November 6th, 2009 | 0 Comments
TNT has bought the off-network syndication to The Mentalist. According to the deal between TNT and Warner Brothers Domestic TV Distribution, The Mentalist will begin running weekly on the cable network in fall 2011, followed by a full-blown launch in 2012. Neither side would discuss the financials of the deal, but the Simon Baker starrer is said to have fetched from $2.2 million-$2.3 million an episode. Created by Bruno Heller, The Mentalist stars Baker as an independent consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation who solves crimes using razor-sharp observation skills. The Mentalist launched as the top new series of the 2008-09 season and has been a solid ratings performer this fall in its new 10:00 PM/ET Thursday timeslot.
Continue reading TNT Gets Off-Network Syndication Rights To The Mentalist »
November 6th, 2009 | 0 Comments
USA Network has bought the off-network syndication to the freshman drama NCIS: Los Angeles. USA has agreed to pay CBS Television Distribution around $2.5 million per episode for the rights to NCIS: Los Angeles, which will be available in fall 2013. As part of the deal, USA will be able to start airing weekly repeats of the show’s first season starting in September 2011. The deal comes after just seven episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles have run on CBS.
Continue reading USA Lands Off Network Rights To NCIS: Los Angeles »
November 6th, 2009 | 0 Comments
Comedy Central will premiere The Goode Family on January 6. The network will run the entire first season of The Goode Family, which originally aired on ABC in the summer. “We started building a nice cult fan base (on ABC) and hope those fans will come back and we would be able to reach new fans on Comedy Central, where people are used to such shows,” said John Altschuler, who created the series with Mike Judge and Dave Krinsky. The series, from MRC, Ternion Pictures and 3 Arts, will air Wednesdays at 10:30 PM/ET.
If a success, Comedy Central could pick up more of The Goode Family beyond the 13 produced episodes with new episodes. “If the show works, the intention is to do more (episodes),” MRC co-CEO Modi Wiczyk said said.
November 2nd, 2009 | 2 Comments
TNT has picked up Southland from NBC. The critically acclaimed cop drama was canceled a week before it’s second season premiere, a casualty of Jay Leno’s primetime talk show. TNT will re-air the John Wells series’ original seven episodes NBC broadcast, plus the six new hours that NBC ordered but chose not to air.
Depending on ratings, TNT will order more. By only committing to airing episodes that have already been produced, the deal minimizes TNT’s financial risk and allows the cable network to evaluate the success of the show before investing in a re-start of production. The network plans to run the tough cop drama Tuesday nights at 10:00 PM/ET, opposite The Jay Leno Show. Southland will make its TNT debut on Tuesday, January 12.
October 30th, 2009 | 0 Comments
Fox has renewed American Dad for a sixth season. The renewal means that all three series from Seth MacFarlane – American Dad, Family Guy and The Cleveland Show – have pickups through next season. The show, which centers on security-obsessed CIA agent and devoted family man Stan Smith (voiced by MacFarlane) airs at 9:30 PM/ET Sundays. Wendy Schaal, Rachael MacFarlane and Dee Bradley Baker round out the voice cast of the series, which is exec produced by Seth MacFarlane, Barker, Weitzman, Rick Wiener and Kenny Schwartz.
October 28th, 2009 | 0 Comments
ABC has set the return dates for Scrubs and Better Off Ted. Scrubs is going through a shakeup leaving the hospital and introducing a largely new cast. The ninth season will premiere with back-to back episodes December 1 at 9:00 PM/ET. The show will then move to its regular Tuesday at 9:00 PM/ET time slot the following week. The show’s companion, Better Off Ted, will debut its second season on December 8 at 9:30 PM/ET following Scrubs.
