Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2009 > May > 04 > Entry
‘Southland,’ featuring Austin’s Ben McKenzie, renewed for 2nd season
NBC, struggling desperately these days in the primetime ratings race, today announced its roster of new and returning shows for the 2009-10 season.
“Southland,” featuring Austin’s own Ben McKenzie, made the cut. Relatively new to the airwaves, the cop drama slid into the old “ER” timeslot last month. Thirteen new episodes have been ordered for next season, according to Zap2It.
Cult favorite “Heroes” and newish “Parks & Recreation,” with “SNL” alum Amy Poehler, will also be back. Several other shows, including “Law & Order” and “Chuck,” will have to wait a while longer to learn their fates.
Speaking of “SNL,” look for primetime editions of “Weekend Update” to pop up soon, most likely on Thursday nights. Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures …
NBC’s decision to strip an hour-long show helmed by Jay Leno each weeknight at 9 this fall shows just how desperate the network is these days. The move eliminates five hours of scripted programming each week, saving millions of dollars.
Six new primetime shows — four dramas and two sitcoms — have also received a green light. Here are descriptions of each, courtesy of The Associated Press:
“Parenthood,” starring Peter Krause (“Six Feet Under”), Maura Tierney (“ER”), Craig T. Nelson (“Coach”) and Bonnie Bedelia as family members dealing with the pressures of life. The show was shadowed by tragedy last week when NBC executive Nora O’Brien died after collapsing on the set in Northern California.
“Trauma,” about the heroics of San Francisco paramedics and deemed by Silverman the “adrenaline-rush” successor to NBC’s recently departed “ER.” The cast includes Derek Luke (“Notorious”), Aimee Garcia (“George Lopez”) and Jamey Sheridan (“Law & Order: Criminal Intent”). Peter Berg is the executive producer.
“Mercy,” a hospital drama that puts nurses at center stage. The ensemble cast includes Taylor Schilling (“Dark Matter”), Jamie Lee Kirchner (“Rescue Me”), James Tupper (“Men in Trees”) and Guillermo Diaz (“Weeds”).
“Day One,” a saga about neighbors who must rebuild their lives and society after a mysterious catastrophe decimates the world’s infrastructure. Adam Campbell (“Date Movie”), Catherine Dent (“The Shield”) and Julie Gonzalo (“Eli Stone”) star. The drama is planned as a “big event” to follow the Winter Olympics, Silverman said.
“100 Questions,” a comedy about a young woman (Sophie Winkleman, “Peep Show”), looking for love with the help of an online dating site and counselor (Amir Talai, “The Ex List”). It’s a traditional multicamera sitcom, a format that has dimmed in popularity in recent years, but which NBC believes in, Bromstad said.
“Community,” a sitcom about community college misfits that brings Chevy Chase of “Saturday Night Live” fame back to TV. The cast includes Joel McHale (“The Soup”), Gillian Jacobs (“The Book of Daniel”) and Yvette Nicole Brown (“Rules of Engagement”).
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment Categories: Local people on TV
Comments
Austinites love to be heard, and we're giving you a bullhorn. We just ask that you keep things civil. Leave out the personal attacks. Do not use profanity, ethnic or racial slurs, or take shots at anyone's sexual orientation or religion. If you can't be nice, we reserve the right to remove your material and ban users who violate our Visitor's agreement. Click here to report comment abuse.
By Jetty Sutton
May 19, 2009 9:05 PM | Link to this
SOUTHLAND's first 2 episodes were fantastic. After, that it was so lame. Detective Lydia Adams is so hang dog that she is like a limp dish rag - no spirit, no sass, no personality that would make her a cop. She is in a great position to show some "umpth" but it doesn't show. Someone please tell her to show up and show life instead of so down, sad, pitiful, whiny.
By john doe
May 5, 2009 8:31 AM | Link to this
Great....more new crappy shows while they think about deleting a quality written and acted show like Chuck.
By modlang
May 4, 2009 11:38 PM | Link to this
Great news about Southland. And congrats to Ben McKenzie and his family here in Austin. The show is tremendous and McKenzie is really good in it.