If you were a fan of Southland—originally debuted in midseason by NBC a year ago, cancelled, then bought by TNT—you will be delighted to know that TNT has picked up the oft-praised but ratings-challenged (compared with TNT’s biggest hits) cop drama for a third season.
You may also, like at least one follower of my Twitter feed, be wondering when exactly there was ever a second season. Wonder no more: the seven episodes that aired on NBC were season one; the six episodes that were shot for NBC for this fall, never aired, then aired on TNT this year, constitute the abbreviated second season. Season three will come in at a strapping ten episodes.
I know the show has passionate fans whom I’ve disappointed by not covering it here. As I wrote back when it ran on NBC, it struck me like a show that I would have considered groundbreaking a decade or so ago, but that didn’t have enough original or compelling in it to grab me now. But I’m happy for its dedicated fans, and now that’s it’s coming back, I may have to give it yet another chance. Should I?
Excerpts from the announcement after the jump:
TNT has booked a third season of its critically acclaimed drama SOUTHLAND, from Warner Bros. Television and Emmy®-winning producer John Wells (ER, The West Wing). The network has ordered 10 episodes for the third season, which is slated to begin airing in January 2011.
[Hortatory network statement redacted.]
Created by Emmy® winner Ann Biderman (NYPD Blue, Public Enemies), SOUTHLAND takes a raw, authentic look at police work in Los Angeles. The series focuses on officers, detectives and members of a gang unit as they endure the triumphs and tragedies that populate their lives both on and off the job. The series is shot on location in the streets and neighborhoods of Los Angeles.
SOUTHLAND’s ensemble cast includes Kevin Alejandro (Drive, Ugly Betty); Arija Bareikis (Crossing Jordan); Clifton Collins Jr. (Capote, Star Trek); Michael Cudlitz (Band of Brothers, A River Runs Through It); Shawn Hatosy (Alpha Dog); Regina King (Ray, Jerry Maguire); Michael McGrady (The Thin Red Line, Day Break); Ben McKenzie (The O.C.); and Tom Everett Scott (Boiler Room, That Thing You Do). SOUTHLAND is executive-produced by Wells, Biderman and Emmy® winner Christopher Chulack (ER, Third Watch), who also serves as a primary director of the series.
TNT picked up SOUTHLAND after the series was dropped by NBC prior to the launch of its second season. TNT presented an encore of the seven-episode first season beginning in January 2010, followed by a premiere run of the six-episode second season beginning in March 2010.
