TNT Picks Up Vastly Different Cop Shows
Drama Network Obtains Rights to The Mentalist, Southland
Nov 8, 2009
Fresh from its summer pairing of action-dramedy Leverage and gritty Dark Blue, TNT has obtained the cable broadcast rights to action-dramedy The Mentalist and gritty Southland.
Perhaps these shows will be coupled in similar fashion?
On November 2, 2009, TNT announced it had procured the rights to John Wells’ Southland, which was abruptly canceled by NBC on the eve of its second season. All six never-before-seen episodes will air on the drama-friendly network beginning Tuesday, January 12, 2010. In addition, TNT will air all seven episodes from the show’s first season.
“This is a great win for fans of Southland and a perfect opportunity to introduce the series to new viewers,” said Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks. “It’s also another outstanding example of how TNT has established itself as the go-to place for the best dramas on television.”
“We’re delighted that TNT has stepped forward to pick up Southland. We are all extremely proud of the show,” Wells said.
There is no word on whether or not more episodes of Southland will be filmed.
Adding Levity
Just four days after picking up Southland, TNT announced its acquisition of the top-rated CBS series The Mentalist. As the exclusive holder of the show’s syndication rights, the cable network will begin airing episodes in 2012.
“The Mentalist is a terrific show that will be an ideal fit for TNT’s already strong lineup,” Koonin said. “The early success of the series also indicates The Mentalist has a great future.”
“Everyone recognized early on that The Mentalist was an A-tier drama, the kind of program that would have a profoundly positive effect on its cable licensee,” said Ken Werner, president, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. “As a result, the demand for the off-network rights began almost immediately following its debut on CBS last fall and has steadily increased as the show blossomed into a true broadcast hit.”
Ratings Winner, Ratings Loser
Through November 1, The Mentalist is averaging more than 16.5 million viewers each week. The show stars Simon Baker as a pseudo-psychic who helps the California Bureau of Investigation solve crimes. It airs Thursdays at 10/9 Central.
A “behind-the-scenes” profile of the LAPD, Southland debuted on April 9, 2009, in the Thursday at 10 p.m. timeslot formerly held by ER. The show got off to a fast start, attracting nearly 10 million viewers for both its first and second episodes. However, that number dipped to 6.7 million for episode four, and to 6.4 for its seventh and season-ending episode.
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