Southland possibly moving to TNT was the subject of substantial commenting when Southland’s cancellation was announced by NBC. It doesn’t seem impossible to me, but paycuts all around are likely in store if it happens.
Four days after the abrupt cancellation of sophomore series “Southland” by NBC, chatter intensifies that the gritty cop drama may find a second home at TNT.
TNT was an obvious choice as it shares a corporate parent with Warner Bros. TV, which produces the critically praised series with studio-based John Wells Prods.
But sources on Monday indicated that talks between the two sides are advancing.
“We continually look at all programming opportunities that fit our portfolio of brands,” TNT said in a statement.
Please TNT, Please!!!
ZERO percent chance! Though I agree since its all part of the Time-Warner mothership it is an obvious choice, beyond that I don’t see it.
I don’t see John Wells wanting to work at cable rates (although he can be darker and grittier there), but having seen how well “dark and gritty” police shows (DARK BLUE) play on TNT, I can’t imagine TNT would be very interested either.
Next stop, “Will DirecTV save Southland!”
that answer seems to be “no” since NBC is the only network to ever do that, but I believe that we’ll still see a story on it anyway!
I still think a cabler like FX would make some sense.
Well looks like Southland is effectively dead and so will NBC soon
Southland to Nickelodeon?
Robert,
I know you guys probably have a discussion somewhere about “cable rates” vs. network costs to produces shows. Could you kindly point me in the direction?
we know drama
Andrea, I don’t think we do. Futon Critic maybe? And if shows like Warehouse 13 really cost $2 million per episode as has been reported in Variety, I’m not really sure how big the gap really is anyway for some shows (if Warehouse 13 is $2 million, it seems like The Closer and Burn Notice should be…higher!).
Too dark and too expensive for TNT. FX..? hmmm… still too expensive without major retooling. This whale has been beached.
They said they were wrapping up the sixth episode when Southland was canceled. The first season was only seven episodes. Maybe TNT will take the six new episodes, and send NBC a thank-you note. It’s cable, they’re show anything and then repeat them forever.
I hope someone picks it up – it is a great show!
Kozy, there is a financial question we don’t have the answer for and it is this: what is NBC already on the hook for as far as those 6 episodes?
I assume they are on the hook for something, and that those six episodes will not air anytime soon unless someone is willing to cover the cost that NBC is already on the hook for. In other words, NBC has already bought the rights to those six episodes THIS season, and unless someone makes NBC whole (or close to it), I would not look for them to air anywhere else this season.
Next year is another story…
I know the chance is slim, but I hope they do!
Please TNT, save Southland! I have fought so badly since the announcement to keep this show alive! I have made a twitition (twitter petition) to try to keep Southland alive by at least moving it to another network. I have even gotten Michael Cudlitz, one of the cast members of Southland, so sign it! If you would like to sign it as well, click on my name on this comment and it will take you to my twitition, thanks so much in advance.
Maybe Spike TV could air the show? They seem to want shows that have gritty and dark elements. They recently got the rights to air Band of Brothers and have aired stuff like Afro Samurai, which has all the violence and sex that would appeal to men.
Robert – NBC said they will try their bet to air all 6 episodes. The spot, probably 10pm saturdays. The night where NBC has previously burned off all of their failing dramas (Kidnapped, Crusoe, Kings)
It’d be nice if NBC cancels one of their shit shows like “Mercy” or “Trauma”, and then burns off “Southland”.
After that, THEN FX should buy it (or TNT…it could be a good companion piece to “The Closer”) and continue on with it. If ABC could take “Scrubs” and CBS could take “Medium”, I think someone can take “Southland”.
they could just put the last episodes on Sleuth or someother NBCU network
Well, if this does happen, TNT will almost certainly have to cancel Dark Blue. There is simply no way they can have 3 dramas about the LAPD. Plus, If they do get the rights and decide to order a 10-13 episode season, I don’t think we will be seeing this air until late Spring or Summer 2010.
This could make sense on TNT.
FX seems like a better option than TNT. TNT executives, as cited at TVBTN, have said six dramas are enough to handle at one time. The current lineup:
Monday: The Closer/Saving Grace
Tuesday: HawthoRNe/Raising the Bar
Wednesday: Leverage/Dark Blue
All but RTB and DB have already been renewed, although SG closes after next season. There’s been plenty of debate about whether either or both of the others will survive.
TNT theoretically could start a fourth night of drama. Sundays are most viable. Thursdays are open only during the summer; NBA coverage anchors the night from Halloween to Memorial Day. Fridays and Saturdays are, well, Fridays and Saturdays.
Additionally, TNT has never acquired some other network’s castoff for the purpose of producing new episodes. I don’t mean the daytime, second-run syndication lineup. Neither has FX. Both networks are building reputations on creating their own brands. TNT already has Dark Blue; FX made its bones on The Shield. How is Southland going to help either network?
“Twition”…?
Are you Serious,
YYYYYYAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe.
Why is this site so awful to SOUTHLAND? Just this dismissive, arrogant attitude. I’ve noticed it with other shows that have been discussed here as well.
But when the topic is about CHUCK, everybody is slobbering all over the place about it.
gia, we didn’t cancel Southland, NBC did. It’s not dismissive or arrogant. It’s what happened. NBC didn’t cancel Chuck…yet. I slobber all over Dollhouse sometimes but am generally dismissive of its ratings because they stink.
sothland is gone thank god like a bad habit those ops are in jail by bombing ratings and arrested for life with no chance of parole nbcyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa tnt please let this joke cop show fall by the wayside thanks
people get a new show an d a life now nbc please ax mercy tramua and hereoes and jay leno and the peacock network will shine with those joke shows cancelled and gone like a bad habit thanks
TNT said the same thing about Traveler. Don’t hold your breath, folks.
This is a Chuck-centric site, with Chuck fans and topics on Chuck getting preferential treatment. Just admit it.
I saw the same attitude displayed towards Medium a few months ago.
The put downs on Medium, the dismissive attitude towards Medium fans.
Gia, excellent point, and what I have thought all along about this site. And I don’t even watch Southland and I do watch Chuck, but I think it’s gone overboard on here with the Chuck/Dollhouse obsession and bashing nearly every other show.
Wait, Dollhouse doesn’t get bashed? Since when?
Gia, I’ll admit you’re a crazy fool from the Philippines (with apologies to Forg who is a NICE person from the Philippines) who has posted under like 25 different aliases in the last 3 days to show support for Southland.
Now what was it you were saying?
I remember the rumors of “talks between the two sides are advancing” from such cancellations as My Name Is Earl.
DB and Southland should both go.
DB because there’s no chemistry between the characters and the story lines have been weak.
Southland because it already died once, let it rest in peace.
NBC – No Body Cares
Why is everybody so hard on NBC? I still think it’s the best primary network. What other network sticks with low-rated-but-critically-acclaimed shows for so long? Do you think ABC would’ve renewed “The Office” after it’s slow, tepid first season? Do you think CBS could’ve given “30 Rock” the care it deserves? Hell no! And aside from “Arrested Development”, which they felt too guilty to cancel until they had no other choice, would’ve axed “Friday Night Lights” midway through the freaking pilot! But NBC has stuck behind these gems for so long. They just jumped the shark big time with the ridiculous waste of space Jay Leno BS hour. But hopefully, the criticisms of–well, everyone–will lead it to be terminated by the late spring. And after their schedules are freed-up by “Mercy” and “Trauma”, they might either realize the mistake they made and renew it or at least air what’s left and help it find another home to prosper (well, at their benefit, of course). So, um, yeah, to sum it all up: NBC > ABC/CBS/FOX (CW doesn’t even count).
“And *FOX*, aside from…”***.
Yay! I hope it’s true.
This site is called TV by the Numbers. Not TV by the Acclaim. Not TV by the Critics. Not even TV by the Fans. This site is cold and unrelenting because the numbers are cold and unrelenting. It’s the way I like it.
Stay in the dark about how the business of TV really works if you want. I can’t stop you. I’ll take living in reality though. It hurts more but better that than the shock of sudden cancellation later.
For the record, speaking for myself, I have no ill will toward any one personally. I don’t know you, except for what you post here. I try to gauge what will happen based on the networks’ number-one goal, maximizing profits. Any “high-art” or “quality programming” in pursuit of cash is strictly coincidental.
I like Southland and hope it lands somewhere. That said, I seriously doubt it will, unless the early cancellation was anticipated and Warner Bros. was already beating the bushes for a new home for it. I’m still just really surprised by NBC, seeing as they don’t have anything better waiting in the wings.
Still, there is some precedence here. What was that CBS show with Joe Pantoliano, “Waterfront”? It was new for 2006, the filmed about 6 episodes, then shut it down and canceled it and never showed it. HBO did it just recently with the Lily Tomlin “8 Miles of Bad Road” or whatever it was called. Plenty of shoes are getting yanked after just a couple of airings. It’s gotten to be, over the last 6-7 years at least, that I typically Tivo the first few episodes of a new series I’m interested in, and only start watching them after the ratings seem decent enough to keep it on the air. I’m sure others do as well, which of course hurts the ratings. I just don’t want to waste time getting interested/invested in a series, only to have it crap out after 10 episodes with no resolution at all. Every year, it seems like it happens, so every year, I watch less network TV.
I hope someone picks up Southland. It’s a great show! And what is this Gia person talking about??? I don’t see how this site is “anti-Southland” you reported that it was cancelled…because it was….
Six words: nine stars, crappy ratings, no chance.
**BORING ACCOUNTING QUESTION ALERT!**
You stated about that NBC has obviously already coughed up for these 6 episodes. However, in the UK many broadcasters do not count the cost of shows until they are actually broadcast. So, even though they have physically paid for a show to be produced, so long as they leave it on the shelf it will not show up on their accounts. As a result, a strategic decision is often made to hold back a show in order to boost profitability or balance the books. Is this practice used in the US?
like to see it happen, enjoyed first season
FX has too many new dramas for next year they wouldnt want to pick up Southland. NBC has soo many problems right now with Jay Leno ruining other potential 10pm series and their new shows not doing great but somehow on their own, NBC will have to find a way to recover.
Gia, excellent point, and what I have thought all along about this site.
What part of TV by the Numbers are you not getting? This is a TV ratings site, not a TV self-esteem site. I love the way some people show up here to play shoot the messenger when their favorite show is circling the drain.
Ugh. Dangling tag.
I hope TNT picks up Southland.NBC can fight back.They have been in worse places.They need fresh new programming and ware off all the old stuff.
Richard-
Don’t be so hard on yourself about DVRing a show after it starts to generate numbers. Unless you have a Nielsen box on your TV, the sad reality is your viewing habits don’t matter. Hell, even if you do the Nielsen DIARIES, your habits don’t matter either.
However, if you DO have a Nielsen box, then shame on you!! If not, no harm no foul.
I think this would be a great idea I love TNT their line up so far excet for DB and leaverage have been very good DB just doesn’t make sense to me and leverge is so fake I love the Closer and raising the bar and hawthorne southland would make a great addition to their line up
Who picked up “Smith?” Who picked up “Presidio Med?” Who picked up “Trinity,” “Citizen Baines,” “Angel Street,” “The Court,” “The Evidence” and “Jonny Zero?” Oh, nobody? Well, there’s your answer.
Riff-
Once again, your comments are right on.
According to futoncritic.com, something like 2-3% of shows have changed networks/channels. So I woulnd’t be holding my breath.
As someone who watched Dark Blue, there was some good acting and some not so good acting. The scripts got better and the actors got more comfortable with their characters. Same goes for Southland. Growing up in LA, there is a decidedly different vibe to a cop show based there, it is a city of extremes, both good and bad. The show could have got better ratings, and it will on cable. If people add up all the rebroadcasting ratings of cable TV shows and the 18-49 ratings a lot of shows do great. The rebroadcasting the same night/week is not yet and hopefully wont ever have to be a big thing on the big four. Howevber, some shows pick up another 4-6 million just by airing the weeks ep again on Friday. It is a lot for people to dedicate the hour to a show these days, even more to give it six episodes to get into the show and the characters. It can be done, and I think in terms of shows over the last few years, southland deserves a chance.
James, Fox gave Dollhouse a second season despite pitiful ratings. So, you can’t say that NBC is the only network that gives low rated shows a chance to grow.
I think SOUTHLAND should be given another chance. I do believe, as the NYT reported, it’s a victim of the Leno Effect. Gritty 10PM shows have no place opposite a big chin. As much as Leno is saving $$$ for NBC (and certainly looking at its 10PM competish elsewhere, its’ gotta be), thus making $$$ in Zuckerese, it’s sad to see something that had promise die in such a way. BTW, it’s time to get rid of L&O – that’s one show that has run its course…
I am sick about this, I loved this show, they keep crap on and cancel this?? we dont need all the comedy shows. I beg TNT to show this. if I remember correctly wasn’t Southland on Friday night? to me that is a bad night for most people, no wonder it did not get high ratings. nbc was crazy to cancel it.
Sandra-
It was going to be on Fridays nights this year. Last year it had ER’s old spot Thursday at 10.
Gia: Chuck gets what seems to you “big love” because:
a – it’s not an obvious keeper,
b – it’s not one of those CBS shows with great audience counts, but fair to middling demos (see “Worst Week”)
c – it’s not a show getting awful ratings on anyones’ scale, even the CW’s (see “Til Death”)
d – it’s Renew/Cancel Index last season was at 107 percent of NBC’s average demo rating, and did not fit the other profiles of a cancelled show with above .92 indices (see CBS)…
…so it’s a slightly above borderline show on a network that deserves to be sucking duck embryos (see “Deal or No Deal”) than collecting their retirements and golden parachutes – which generates lots of discussion, page hits, ad views, and revenues…
…I wish I had a nice Barton Yarborough avatar – Bill, Robert – who gets Joe Friday?
They are still filming this show though so maybe they really are planning to move it to TNT. Why would they keep production going if the show is cancelled?
Amber, NBC canceled the show while it was in the middle of producing its sixth episode. Production will be shut down as soon as they finish the episode they are working on. It would waste more money to stop now before they are finished, because they won’t even get a finished product out of it.
I knew it was coming to Southland.
But don’t keep your hopes up for a Turner network saving an NBC show, they couldn’t save My Name Is Earl with TBS.
This show is doomed. That’s because I liked it. Without fail, the networks trashed most of my last season favorites: Life, Terminator, Eleventh Hour, Lipstick Jungle, etc. This season, Dollhouse and Castle are just minutes away. Sorry guys, I didn’t mean it!