Southland: Season Premiere

Anybody watch Southland? It's a new crime series on NBC. From Wikipedia:

Southland is an American drama series created by Emmy Award winning writer Ann Biderman. It began airing on NBC on April 9, 2009. According to NBC, Southland takes a "raw and authentic look" at Los Angeles and the lives of the LAPD officers who police it. The show's seven episode first season centers around the experiences and interactions of LAPD patrol officers and detectives, and is less a police procedural than a character-driven drama. Among the characters are rookie Officer Ben Sherman, and his training officer, John Cooper, Detective Lydia Adams, who must balance work with responsibility for her mother, Officer Chickie Brown, who aspires to be the first woman on the elite SWAT Team, and Detective Sammy Bryant, whose home life interferes with his working life.


Two episodes already into the season, it's pretty good. Very gritty.

 

But there are *so* many cop shows...

 

Southland isn't a procedural though. It's ER with cops plus a very gritty "Training Day" vibe.

 

Yeah, this is far more character-driven. I haven't seen much of the Shield, but it reminded me a little of that. Lots of hand-held camerawork, some very interesting character, I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.

 

It's too bad it has no shot at another season what with NBC eliminating scripted programming at 10pm.

 

Oh really? That's a shame.

Honestly though, this show seems like it would be better at home on HBO.

 

Actually, I just read on IGN.com that because Southland has gotten such good ratings that it is likely to get renewed.

Now all they have to do is figure out a way to write an episode that doesn't require the censor beep every 2 minutes.

While we're only the subject...

Why can they say **** (rhymes with "rick") and ***** (the female counterpart to "rick") but not ass****? And why is the "hole" part of that word what gets bleeped?

 

Very good news!

 

9-10PM
NBC, TV-14-DLV

Southland

"There are times casting directors think outside the box. And then there are times they get Tom Sizemore to play an actor with legal problems."

 

'Southland': NBC reportedly picks up 13 episodes for fall

May 2, 2009, 12:42 PM | by Tanner Stransky

"According to reports in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, NBC has picked up the John Wells cop drama Southland for 13 episodes, likely for a spot on the network's fall schedule. The drama has averaged 9.2 million viewers in its Thursday at 10 p.m. timeslot since debuting April 9. Next fall it will likely make the move to the 9 p.m. hour (not necessarily on Thursday night, unless NBC dismantles its comedy block) to make way for The Jay Leno Show, which will air Monday through Friday at 10 p.m. NBC execs are prepping for their "Infront" presentation this coming Monday, when they'll reveal their fall schedule to advertisers in New York. Because of that, news about several other on-the-bubble NBC shows -- like Chuck, Medium, Law & Order, My Name is Earl, and Parks & Recreation -- will be forthcoming."

 

Crap. The show's been cancelled, before it reaired. http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/10/nbc-cancels-southland.html

 

On one hand, I'm mad as hell because I though Southland was an awesome show.

On the other hand, my DVR is already stressed to the breaking point. I don't really have room for another show.

 

Rumours they are negotiating with TNT.

 

Hopefully they'll put it on Tuesday when there's nothing else on.

 

Oooh, that would be really good!

 

Sources say TNT is close to deal for 'Southland'
by Wendy Mitchell


"NBC?s recently cancelled Southland is even closer to finding a new home at TNT, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The cop drama already shot six episodes of its second season before NBC pulled the plug. A deal with TNT isn?t finished yet but THR reports that it ?now appears likely.?


Good news...

 

I'm not surprised. It seems tailor-made for cable.

The big question now is: What is TNT's policy on swearing and other "adult content?" Do they take a stance more in line with the old-school broadcast networks, or are they more like FX where everything save for nipples, genitals and *-bombs are allowable?

The amount of bleeping during Southland's broadcast run was completely absurd. I'll never forget when they left **** (part of the male anatomy that rhymes with "rick") and ***** (the female counterpart to "rick") alone then only bleeped out the "hole" portion of the word *** hole.

 

Yes! Fantastic news!

 

It's official, the show has been picked up by TNT.

 

Good.

 

Yes, a much better fit.

TNT Picks Up "Southland"

 

10-11PM
TNT, TV-MA

Southland

"Ben McKenzie's drama replays (with unaired scenes) in a new home that hopefully won't cancel its second season before it airs."

 

0-11PM
TNT, TV-MA

Southland

"The tremendously exciting second-season premiere ? the first of six new episodes ? plunges us into numerous L.A.-cop story lines, the best of which finds Regina King's Lydia dealing with a cocky new partner (Amaury Nolasco). Ben McKenzie has become the show's quiet but powerful center, while the sexism subplot involving Officer Chickie Brown (Arija Bareikis) may prove one of Southland's most intriguing. NBC: How foolish you were to let this show go ? you had your next ER, your next Hill Street Blues. TNT: You're lucky to have such a commanding series. A- ?KT"

 

Woohoo! It's so good that this show is back!

 

It is good to see it back. I really can't understand NBC's decision, and I bet they're regretting it now given the situation they are now in.

One of the things I really enjoy about this show is how it can say a lot about things like sexism, and do it without any soapboxing or pontification, just showing it for what it is.