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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SHOCKER! HBO Renews ‘Game Of Thrones’ For Season Four Within 48 Hours Of Season Three Premiere

Considering that HBO renewed Game of Thrones for seasons two and three within 48 hours of the premieres of seasons one and two, respectively, this really should come as a surprise to no one.  I’m just going to copy and paste this piece and save it in my “Drafts” folder for next year.

Via Press Release:

HBO RENEWS GAME OF THRONES FOR FOURTH SEASON

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Season Three Soars To Highest Viewership Yet

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LOS ANGELES, April 2, 2013 – HBO has renewed GAME OF THRONES for a fourth season, it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming.

Based on the bestselling fantasy book series by George R.R. Martin, GAME OF THRONES is an epic story of treachery and nobility set on the continent of Westeros, where summers and winters can last years, and only the lust for power is eternal. The Emmy^®– and Golden Globe-winning series launched its ten-episode third season Sunday, March 31 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, with other episodes debuting subsequent Sundays at the same time.

Among the early critical praise for the third season, the Hollywood Reporter called GAME OF THRONES “addictive and outstanding,” while Newsday termed the series “superb,” awarding the show an A+. The Chicago Tribunehailed the show as “spellbinding” and the Washington Post described it as “masterful.”

According to early data, GAME OF THRONES’ season three premiere March 31 on HBO topped the series’ highs, with record viewership for both the 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT) airing and gross audience across the three plays. At 9:00 p.m., it averaged 4.4 million viewers, outperforming (+4%) the previous high of 4.2 million viewers from last season’s finale. GAMES OF THRONES improved 13% in comparison to last season’s premiere of 3.9 million viewers. Across the three plays for the night, 6.7 million viewers tuned in, surpassing last season’s debut night of 6.3 million viewers by 7%. Last season, GAME OF THRONES had an average gross audience (HBO linear plays + HBO On Demand/HBO GO + DVR) of 11.6 million viewers.

For more on the series, visit facebook.com/GameOfThrones and twitter.com @GameOfThrones #GameOfThrones.

Season three credits: The executive producers of GAME OF THRONES are David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Carolyn Strauss, Frank Doelger, Bernadette Caulfield; co-executive producers, Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis, George R.R. Martin, Vanessa Taylor; produced by Chris Newman, Greg Spence.

Starz: ‘Da Vinci’s Demons” Premiere Date Set, ‘Magic City’ Season Two Trailer (VIDEOS)

Via Press Release:

STARZ BRINGS NEWS FROM WALES, MIAMI AND CAPE TOWN TO THE 2013 WINTER TCA TOUR

DAVID S. GOYER’S “DA VINCI’S DEMONS” TO PREMIERE

ON FRIDAY, APRIL 12

TRAILER FOR SEASON 2 OF “MAGIC CITY” RELEASED

MICHAEL BAY EXEC PRODUCED “BLACK SAILS” BEGINS PRODUCTION

Beverly Hills, CA. – STARZ presented updates on several of its upcoming original series to television critics in Pasadena.

Highly anticipated historical drama “Da Vinci’s Demons,” written and directed by David S. Goyer, will premiere on Friday, April 12, 2013 at 9pm ET/PT. A new extended trailer for the series was also released.

“Da Vinci’s Demons” follows the ‘untold’ story of the world’s greatest genius during his turbulent youth in Renaissance Florence. Brilliant and passionate, the twenty-five year old Leonardo Da Vinci is an artist, inventor, swordsman, lover, dreamer and idealist. As a free thinker, with intellect and talents that are almost superhuman, he struggles to live within the confines of his own reality and time. He begins to not only see the future, but invent it.

The series stars Tom Riley (“Monroe,” I Want Candy), Laura Haddock (The Inbetweeners Movie, “Honest,” Captain America: The First Avenger), Elliot Cowan (“Marchlands,” “The Fixer,” “Lost in Austen”), Lara Pulver (“True Blood,” “Sherlock,” “Robin Hood”) and Blake Ritson (RocknRolla, Titus, “World Without End”).

STARZ also released a new trailer for season two of the 1960’s Miami based drama “Magic City,” which will return this summer with new cast members; legendary James Caan and Esai Morales.

This season Ike Evans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) risks everything in a life and death battle to rid his Miramar Playa Hotel of the mob and Ben “The Butcher” Diamond (Danny Huston). Ike’s dangerous plan to defeat Ben takes Ike from Havana’s glamorous casinos to dealings with a new devil – Ben’s boss in the Chicago Outfit (Caan). Ike’s wife Vera (Olga Kurylenko) gets a second chance at her former dancing glory, while sons Stevie (Steven Strait) and Danny (Christian Cooke) drift farther from Ike — Stevie toward the power and rewards of Ben’s dark world, Danny into the moral righteousness of State’s Attorney Jack Klein. Changes in Castro’s Cuba ripple to the shores of Miami Beach, and a new world order begins to tear the Evans family apart. Even if Ike’s long-shot gamble to take back his hotel succeeds, will the price of victory be too high?

Season one cast Kelly Lynch, Jessica Marais, Elena Satine, Dominik Garcia-Lorido, Taylor Blackwell and Yul Vazquez all return.

Production officially began in Cape Town, South Africa on the new STARZ Original series “Black Sails” (working title) from executive producer Michael Bay and Platinum Dunes with Neil Marshall (The Descent) set to direct the first episode. The straight-to-series eight episode first season of the pirate adventure centers on the tales of Captain Flint and his men, and takes place twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic “Treasure Island.” The series will air in 2014.

Flint, the most brilliant and most feared pirate captain of his day, takes on a fast-talking young addition to his crew who goes by the name John Silver. Threatened with extinction on all sides, they fight for the survival of New Providence Island, the most notorious criminal haven of its day – a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers, a place defined by both its enlightened ideals and its stunning brutality.

Luke Arnold (“McLeod’s Daughters,” “Rush,” Broken Hill) will star alongside Zach McGowan (“Shameless”), Toby Stephens (“Robin Hood,” Die Another Day), Hannah New (“El Tiempo Entre Costuras,” Fuga De Cerebros 2,Maleficent) and Jessica Parker Kennedy “The Secret Circle,” 50/50, In Time).

 “Black Sails” will be executive produced by Michael Bay (Transformers, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor) and his Platinum Dunes partners Brad Fuller and Andrew Form who produces The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) and Nightmare on Elm Street (2009). The series is created by showrunner and executive producer Jon Steinberg (“Jericho,” “Human Target”) and co-executive producer Robert Levine (“Touch”).

About Starz Entertainment
Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service provider operating in the United States. The company offers 17 premium channels including the flagship STARZ^® and ENCORE^®brands with approximately 20.8 million and 34.3 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs in total more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced services for its STARZ, ENCORE and MOVIEPLEX brands. Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LMCA).

CBS: ‘CSI’ Renewed For 14th Season

Via Press Release:

CBS ANNOUNCES NEW CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR “CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION” STAR TED DANSON

CBS ANNOUNCES NEW CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR “CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION” STAR TED DANSON

 “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” the Most Watched Show in the World, Renewed for 2013-2014 Season

 Series Stars Elisabeth Shue, George Eads, Jorja Fox, Eric Szmanda, Paul Guilfoyle, Robert David Hall, Wallace Langham, Elisabeth Harnois, David Berman and Jon Wellner Will Also Return Next Season

March 20, 2013 – CBS announced today a new contract extension for CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION star Ted Danson and that the U.S. and global hit series has been renewed for the 2013-2014 season.  In addition, Academy Award nominee Elisabeth Shue (“Leaving Las Vegas”), original cast members George Eads, Jorja Fox, Eric Szmanda, Paul Guilfoyle and Robert David Hall along with Wallace Langham, Elisabeth Harnois, David Berman and Jon Wellner will also return next season.

“CSI is synonymous with CBS, and we are so proud of the series’ creative and commercial legacy and its continued success on our Network,” said Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment. “The writers and producers have done an amazing job evolving CSI, reinventing the show around an incredible leading man in Ted Danson, the acclaimed Elisabeth Shue and our beloved and talented core of original cast members.” 

“CSI is one of the top global franchises and is seen in almost every country in the world,” said David Stapf, President, CBS Television Studios.  “It defined feature television and its whodunnit storytelling captured audiences since the day it premiered.  We are fortunate to have had Carol Mendelsohn’s creative vision at the helm since the inception, as well as the talents of her partner Don McGill.  The addition of Ted Danson has infused new energy into the series and we couldn’t be more thrilled with its continued worldwide success.”

​Currently in its 13^th season on CBS, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION wins its Wednesday (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) time period in viewers (11.85m), adults 18-49 (2.9/08) and adults 25-54 (3.8/09).  It is also a global ratings hit, earning the International TV Audience Award for the “most watched show in the world” for the third consecutive year, and fifth time in seven years. 

Jerry Bruckheimer, Carol Mendelsohn, Anthony Zuiker, Don McGill, Jonathan Littman, Louis Milito, Ann Donahue, Cindy Chvatal and William Petersen are executive producers for CBS Television Studios and Entertainment AB Funding LLC in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television.

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MTV: ‘Awkward,’ ‘Girl Code’ Premiere Dates Announced

Via Press Release:

MTV SET TO LAUNCH AN ALL-NEW FUNNY FEMALE COMEDY LINE-UP WITH THE RETURN OF SCRIPTED HIT “AWKWARD” ALONG WITH NEW SERIES “GIRL CODE”

03.18.13

Season Three of “Awkward” to Premiere on Tuesday, April 16 with Two Back-to-Back Episodes
Beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT and “Girl Code” to Debut on Tuesday, April 23 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT

NEW YORK, NY (March 18, 2013) – MTV will debut the first half of its expanded 20-episode third season of the critically acclaimed series “Awkward” on Tuesday, April 16 with an hour-long premiere event featuring the first two episodes back-to-back at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. The following week, MTV will debut new series, “Girl Code,” a spin-off of the successful comedic series “MTV2’s Guy Code”  immediately following an all-new “Awkward” on Tuesday, April 23 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.

In the first two seasons of “Awkward,” Jenna Hamilton tackled the age old questions all teenagers face:  “who am I” and “who do I want be with?”  Now, as she enters her junior year at Palos Hills High, Jenna is finally confronting the daunting question: “who do I want to be?”  Season three picks up with Jenna feeling left behind now that Ming and Tamara start to blossom socially in ways that she hasn’t.  Once again, Jenna seems to be solely living her life through her relationship with Matty and is starting to question if there is more for her beyond her love life and the life that she knows at Palos Hills.   To check out the season three trailer, click here.

In the season three premiere episode Jenna’s junior year brings a wave of surprises and changes that potentially will impact her future in an indelible way and in the second episode, the death of classmate will leave Jenna to reflect on loss, grieving, and taking responsibility for a secret she’s keeping from Matty.

Additionally, MTV.com will be the exclusive home for the first ever “Awkward” webisodes that will have a complementary storyline that is directly linked to an-air arc.  The first of the online-only webisodes will be available prior to the April 16 premiere, with subsequent webisodes available throughout the season.

As previously announced, Anthony Michael Hall will join the cast as “Mr. Hart,” a sadistic creative writing teacher who pushes students out of their comfort zones and Nolan Funk will play “Collin,” a new prep school transfer to Palos Hills.  Season three marks the return of “Awkward” stars Ashley Rickards as Jenna, Beau Mirchoff as Matty, Molly Tarlov as Sadie, Jillian Rose Reed as Tamara, Brett Davern as Jake, Nikki DeLoach as Lacey, Desi Lydic as Valerie, Jessica Lu as Ming, Mike Faiola as Kevin and Greer Grammer as Lissa.

The third season comes on the heels of a highly successful second season in which the show was Thursday’s #1 cable series among P12-34 and averaged a 1.9 rating among P12-34 and 1.9 million total viewers.  Additionally, the second season saw 36-percent growth among teens.

MTV’s new series “Girl Code” is a strong and smart female driven comedy series bringing millennial viewers a new, hilarious how-to manual full of over the top tips to push the envelope and open the dialogue about the wonders and woes of womanhood.  In the same style of irreverent commentary that fans have come to love on MTV2’s top rated series “Guy Code,” the new MTV series calls on female stand-up comics, actresses and musicians—and even a few guys—to weigh in on the sisterhood that all girls share.

For more ways to connect with “Awkward” follow the show on Twitter @MTVAwkward  or like it on Facebook.   

“Awkward” was created by Lauren Iungerich.  Iungerich and Erin Ehrlich serve as executive producers.

“Girl Code” was developed by Ryan Ling who also serves as Executive Producer. Darin Byrne and Paul Ricci are Executive Producers for MTV. Laura Murphy is the Director. The series is an original production by Viacom Media Networks.

Awkward will air internationally on MTV channels around the world beginning September 2013.

*Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Ranked on 000s. Dates: 6/28/12-9/20/12. P12-34 unless noted. Teens: P12-17.

About MTV:        
MTV is the world’s premier youth entertainment brand.   With a global reach of more than a half-billion households, MTV is the cultural home of the millennial generation, music fans and artists, and a pioneer in creating innovative programming for young people.  MTV reflects and creates pop culture with its Emmy®, Grammy® and Peabody® award-winning content built around compelling storytelling, music discovery and activism across TV, online and mobile.  MTV’s sibling networks MTV2 and mtvU each deliver unparalleled customized content for young males, music fans and college students, and its online hub MTV.com is a leading destination for music, news and pop culture.  MTV is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  For more information, go to http://www.mtvpress.com

GEEK ALERT! SyFy: Ronald D. Moore’s ‘Helix’ Greenlighted For Full Season

SyFy is reuniting with Battlestar Galactica‘s Ronald D. Moore for a brand new epic SciFi series, Helix, scheduled to begin production soon and air later this year. Not only is this cool on its face because Moore doesn’t slap his name to anything unless it’s awesome to begin with, but SyFy has so much faith in this that they skipped the whole pilot process, opting to order an entire 13 episode season without seeing a single produced episode.  That’s what you call faith.

Via Press Release:

SYFY REUNITES WITH RONALD D. MOORE GREENLIGHTS NEW SCRIPTED SERIES HELIX FROM SONY PICTURES TELEVISION FOR 2013

MOORE AND LYNDA OBST SERVE AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

NEW YORK – March 7, 2013 – Syfy is giving a 13-episode greenlight to Helix (working title), its newest original scripted series for 2013, it was announced today by Mark Stern, President of Original Content, Syfy and Co-Head Original Content, Universal Cable Productions. Helix is Executive Produced by Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica), Lynda Obst (Sleepless in Seattle, Contact), Steven Maeda (Lost, CSI: Miami, The X-Files) and Cameron Porsandeh, who wrote the pilot, will serve as Co-Executive Producer. The series will be produced by Sony Pictures Television.

Helix is an intense thriller about a team of scientists from the Centers for Disease Control who travel to a high-tech research facility in the Arctic to investigate a possible disease outbreak, only to find themselves pulled into a terrifying life-and-death struggle that holds the key to mankind’s salvation or total annihilation.

“With its well-drawn characters, taut drama, and incredible production team, we couldn’t be more excited to see this intense thrill-ride of a series come to life,” said Mark Stern.

Helix is expected to begin production early in 2013 to debut later this year.

Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry’s leading content providers, producing and distributing programming worldwide in every genre including comedy, drama and reality series, telefilms and theatrical releases, for every platform. SPT is a leader in local language production around the world with 18 production companies outside the US, and also sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries. SPT’s worldwide television networks portfolio includes 124 channel feeds, which are available in 159 countries reaching more than 800 million households. Additionally, SPT owns multiplatform video service Crackle and is a part owner of GSN, 3net, FEARnet, and ITN Networks, Inc.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

GEEK ALERT! SyFy: ‘Sinbad,’ ‘Primeval: New World’ Premiere Date Announced

Via Press Release:

NEW YORK – March 28, 2013 – Building on the success of acquired original series such as Lost Girl and Continuum, Syfy today announced that Sinbad and Primeval: New World will join the prime time schedule beginning Saturday, June 8.

Debuting at 9PM (ET/PT), the 12-episode Sinbad follows the epic sea journey of the flawed hero Sinbad, played by newcomer Elliot Knight, who embarks on a quest to rid himself of a curse and embrace his destiny, as he is forced to flee from his home town of Basra. On board The Providence, an intriguing band of travelers is thrown together, including taciturn Norwegian sailor Gunnar (Elliot Cowan/Marchlands), agile jewel-thief Rina (Marama Corlett/The Devil’s Double), and haughty and aristocratic Nala (Estella Daniels/Thorne). Completing the ship’s complement is the odd-ball cook (Junix Inocian/The 51st State) and the cerebral doctor Anwar (Dimitri Leonidas/Grange Hill).

Sinbad is a British Sky Broadcasting presentation of An Impossible Pictures Production. Producer is Grainne Marmion. Executive producers are Tim Haines, Sophie Gardiner and Andrew Woodhead. The series is distributed by BBC Worldwide.

Following at 10PM (ET/PT) will be Primeval: New World. The 13-episode series will star Niall Matter (Eureka), Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries) and Danny Rahim (Eastenders) as a team of animal experts and scientists investigating paranormal events, while battling both prehistoric and futuristic creatures. Amanda Tapping, who starred in the Syfy series Sanctuary, is on board to direct several episodes.

Based on the original series from Impossible Pictures, Primeval: New World’s creative team is led by executive producers Martin Wood (Sanctuary, Stargate: Atlantis) and Gillian Horvath (Sanctuary, Highlander). The spin-off was created by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens (Star Trek: Enterprise, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World) and written by Gillian Horvath, Peter Hume (Charmed, Flash Gordon), Jon Cooksey (The Collector, The Outer Limits), Sarah Dodd (Flashpoint, Arctic Air), Katherine Collins (Endgame), and Judith and Garfield Reeve-Stevens.

Primeval: New World is produced by Omnifilm Entertainment. Executive producers for Ominfilm are Gabriela Schonbach and Michael Chechik. The series is produced and developed in association with Bell Media, German free-to-air broadcaster ProSieben, and UKTV channel Watch, with the participation of the Canadian Media Fund, The Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC, The Canadian Film & Video Production Tax Credit Program, and British Columbia Film. Leading independent studio, Entertainment One, holds the international distribution rights.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast Corporation. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

SyFy: Face Off Renewed For Season Five

Via Press Release:

SYFY RENEWS ACCLAIMED COMPETITION SERIES FACE OFF FOR A FIFTH SEASON

Season Four Currently Airs Tuesday Nights At 9PM ET/PT on Syfy

NEW YORK – March 18, 2013 – Syfy’s critically-acclaimed hit reality competition series Face Off will return for a fifth season of mind-blowing special effects ingenuity, offering a new group of rising SFX make-up artists with the opportunity to compete and showcase their imagination and creativity. Production on the new season begins April 2013 in Los Angeles for a Summer 2013 premiere.

“Face Off continues to prove itself as a ratings hit, earning critical and viewer accolades alike, and we are proud to bring the series back for another stunning season,” said Mark Stern, President of Original Content, Syfy, and Co-Head of Original Content, Universal Cable Productions.

Season four of Face Off currently airs Tuesday nights at 9PM ET/PT on Syfy. In its fourth season, Face Off is averaging 1.6 million viewers 18-19 and 2.7 million total viewers in Live +7.

In tomorrow night’s all-new episode, the remaining four contestants face off in a challenge inspired by Syfy’s highly-anticipated new series,Defiance, which premieres Monday, April 15 at 9:00PM ET/PT. The remaining four artists – Eric Fox of Riverside, CA; J. Anthony Kosar of Lisle, IL; Kristian Kobzina of El Segundo, CA; and Wayne Anderson of Fort Meyers, FL — head to the lab where they meet Kevin Murphy, the Executive Producer of Defiance.

Defiance is an epic drama that will unfold as both an original series and a multi-platform video game – the first-ever convergence of television and online gaming, featuring an interconnected world between the two mediums as they evolve together into one overall story. The artists learn that the world of Defiance features a myriad of incredible aliens and that their Spotlight Challenge is to create the offspring of two of them. To help inform and inspire their makeups, they are surprised with a trip to Toronto where they visit the incredible set of Defiance. After meeting the cast and crew, they excitedly head back to Los Angeles to get started on their designs. When they return to the lab, the reality that this is their last chance to make it to the finale is palpable, and their frayed nerves show as each of them struggles to bring their huge concepts to life. It all leads to an incredible showing on the Face Off reveal stage where their alien creations are presented to special guest judge,Defiance director Michael Nankin.

The competition culminates with the season four finale on Tuesday, March 26 at 9PM ET/PT when the final three contestants face the incredibly difficult task of creating waterproof makeups for the spectacular show, Le Reve: The Dream at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas.

Face Off is a competition/elimination series exploring the world of special-effects make-up artists and the unlimited imagination that allows them to create amazing works of living art. As a member of the multi-generational family dynasty whose name is synonymous with the make-up effects field, actress McKenzie Westmore brings expertise to her role as host of the series. Some of SFX world’s most celebrated figures return to judge the competition — multiple Academy-Award winner Ve Neill (The Hunger Games, Pirates of the Caribbean), industry veteran Glenn Hetrick (CSI: New York, Heroes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and creature designer Neville Page (Avatar, Prometheus). World-renowned Hollywood makeup artist Michael Westmore serves as the contestant mentor.

Face Off is a production of Mission Control Media with Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian and Derek Atherton serving as executive producers.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)