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FX has picked up freshman drama Justified for a second season with a 13-episode order. The contemporary Western/cop drama starring Timothy Olyphant is in the midst of airing its first season, with six more episodes slated to run before the the season finale on June 8. Justified got off to a stellar ratings start, drawing 4.9 million viewers, for its premiere, the largest audience ever for an FX series debut. It has dropped since then but still averages a solid 3.4 million viewers (1.7 million of them in the 18-49 demographic) through its first seven episodes. It also has garnered some of FX’s best new series reviews.
Graham Yost created Justified, which is based on Elmore Leonard character Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. Sony TV and FX Prods. produce the series, which is exec produced by Yost, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Michael Dinner, who directed the pilot.
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What makes you call it a “Western”? It’s set in current-day Kentucky.
I can see why they label this excellent show as a “western”..the lead character is a cowboy hat/cowboy boots wearing, quickdraw gun totin’ us marshall, that say’s “ya’ll” a lot…and compared to “NYPD Blue” or NCIS..it IS a western..even if Ya’ll don’t consider “KIN-tucky” the west…it’s still one of the most interesting shows on TV these day..don’t worry..they didn’t know how to classify Josh Whedon’s series “Firefly” either.. Just keep making more of this well made, well acted, well written show..and you can label it whatever you want.
“Western” in some contexts can refere to plot and theme structures rather than time and place. As an example: two movies that some might consider “westerns” incude “Electroglide in Blue” (per the director) and, more recently, “Avatar”.
I’m sorry, did you refer to “Justified” as a “Western?” Seriously?
Yahoo!Best show on TV.
Even though the ratings have been in the toilet since the first episode? Huh… ok then.
What the hell are you talking about? Obviously you don’t know anything at all! It had THE highest rating on the first episodes and, although it slightly fell at the end, it STILL had the most impressive watching audience ever for FX. God, research before you talk such drivel.
You guys should stop referring to this thing as a “Western.” After all the pre-air press about it being a “Western” I was expecting horses and Indians and stage coaches. Luckily, it isn’t.
JUSTIFIED is not a western. It’s a contemporary cop show about a U.S. marshall in Kentucky. How does that make it a western? Oh, wait a minute, he wears a cowboy hat.
Really happy to hear this. A huge TO fan and have watched this show with interest.
Best show out there – GREAT ACTING, WRITING and THE SETS ARE DEAD-ON!
Now if’ll the just pick up the ratings struggling Damages which has been the best show on TV imo.
Yeah they’ll renew it for another season, just so everyone gets hooked, and then they’ll cancel it. I’d love to watch this show, but I’ve had it with FX and swore never to go back.
Why are you ragging on FX for canceling shows too quickly?? Try taking aim at the broadcast nets if you want to point fingers for quick cancellations. Lets review:
The Shield ran for 7 seasons, as did Nip/Tuck (which i/m/o jumped the shark after season 3, but that’s another story), Rescue Me is still on, Sons of Anarchy going into season 3, Damages (also one of my faves) just finished season three..so what are you talking about? Were you a fan of The Riches? or perhaps Dirt? Maybe you were saddened by the loss of Testees?Hm. . FX has some of the best programming out there,esp their dramas. So, if you’re not watching, it’s your loss.
Are you kidding me? This show is god awful. The villians are the dumbest I’ve ever seen on any screen. Even TO’s charm can’t save this shit-fest
Are You Kidding me, this show is AWSOME. Justified is one of the best dramas on FX since the Shield.
This show is awesome and the “villain’s” are what makes this series so good. Not sure what you’re watching.
Um..ok.Whatever. It had one of the highest ratings at FX so I guess you are in the minor opinion, thank GOD.Can’t WAIT for Season 2. Timothy Olymphant is amazing!
The word “western” clearly refers to tone of the story.
If only the series was as good as the pilot script.
Great principals involved all the way around… but this is the first FX series that feels like it belongs on CBS.
I love the show. But when every episode ends with a U.S. marshal telling the villain to draw first before he whips his six-shooter out of the holster, it’s a western.
What are you watching. His gun is not a six shooter. It’s a 9mil glock. Have you ever seen guns? Have you watched the show?
Any word on DAMAGES? I am keeping my fingers crossed. I guess it is a good sign that they didn’t cancel it, but FX is usually one of those networks that renews a show while it is still on.
This is a great show. The ratings are solid for an FX show and once it settles into longer story lines, it will be even better.
@makestuffup10: Yup.
It’s a Western to the bone — in every single sense except location and era. Stories, tone, cliches and all. That’s why it’s so awesome.
I wish I could get into this show. It started strong, stars T.O. who is great, but watching this show is pure torture. To their credit, FX will give it another shot, hoping that audiences will catch on. Unfortunately, I don’t see the audience for this growing. It will just go the same route as Damages, another tired horse being put out to pasture.
dude,
You must be out of your mind. The people are so tired of the same shit….Nothing but cop dramas. This is finally somehting people can get into. Theres actually a story line, and with 7.5 million average viewers wtih the 1 st season. I guarantee more in the season 2 opener. You call yourself a critic. Go watch glee. Im sure thats your thang. I guess you have a crush on t.o? You must if you hate it that much but still watch it every episode. Justified is the shit!!!!!
I don’t understand why people insist on bashing the show for not being a Western. Sure there are no horses, Indians or saloons, but the show still has fundamental “Western” genre themes. i.e. The gallant hero that fights by a code of honor and chivalry. He was moved from Miami because of his cowboy-like moral code. In the first episode you even had the crazy kill-happy villain and the damsel in distress. Are we that bound to a map that just because something is set on the east coast it can’t have Western sensibilities? Next thing you’ll say is The Proposition isn’t a Western either because it takes place in Australia. Give me a break.
It need not be set in “the Old West” to be a Western…it’s largely a thematic description. Also, going forward, “TO” can only refer to Terrell Owens. He”s pretty much got the corner on that nickname and I’m pretty sure the only acting he does is on his reality show.
Glad to see it being defended as a Western. True, when almost every episode contains a quick draw contest, yeah it’s a modern day Western. And that’s a lot of the fun of it. It’s the best new show on TV and has a ton of potential to only get better, IMHO; the key is the protagonist, who is a clear-cut HERO but who also experiences regret, sadness and an identity crisis, which is a nice break from all the “anti-heroes” on tv who constantly do despicable things, like in so many other FX shows.
If you’re interested, I have an interview with Graham Yost and Elmore Leonard on my site:
http://bit.ly/cUT7yW
It’s not a WESTERN.
Next thing you’re going to say is that STAR WARS was a western. God you guys are dumb.
Great,great show.
Conflict and resolution.
Concept that is so very politically incorrect.
Moral absolutes with human frailty intertwined.
In other words,drama.
Very fine show.
Genre-wise, Justified is a western. Doesn’t matter if the setting is Arizona, Kentucky, or the icy planet of Hoth… it’s a western. It’s a western in the way The Long Goodbye is a detective noir. It’s a western in the way Miller’s Crossing is a gangland picture. It’s a freaking western.
You know what’s worse than a pedant? An incorrect pedant, that’s what.
Good news. This show gets better and better every week.