REVIEW: ‘Orange Is The New Black’ (37 Shows You Might Want To Check Out This Summer – Pt. 4)

Here’s part four of our series on shows you might want to check out this summer.  Just one show today and since it’s a returning show that I am quite familiar with, I’ll throw in a review, as well.  Scroll to the bottom for the previous entries.

Orange is the New Black (Netflix – June 6th)

Orange Is the New Black is an American comedy-drama series created by Jenji Kohan and first released on Netflix on July 11, 2013. The series, produced by Tilted Productions in association with Lionsgate Television, is based on Piper Kerman’s memoir, Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison, about her experiences in prison. The series revolves on Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), a bisexual woman living in New York City who is sentenced to 15 months in a women’s federal prisonfor transporting a suitcase full of drug money to her former girlfriend, Alex Vause (Laura Prepon), who is an international drug smuggler. The offense occurred ten years prior to the start of the series, and in that time Piper had moved on to a quiet, law-abiding life among New York’s upper middle class. While in prison, Piper is reunited with Alex, and they re-examine their relationship and deal with their fellow inmates.

Score: 68/100

The highly-anticipated second season of Netflix’s drama (comedy-drama? No.) Orange is the New Black goes live at midnight and I’m thrilled because it ties in perfectly with our series of 37 Shows You Want to Check Out This Summer and because it allows me to finally get a whole bunch of things off my chest that the gushers (both audiences and critics alike) don’t seem to want to address about this series. Don’t get me wrong, I actually do enjoy Orange is the New Black (or else I wouldn’t be recommending it to check out this summer), but the show is far from perfect and the problems that it suffers from are glaring and unavoidable.

One of the first things that caught my attention in the pilot was the cheap premium cable device of gratuitous nudity and sex in order to hook an audience.  HBO has been doing it for years (and I’ve been subsequently complaining about it for years) and whereas at one time it was used as an obvious gimmick when the writers had gone to the well one too many times and couldn’t come up with new ideas, it has now become obligatory with every show that the network airs.  It’s not that I have an issue with sex and nudity on television, the issue is that when it’s vulgar and obvious and now since HBO does it all the time, so do all the other premium networks, including Netflix. NOTE TO NETFLIX: When you throw that much gratuitous sex and nudity into a pilot, it’s clear to astute audiences that you are compensating for what you lack in other areas.

So, what does Orange lack?  Well, first and foremost, although the plot is compelling enough for me to want to keep watching it, it’s a slog. On more than one occassion, I have thought two hours had gone by because the show was dragging so much.  I don’t mind a slow burn, but each episode is a slow-burn without much of an emotional payoff at the end.  The only reason this show has found the success that it has is because it’s available for binge viewing because if it was a weekly series audiences wouldn’t have tolerated how slow it is past the third episode.

One of the other problems that I have with this show is that the producers have gone out of their way to say that the show isn’t Oz (well, no sh*t) but it’s obvious to anyone watching it that it certainly is an attempt at Oz (ultra-) light.  It’s so blatantly ripping off aspects of Oz that you’d have to be an idiot not to see it.  The crisis-of-the-week that revolves around a different main character with flashbacks of the character’s pre-prison life and backstory to develop that character?  Nooooo, we’ve never seen that before. For crap’s sake, that’s not even unique to Oz.  Lost did that for six seasons better than any show in history.  That’s just the most glaring example of Oz ripoffs, I’m not going to get into all of them (recycled plotlines, stereotypical characters and situations, etc.) and honestly, it doesn’t really bother me that much because it does help develop the characters but it’s worth noting.

Speaking of character development, that is certainly one area where Orange excels with each primary cast member of the ensemble being given a good amount of screen time and attention by the writers.  This may sound very fanboyish of me but I don’t think that anyone is going to dispute that the best performance of all on this show is that of Star Trek: Voyager‘s Captain Kathryn Janeway herself, Kate Mulgrew as the Russian mother-figure to the women, Galina “Red” Reznikov who runs the kitchen.

Same girl… no sh*t.

Equally notable is the underrated performance by the gorgeous Taryn Manning as the incredibly emotionally unbalanced, hillbilly meth addict, Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett. Manning really is quite outstanding and it should be noted what an incredible job the makeup department has done in “ugly-fying” her for this role and how she herself has been able to accomplish that job through her performance.

What hurts this show immensely, however, are the main protagonists and I guess the only reason I’m calling them the main protagonists is that the character of Piper (Taylor Schilling) is who the show is about and the other two, Larry (Jason Biggs) and Alex (Laura Prepon) are the two other sides of the “love triangle” as it were. Do you know what the problem is?

Once a pie f*cker, always a pie f*cker.

I hate them.  I hate them all with a passion.  They are the most spoiled, selfish, self-centered, self-righteous and arrogant characters on this show and they are completely unsympathetic. This is what I mean by how stupidly audiences and critics gush over this show.  How is it possible that anyone who watches this show doesn’t want to just punch these people? Hell, how does one not want to punch the most annoying no-talent actor in Hollywood, Jason Biggs, to begin with, his performance on this show not withstanding? How the hell did he get this role to begin with?  Seriously, his only claim to fame is that he f*cked a pie in an incredibly overrated teen comedy over a decade ago.

As for the other two, it’s not that Schilling or Prepon’s performances are bad, it’s that their characters (like Larry) suck and they are completely unlikable.  They’re rotten, they treat people rotten, everything they do is about making themselves happy and they NEVER learn from their mistakes. It’s one thing to have your main characters be so flawed at the begining of a season, especially on a show set in a prison, it’s another thing not have the characters “grow” one iota between episode one and episode 13.  These characters have actually regressed since episode one.

Pornstache: Still more likable than Jason Biggs.

To put it simply, we’re supposed to hate the vile “Pornstache” (Pablo Schreiber).  I get that.  But we’re not supposed to hate our protagonists and that’s what the reality is of this series. They simply don’t have very much redeeming about them whatsoever.

Again, the real saving grace on this show is the performance from the supporting cast and the fact that I’m a sucker for decently done serialized drama and at the end of the day, Orange is the New Black is decently done, if not great. The key is to not expect more out of this series than it can give or you’ll be disappointed.

As for our multi-part series, 37 Shows That You Might Want To Check Out This Summer, here are the previous entries:

Part 1 (24: Live Another Day, Motive, Gang Related, The Wil Wheaton Project, Rogue, Crossbones)

Part 2 (Halt and Catch Fire)

Part 3 (Longmire)

REVIEW: ‘Longmire’ (37 Shows You Might Want To Check Out This Summer – Pt. 3)

Here’s part three of our series on shows you might want to check out this summer.  Just one show today and since it’s a returning show that I am quite familiar with, I’ll throw in a review, as well.  Scroll to the bottom for the previous entries.

Longmire (A&E – Mondays, 10:00 p.m. beginning June 2nd)

Based on Walt Longmire Mystery series of novels by Craig Johnson, Longmire also is named after its central character, Walt Longmire, the local sheriff in rural Wyoming. As the series starts, Longmire has been widowed for a year and, still in pain, hides behind a brave face and dry wit. After his wife’s death, he dragged himself into the office but his heart wasn’t really in the job. He knows it’s time to turn his life around and with the help of his daughter, Cady, and his deputy, Vic, he revives his interest in his job and decides to give his all to his re-election campaign. Victoria “Vic” Moretti is the newest addition to the sheriff’s office. She was a Philadelphia homicide detective for five years before relocating to Wyoming. While adjusting to how to deal with the locals, Vic is out to prove she’s not a rookie. She has a deep connection with Longmire along with her playful attitude and he allows her to be his most trusted deputy. Longmire’s lifelong best friend and close confidant is Henry Standing Bear, the owner of the local bar. Henry is often Walt’s go-between with the reservation. Unlike Longmire, Henry embraces progress and the trappings of the modern world while holding a close connection with his past. Another one of Longmire’s deputies is ambitious go-getter Branch Connally. He’s motivated more by political aspirations than his work as a deputy. He thinks Longmire’s stuck in the past and wants the department to have the technology that most other law enforcement agencies use. It’s his umbrage towards Walt’s outdated methods that pushes him to run for sheriff. Longmire’s only child is daughter, Cady Longmire, an attorney who dreams of practicing law in a big city. With the death of her mother, Cady has stayed to help Walt get his life back together. She isn’t afraid to tell her father like it is, and it’s this straight talk and sense of humor that makes their connection strong. Longmire’s third deputy is The Ferg who has a heart of gold. He’s loyal and well meaning and always eager to please. The Ferg can hunt and fix most anything but he’s not much of an investigator. 

Score: 85/100

Last night, Longmire began its third season and the timing couldn’t be better as I just finished watching season two last week and I’m hungry for more and that’s saying a lot because quite honestly, two years ago I got three episodes into the series and put it on hiatus for over a year because it seemed like just another police procedural.

The drama, based on the Walt Longmire mystery of novels by best-selling author Craig Johnson definitely is a police procedural in the most traditional sense of the genre but I discovered after giving up on it early that the series really has far more appeal than I had originally given it credit.  Whoops… muh baaad!

As far as murder mysteries go, the basic formula on Longmire is, admittedly, pretty vanilla.  If, for the most part, just by the formula of the series established in the first half-dozen episodes or so (and every other police procedural done in the last 50 years) you can’t figure out “who done it” within the first 20 minutes then congratulations, you are not a couch potato and television drama junkie like I am and you are actually doing something with your life.

Of course, as I’ve noted several times in the past, the vanilla and formulaic nature of police procedurals is why I don’t watch them to begin with because none of them have anything new or particular novel to offer.  Sure, there has been this flurry of police procedurals featuring lead characters with incredibly unique abilities that aren’t quite supernatural but give them a special insight into solving crimes that the regular cops don’t possess, but those are simply gimmicks used to gloss over the fact that we are still dealing with a standard “murder of the week” police procedural. Numb3rs, The Mentalist, Unforgettable (yes, CBS really likes this theme a lot) and The Finder readily come to mind as fitting this mold.

Although certainly formulaic, Longmire  is one of the rare exceptions because it fills in all of the other gaps regarding good television drama that the other police procedurals don’t. The casting is excellent with every single actor being ideally suited for their role on the series and marvelously well-developed.  According to what I’ve read, Robert Taylor (Walt Longmire) is apparently an incredibly well-known and accomplished Australian actor but I don’t believe any of it because I have no doubt in my mind that he is the same weathered old, incredibly well-read and educated renaissance cowboy philosopher from Wyoming that he plays on the show. Despite everything I know about Lou Diamond Phillips (who’s heritage is Spanish, Scottish/Irish, Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian and Cherokee) I have no doubt that he is full-blooded Cheyenne and and has been best friends with Taylor since the sixth grade.  That’s how truly honest these character portrayals are.

As far as Katee Sackhoff is concerned, I’m curious if she even had to audition for the role of Deputy Moretti because it’s as if Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica moved to Wyoming and became a slightly less insubordinate cop.  You get the feeling that the producers read the series bible and the character descriptions, watched 10 minutes of BSG and sent her a plane ticket.

I could go on and on about the supporting cast of this show and I almost feel guilty for not but I don’t want to spend an entire piece gushing over casting and character development when the real main co-star of this show and really what sets it apart is the rural Wyoming backdrop which, ironically, much like the show’s titular protagonist, is completely faking its true local origins.  Y’see, the fictional Absaroka County, Wyoming is actually in and around the Santa Fe, New Mexico area.  But, once again, I don’t believe it.  As far as I’m concerned, even though I’ve never been to Wyoming, I am absolutely convinced that the show takes place there because the writers and producers have done such a brilliant job in crafting this fantastic living and breathing environment and community that it leaves simply no doubt that what you are seeing is the genuine article.

Part of it is the character development, part of it has to do with selective exterior shots of the landscape (that have even fooled actual Wyoming residents) but more importantly is the presentation of the storylines that address issues inherent to the locals of that part of the country that due to isolation and small populations aren’t very well-known to the rest of us.  Quite often, the storylines are centered on the issues related to the Indian Reservations or ranching or any one of a dozen issues that is part and parcel with that region of the country but it’s done in such a way as to make it accessible to audiences to the point that they easily relate with this community and subconsciously can easily accept Absoroka County as their own community.

“Yeah… where’s my attorney and who the f*** gave you law enforcement powers? I don’t see no badge, playa. All I see is an ascot.”

One of the few things that does annoy me about Longmire that was stolen right out of the “Mad Libs For Police Procedurals” manual is the obligatory “Scooby Doo Ending” of every episode which I complain about ad nauseum.  If you’re not familiar with the “Scooby Doo Ending,” this is how it goes: the prime suspect in the last five minutes of the episode (sans attorney, of course) while being interrogated basically has the interrogator tell them all of the details of the crime the interrogator knows they committed (without any actual evidence or with only the most insignificant circumstantial evidence) and then the suspect admits to doing it while lamenting how they could have gotten away with it.  The only thing missing is the rubber mask reveal and the phrase “…if it weren’t for those meddling kids [and their dog].” For 10 plus years of examples of this nonsense, simply turn on any episode of CSI as that’s all they do on that show.  The only difference with the Longmire S.D.E. is that that more often than not, our killer is a local who either made a big mistake and regrets what they’ve done or it was an accident that they foolishly tried to cover up or they were motivated by grief/justice/sadness, i.e., our killer is sympathetic and a shade of gray.

Yuck.

That said, however, I’m willing to let Longmire off the hook for even this Cardinal sin because the three or four intertwined main recurring story arcs have been so damned compelling that you find yourself not really caring that much about whatever particular “murder of the week” is on the schedule, anyway.

Longmire does such a great job in every other aspect of crafting good television that I can forgive its shortcomings in the procedural drama arena.  Honestly, the show is so well put-together that it seems that if the “murder of the week” aspect to it is merely incidental and almost filler in order to advance the character development and overall arcs.  Needless to say, that’s rare indeed, and in fact, I’ve never seen a procedural that took such an approach that deliberately and was successful doing it.

So, if you haven’t watched Longmire, yet, set your DVR for the current episodes and head on over to Netflix and get caught up as both seasons one and two are currently available.

As for our multi-part series, 37 Shows That You Might Want To Check Out This Summer, you can find part one, here and…

Check out part two, here.

The History Channel: ‘Vikings’ Renewed For Season Two

Via Press Release:

HISTORY® ORDERS SECOND SEASON OF 

HIT SCRIPTED SERIES 

VIKINGS 

#1 NEW CABLE SERIES OF THE YEAR 

EARNS TEN EPISODE ORDER

New York, New York, April 5, 2013 – HISTORY has picked up VIKINGS, its first scripted drama series for a 10-episode second season, it was announced today by Dirk Hoogstra, EVP, Development and Programming for HISTORY. Created and written by Michael Hirst, the renewal comes just five episodes into the VIKINGS freshman season. Four new episodes remain in the current season airing Sundays at 10 p.m. with the season finale slated for Sunday, April 28 at 10 p.m. 

VIKINGS continues to be the #1 new cable series in 2013 and has propelled HISTORY to #1 in cable in its Sunday 10-11 p.m. time period. Over the five weeks, the hit drama series averaged 5.0 million total viewers, 2.2 million Adults 25-54 and 1.9 Adults 18-49. This past Sunday, episode five delivered 4.7 million total viewers, 2.2 million Adults 25-54 and 1.7 million Adults 18-49. This was up 4% among total viewers and up 5% among Adults 25-54 from last week.

“Vikings is a win win for us. As our first scripted series, VIKINGS has paid off in a big way with critical acclaim, strong ratings and a passionate, loyal fan base. It came out of the gate strong and has stayed on top, solidifying HISTORY as a major player in the scripted genre, just as we are in reality,” said Hoogstra. “We could not be more proud of the entire cast and crew and everyone involved in the making of VIKINGS. Michael Hirst has captured audiences with his complex, compelling characters and brought the unknown, epic world of these warriors to life. Season Two will begin production this summer to air in 2014.”

MGM Television brought the series to the network and brings VIKINGS to the global audience, serving as the international distributor outside of Ireland, Canada and the U.S.

“We are very excited that VIKINGS is generating so much attention worldwide,” said Roma Khanna, President, Television Group and Digital, MGM. “MGM is thrilled to have the continued support and enthusiasm of our partners at HISTORY and to work with an amazing international team as they bring Michael Hirst’s vision to audiences around the globe.”

VIKINGS, airing Sundays at 10 p.m. ET, tells the extraordinary tales of the lives and epic adventures of these warriors. The drama portrays the world of these Dark Age raiders, traders, explorers – not from an outsider’s view, but, through the eyes of Viking society.

While VIKINGS is filled with conflict, warfare and bloodshed – for these were extreme times – it is a family saga at heart. It follows the adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel, The Beast, Baytown Outlaws), a curious, compelling man who is always looking to break through barriers and discover new worlds to conquer. Ragnar is deeply frustrated by the unadventurous policies of his local chieftain, Earl Haraldson (Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment, Usual Suspects, Millers Crossing), who continues to send his Vikings raiders east every summer, to the Baltic states and Russia, whose populations are as materially poor as themselves.

Joining Fimmel and Byrne are Katheryn Winnick (Bones, Love and Other Drugs, The Black Marks) as Lagertha, a fierce shield maiden and Ragnar’s wife; Jessalyn Gilsig (Glee, Heroes, Nip/Tuck, Friday Night Lights) as Siggy, Earl Haraldson’s beautiful wife; George Blagden (Les Miserables, Wrath of the Titans) as Athelstan, a young, innocent Christian monk captured by Ragnar on his first raid on England, Clive Standen (Camelot, Robin Hood) as Rollo, Ragnar’s impulsive, wild, care-free brother and Gustaf Skarsgard (The Way Back) a ship builder who designs the new generation of Vikings ships.

Created and written by Michael Hirst – one of the premier historical story-tellers in the industry (Academy-Award winning film Elizabeth; and the Emmy and Golden Globe nominated series The Tudors), Michael serves as Executive Producer along with Morgan O’Sullivan of World 2000 (The Count of Monte Cristo; The Tudors), John Weber of Take 5 Productions (The Tudors; The Borgias), Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer, James Flynn (The Tudors; The Borgias) and Sheila Hockin (The Tudors; The Borgias). Dirk Hoogstra and Julian P. Hobbs are the Executives in Charge of Production for HISTORY.

VIKINGS is an international Irish/Canadian co-production being co-produced by World 2000 and Take 5 Productions. HISTORY will broadcast domestically in the U.S. MGM Television will bring VIKINGS to the global audience, serving as the international distributor outside of Ireland, Canada and the U.S. VIKINGS is produced in association with Shaw Media, and the series will air on HISTORY in Canada.

About HISTORY®

HISTORY® is the leading destination for factual entertainment, including award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. The network’s all-original programming slate, including scripted event programming, features a roster of hits including American Pickers®, American Restoration™, Ax Men™, Ice Road Truckers®, Pawn Stars®, Swamp People® and Top Shot® as well as epic mini-series and specials such as the Emmy® Award-winning Hatfields & McCoys, Gettysburg, Vietnam in HD, America The Story of Us, and 102 Minutes That Changed America. The HISTORY website is the leading online resource for all things history, and in 2011, the United States Library of Congress selected HISTORY’s Civil War 150 site for inclusion in the historic collection of Internet materials related to the American Civil War sesquicentennial. http://www.history.com

USA: Final Season Of ‘Burn Notice’ Premiere Date Set, Adrian Pasdar, Jack Coleman Join Cast, NEW TRAILER!

Thanks to the urgings of Talk-Radio Tastic (my Dad) I started watching the USA hit spy series Burn Notice two weeks ago.  I have no idea how I had neglected this series as long as I did and I have become absolutely addicted to it to the point where I did Breaking Bad-style marathoning, watching the first six seasons in a week.  Regret and sadness has set in, though.  I’m going through withdrawal, I’m beating myself up over not following the series from the beginning, much like I hadn’t with Battlestar Galactica (I only started watching that series seven months after its series finale aired) and to make matters worse, I just found out that the upcoming seventh season will be its last.  Well, at least I have my Michael Westen sunglasses to help me cope.

Via Press Release:

USA NETWORK’S EMMY-NOMINATED SERIES “BURN NOTICE” WILL AIR ITS FINAL SEASON THIS SUMMER
Hit Original Drama Series Returns Thursday, June 6 at 9/8c With 13 New Episodes

New York, NY – May 10, 2013 – USA announced today that its Emmy®-nominated original drama series and ratings juggernaut BURN NOTICE will air its seventh and final season beginning Thursday, June 6 at 9/8c. The hit series, from Fox Television Studios and creator Matt Nix, stars Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell, Sharon Gless and Coby Bell, and will join an elite group this season as the network’s third series to cross the 100 episode milestone.

“BURN NOTICE has had an incredible run over the last six years, and we could not be more proud of the extraordinary talent both in front of and behind the cameras who have collectively made this show into one of the most popular and lauded shows on TV today,” said Chris McCumber, USA Network co-president. “From day one, BURN NOTICE’s characters, storylines and mythology have consistently captivated a massive audience, and this final season will raise the stakes even higher, leading up to a spectacular series finale,” said Jeff Wachtel, co-president of USA Network.

The adrenaline-charged seventh season of BURN NOTICE will keep hearts racing as viewers uncover the details of the mysterious deal that fans’ favorite renegade spy, Michael Westen (Donovan) struck in the season six finale. Michael’s past and present collide as he tries to rebuild relationships with his family and friends while pursuing a dangerous mission involving the CIA and a lethal network of operatives. Recurring guest stars this season include Jack Coleman (“Heroes”), Adrian Pasdar (POLITICAL ANIMALS) and Stephen Martines (“The Closer”).

Over the years, BURN NOTICE has been honored with numerous industry accolades, including an Emmy® nomination and Gracie Award for supporting actress Sharon Gless, as well as an Edgar Allan Poe Award for showrunner Matt Nix. The BURN NOTICE: A New Day digital graphic novel won the AdAge Vanguard Award for the Most Innovative Broadcast Brand Extension in 2011. The series has also been praised for its impeccable stunt work and has garnered multiple Emmy® and Screen Actors Guild nominations. Greatly beloved by fans, BURN NOTICE was nominated for Favorite TV Obsession in 2011 and Favorite Cable TV Drama in 2013 at the People’s Choice Awards.

A critical hit since its inception, the Los Angeles Times praised the series, saying it had “a smart, savvy edge that seems fresh” and the Chicago Tribune called it an “espionage gem” and pointed out “The characters always come first, and they are all very well realized.” USA Today noted it “mixes drama with humor, often through dry narrative asides,“ and Entertainment Weekly called it a “can’t-miss.”

A breakout hit, BURN NOTICE premiered in 2007 as the #1 new scripted series in P18-49, P25-54, and total viewers P2+. In 2009, BURN NOTICE became the most watched scripted series ever on basic cable in P18-49, the first-ever series to break 3 million in the demo in a year. BURN NOTICE has been one of the top ten scripted series on cable every year it has been on the air and was a successful lead-in to hit series launches for ROYAL PAINS and SUITS. When BURN NOTICE aired Thursdays at 9pm last summer, it became the top performer in that timeslot on cable, outperforming FOX head-to-head in P25-54, P18-49, P18-34, and total viewers P2+.

Fans can catch up on season six of BURN NOTICE on VOD or via streaming at usanetwork.com starting on May 7. The mobile app Shadow Recruit challenges viewers to get inside Westen’s mind, test their spy skills and become his “shadow.” Plus, fans can explore the show’s mythology through the award-winning graphic novels BURN NOTICE: A New Day and First Contact, which feature the hunt for those responsible for burning Westen.

BURN NOTICE was created, written and executive produced by Nix. Mikkel Bondesen, Alfredo Barrios, Craig O’Neill, Ben Watkins, and Terry Miller serve as executive producers. From Fox Television Studios, Fabrik Entertainment and Flying Glass of Milk Productions, the series films in Miami.

For photos of BURN NOTICE, please log on to the NBCUniversal Media Village at http://www.nbcumv.com. For more information on Burn Notice, including press kit materials, screeners, clips and photos, log on to the USA digital press site at http://www.usanetwork.com/press/burnnotice. Password: characters. Follow the official twitter feed of BURN NOTICE at @burnnotice_usa on Twitter.

Fox Television Studios produces scripted and unscripted programming for US broadcast and cable networks, and international broadcasters. Series include Burn Notice, White Collar, and Graceland, all for USA; The Americans for FX; the Emmy-nominated The Killing for AMC; The Glades for A&E; and Maron for IFC. Current FTVS pilots include Sirens for USA; Rita for Bravo; and Line of Sight for AMC.

USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in over 102 million U.S. homes. A division of NBC Universal, USA is the cable television leader in original series and home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, acquired television series and entertainment events. The award-winning USA website is located at http://www.usanetwork.com (http://outbind://30/www.usanetwork.com). Characters Welcome.

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FX: ‘Justified’ Renewed For Season Five

Yeah, big shocker, we know…

Via Press Release:

NEW YORK, March 28, 2013 – FX Networks announced a slew of pickups this morning, with Justified getting a fifth season pickup on FX, while It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League and Legit will all return and move to FXX, announced John Landgraf, President & General Manager, FX Networks.The critically-acclaimed drama series Justified, starring Timothy Olyphant, will continue to run on FX. Season five begins production this fall and will air on FX in January 2014. Season four is currently airing, with the season finale slated to air next Tuesday, April 2, at 10:00 PM ET/PT. To date, season four is pacing to be Justified’s most-watched season ever.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League and Legit will all move to FXX.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s ninth season will air on FXX this fall, and the network has also placed an order for a tenth season that will air in the fall of 2014. One of the most successful comedies in all of basic cable, Sunny’s eighth season ranked #2 in its basic cable time period in Men 18-49 and Men 18-34 (behind only the NFL on the NFL Network) and #2 in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34 (behind Jersey Shore).

The League’s already announced fifth season will air on FXX this fall, and the network is announcing a sixth season pickup that will air on FXX in the fall of 2014. Last season, The League ranked #2 in its basic cable time period in M18-49, behind only the NFL on NFL Network.

The new critically-acclaimed comedy Legit’s first season will end on FX Thursday, April 11 at 10:30PM ET/PT. The show has officially been picked up for a second season, and will be moving to FXX, returning in early 2014. Legit continues to build an audience, growing by +25% from its first three episodes to its second three episodes.

Developed by Graham Yost and starring Timothy Olyphant, Justified is based on the works of crime novelist Elmore Leonard, including Leonard’s short story “Fire in the Hole.” The series co-stars Walton Goggins, Nick Searcy, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel and Joelle Carter. Yost wrote the pilot and serves as executive producer/showrunner on the series. Leonard is also an executive producer on the series along with Carl Beverly, Sarah Timberman, Michael Dinner and Fred Golan. Justified is produced by Sony Pictures Television and FX Productions.

HBO Cancels ‘Enlightenment’ After Two Seasons, Lies And Claims, “It Was A Very Difficult Decision”

The funniest part about the cancellation of the critically-acclaimed crapfest that nobody watched known as Enlightened (because the critics are always smarter than the audience), is that every single outlet covering the end of this stupid show cites the biggest lie told to date this year by a television network:

“It was a very difficult decision.  We’re proud of the show and we look forward to working with Mike White and Laura Dern in the future.”

That was from HBO’s press statement. Liars.  No one except the most pretentious pseudo-intellectuals could tolerate this stupid show for more than five minutes.  For crap’s sake, even the title was pretentious.

Just tell it like it is, HBO; this show was a dead-bang loser and you lost money on it.

TNT: ‘Falling Skies’ Extended Third Season Trailer (VIDEO)

Season three of Falling Skies returns on June 9th at 9:00 p.m. with a two-hour premiere.

CBS: ‘NCIS’ Renewed For 11th Season

Via Press Release:

CBS ANNOUNCES NEW CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR “NCIS” STAR AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER MARK HARMON; “NCIS,” TELEVISION’S #1 SERIES AND A GLOBAL LEADER, IS RENEWED FOR 2013-2014 SEASON

February 2, 2013 – CBS announced today a new contract extension for NCIS star and executive producer Mark Harmon, and that the U.S. and global ratings phenomenon NCIS has been renewed for the 2013-2014 season.

“In a world gone niche, NCIS keeps getting bigger, and Mark Harmon continues to define the role of leading man on the #1 show on television,” said Leslie Moonves, President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS Corporation.  “NCIS is the type of franchise every company wants in today’s global content ecosystem – high-quality storytelling that generates passionate viewers and drives revenue on every conceivable platform.”

Currently in its 10th season, NCIS continues to hit ratings milestones.  This season, for the first time ever, it ranks as television’s #1 program (ahead of Sunday Night Football).  NCIS is averaging 21.48 million viewers, up +7% over last year and is the highest-rated drama among adults 25-54 (5.9/15), while averaging 4.2/12 in adults 18-49.  The series delivered its second-largest live plus same day audience on Jan. 15, averaging 22.86 million viewers.  That total soared to 25.36 million viewers with L+3 day lift, marking the first NCIS broadcast to deliver more than 25 million viewers with live plus 3-day lift or live plus 7-day lift.

 NCIS is also an international hit, licensed in more than 200 markets.  It is the #1 series on M6 in France, the #1 U.S. series on Rai2 in Italy and the #2 U.S. series overall, the #1 U.S. series on TV3 in Sweden, the #2 U.S. series on LaSexta in Spain, the #2 U.S. drama on Network Ten in Australia and the #3 U.S. series on Sat1 in Germany.

In domestic syndication, NCIS is broadcast on USA Network and ranks as cable’s #1 off-network drama.

NCIS premiered on CBS in 2003-2004. Since its debut, NCIS’s ratings have steadily climbed, finishing 2008-2009 ranked fifth among all primetime programs.  During the 2009-2010 season it became the #1 drama/scripted program on television, and has remained the #1 drama ever since.

NCIS stars Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Pauley Perrette, Rocky Carroll, Brian Dietzen and David McCallum.  Gary Glasberg, Chas. Floyd Johnson, Mark Horowitz, Mark Harmon, Shane Brennan, George Schenck, Frank Cardea and Donald P. Bellisario are executive producers for Belisarius Productions in association with CBS Television Studios.

Mark Harmon is represented by Paradigm and attorney Barry Axelrod.

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Cinemax: ‘Banshee’ Renewed For Season Two

Via Press Release:

CINEMAX RENEWS ACTION SERIES BANSHEE FOR SECOND SEASON

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29, 2013 – CINEMAX has renewed the action series BANSHEE for a second season, scheduled to debut in 2014, it was announced today by Kary Antholis, president, HBO Miniseries and CINEMAX Programming. The show is currently in its first season, with episodes debuting Friday at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

Executive produced by Jonathan Tropper, David Schickler, Peter Macdissi, Alan Ball and Greg Yaitanes, BANSHEE stars Antony Starr (“Rush”) as Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pa., where he continues his criminal activities, even as he’s hunted by the shadowy gangsters he betrayed years earlier. Scripts for the first season are conceived and written by Tropper and Schickler.  Writers John Romano (“Monk”), Evan Dunsky (“Two and a Half Men”), and Doug Jung (HBO’s “Big Love”) join Schickler and Tropper for season two.

Also starring in season one of the series are: Ivana Milicevic (“Charlie’s Angels,” HBO’s “Mind of the Married Man”), Ulrich Thomsen (“The Celebration”), Frankie Faison (“The Good Wife,” HBO’s “The Wire”), Hoon Lee (“Premium Rush”), Rus Blackwell (“Burn Notice,” HBO’s “Recount”), Matt Servitto (HBO’s “The Sopranos”), Demetrius Grosse (“Justified”), Trieste Kelly Dunn (“Brothers and Sisters”), Ryann Shane (“Blue Bloods”), Daniel Ross Owens (“Prison Break”), Lili Simmons (“Fat Kid Rules the World”) and Ben Cross (“Star Trek,” “Ben-Hur”).

The ten-episode first season of BANSHEE, which began Jan. 11, has inspired critical raves, with the Hollywood Reporter calling it “taut, entertaining and smart,” and the Wall Street Journal describing the show as “enticing” and “indisputably satisfying.”

For more on the series, visit cinemax.com/banshee, facebook.com/cinemax, twitter.com @Cinemax #Banshee and youtube.com/Cinemax.

SHOWTIME: ‘Shameless,’ ‘House Of Lies’ & ‘Californication’ Renewed

Via Press Release:

SHOWTIME® ORDERS ANOTHER ROUND OF SHAMELESS, HOUSE OF LIES & CALIFORNICATION

Following Record-Breaking Season Premieres And Continued Year-To-Year Audience Growth, All Three Hit Series To Return in 2014

LOS ANGELES, CA – (January 29, 2013) – After record-setting premiere ratings on the network’s Sunday night line-up and continued year-to-year audience growth, SHOWTIME has picked up brand new seasons of SHAMELESS, HOUSE OF LIES and CALIFORNICATION for 2014. The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.  Season-to-date, all three series are pacing above their prior seasons across platforms. The third of season of SHAMELESS is up 22 percent, currently averaging 5.4 million weekly viewers across platforms (vs. second season average of 4.4 million), and up 63 percent versus its first season (vs. 3.3 million). The second season of HOUSE OF LIES is averaging 3.2 million weekly viewers across platforms, up 10 percent from its freshman season (vs. 2.91 million), and the sixth season of CALIFORNICATION is averaging 3.1 million weekly viewers, up 21 percent versus season five (vs. 2.5 million). Production for the new seasons of all three series will kick-off in Los Angeles later this year.

“Californication, House of Lies, and Shameless possess highly distinctive comedic voices, and given that all three continue to grow their audience season after season – the pick-up decision was easy,” said Nevins. “I am incredibly excited to see what each of these series has in store for their next seasons.”

SHAMELESS, HOUSE OF LIES and CALIFORNICATION returned on January 13 with their highest-rated episodes ever, up double-digits versus their series averages and besting their prior season premieres and season finales. In its third week (January 27), SHAMELESS delivered 2.53 million viewers for the night, the series’ biggest total night ever, outperforming the season three premiere night (vs. 2.44 million – 2 plays). On Sunday, HOUSE OF LIES’ third episode was on par with its season premiere, which delivered the series’ best numbers ever, with 1.4 million viewers for the night across two plays. CALIFORNICATION’s third episode attracted 1.05 million viewers.

From Emmy® Award-winning television and film producer John Wells, SHAMELESS (Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT) stars Academy Award® nominee William H. Macy and Golden Globe® nominee Emmy Rossum.  Season three picked up several months after last season ended, with the Gallaghers each seeking their own unique version of the “American Dream.” Fiona (Emmy Rossum) realizes that it’s going to take more than earning her GED to make ends meet, and that a long term relationship with Jimmy (Justin Chatwin) isn’t as fulfilling as she expected.  Brothers Lip (Jeremy Allen White) and Ian (Cameron Monaghan) continue their ingenious scamming ways, which threatens Ian’s shot at West Point, while Sheila (Joan Cusack, in her Emmy Award-nominated role) and Jody (Zach McGowan) do their best to raise baby Hymie. Meanwhile, Frank (Macy) reappears south of the border with no idea as to how he got there. The series also stars Ethan Cutkosky, Shanola Hampton, Steve Howey, Emma Kenney, Laura Slade Wiggins, Noel Fisher and Emma Greenwell. Based on the long-running hit UK series, SHAMELESS is executive produced by Emmy Award-winning television and film producer John Wells, Andrew Stearn and Mark Mylod. Wells developed the series for American television. Paul Abbott serves as Executive Consultant. SHAMELESS is produced by Bonanza Productions, Inc. in association with John Wells Productions and Warner Bros. Television.

HOUSE OF LIES (Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT), which stars Don Cheadle in his Golden Globe^® Award-winning and Emmy nominated performance as Marty Kaan, is a timely comedy that dives head-first into the shark tank known as corporate America. Marty is the big-money earner at Galweather Stearn, who commands a hot, young team known as The Pod: Jeannie (Kristen Bell), Clyde (Ben Schwartz) and Doug (Josh Lawson). Marty and The Pod’s work life revolves around first-class travel, top-shelf liquor and anything they can charge the client on a black Am Ex. Marty is the ultimate power player and under his direction, this ruthless, pull-no-punches team is here to beat the corporate suckers at their own game – and they’re loving every minute of it. This season, The Pod – especially Marty and Jeannie – must deal with the fall-out from the big merger showdown. On the home front, Marty is thrown when Roscoe (Donis Leonard Jr.) decides to move in with his unbalanced mother, Monica (Dawn Olivieri). The series is based on the hit tell-all book from best-selling author Martin Kihn (House of Lies: How Management Consultants Steal Your Watch and Then Tell You the Time). Produced by SHOWTIME, HOUSE OF LIES is created and executive produced by Matthew Carnahan. Jessika Borsiczky, Stephen Hopkins and Don Cheadle also serve as executive producers.

CALIFORNICATION (Sundays at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT) stars David Duchovny in his Golden Globe Award-winning role as hedonistic novelist Hank Moody, who struggles to be a good father to his college-aged daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin), while still carrying a torch for her mother, and his ex-girlfriend, Karen (Natascha McElhone). For the sixth season, noted actress Maggie Grace (Lost) has signed on for nine episodes as the infamous rock groupie Faith, who develops an unconventional relationship with Hank. She is joined in two episodes by her former Lost co-star Jorge Garcia as an old contact from Faith’s past. International comedy star Tim Minchin takes on the role of Atticus Fetch, a mad-as-a-hatter rock star who will write the music for the Broadway production of Hank’s hit novel.  Fetch enlists the ever-cynical Hank to collaborate on the project, which he calls “…a rock opera about love conquering all.” Notorious rocker Marilyn Manson will also make a guest appearance. CALIFORNICATION is created and executive produced by Tom Kapinos and executive produced by David Duchovny.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME^®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2^™, SHOWTIME^® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME^®, SHOWTIME BEYOND^®, SHOWTIME NEXT^®, SHOWTIME WOMEN^®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE^® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD^™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND^®, FLIX ON DEMAND^® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME^®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks^™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel^™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV^®.

 

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