a reason.
Yes, NBC killed it when they wiped out the 10pm dramas for Jay Leno.
The cop show may be a well-worn genre, but “Southland” revitalized it. The location work and the ensemble cast are outstanding, as is the way the ensemble is used. Most characters appear in most episodes, but each episode focuses on a different character. It’s like a revolving spotlight. I can’t think of another show formatted quite this way.
“Southland” is one of the best, most intelligent, most authentic dramas on TV. I only wish it had been picked up for more than ten episodes.
I strongly agree! Southland is amazing and the writing is engaging! You never know what’s next with Ann Biderman!
THis is great news. Love the addition of Clifton Collin, jr. to the cast.
-g
Are the producers of Southland promising that they’ll quit ripping of other unimaginative cop shows (and not doing it well)? If not, I’ll watch something else.
It’s not the best show on TV, but it’s cool and if you get into it’s great. I’m stoked to hear this news and it’s good for business and the California economy. Anyone who doesn’t support this is UN-AMERICAN!
I’m moving to Canada. Thanks TNT.
Thank you TNT!
And I love you Nellie! You were kind enough to respond to an email I sent you when you were still working on that other paper, even though I was just an ordinary fan of the show. Keep up the good work here!
I think its a better fit for cable than broadcast. It reminds me of The Shield and the cast is great.
This is no Shield my friends.
cause the shield is about criminals pretending to be cops.
what is TNT?
Love this show. So glad to see that it’s on the air.
What everybody is failing to mention is that Southland lost over half its audience from it’s first airing on NBC to its last airing. And that was in the THU 10P time slot! That means people tuned it and then tuned out! According to insiders, this show barely got renewed by TNT. Believe me, NBC is not missing this show right now.
A test pattern has more drama and originality than Southland.
Yeaaa Southland!
There has not been a good police drams since Homicide Life on the Street and The Wire.The caliber and tone of the show are superb. Great cast too.
Yes, great move TNT. Now please resurrect Kings! NBC is the worst Network. It is unreliable and quite frankly, IM just sick and tired of their shit! Kings, Southland and Conan???!!! Leno isn’t that great in my book. In fact I personally can’t stand the guy.
I agree with you. Kings was one of the most amazing dramas to air on tv. It was original and well done. It was in fact too good for television. People are not ready for anything that isn’t simply spoon fed to them. Formulaic television dominates the landscape and they don’t know how to react to something so evocative and unique.
Love this show. All you haters are soooo cool. You’re too good to watch some cop show. There’s a reason cop shows are always being made, because they’re good. And this one’s the best!
I like how they focus on patrol. Better than, shield, many other cop shows. “the wire” and “homicide” were a cut above and both set in baltimore
I love southLAnd! This is THE best show on TV. Cudlitz aka Cooper plays the veteran street cop role so convincengly. It’s like life imitating art. Every character is so engaging. From the drunken clown Dewey, to the no nonsense Salinger to the pretty boy rookie Sherman. I hope for a season 4. Come on TNT