TV Bits: ‘Shameless’ And ‘Magic City’ Trailers, Plus: ‘Person Of Interest’, ‘Homeland’, ‘Damages’, ‘Boss’, ‘Pan Am’, ‘2 Broke Girls’
There’s some bad and some good in today’s TV Bits, but I’d say there’s more of the latter — moreShameless, moreHomeland, more Jennifer Coolidge, and Olga Kurylenko in late ’50s Miami all count as pluses, right? After the jump:
It’s been seven long months for fans ofShameless, Showtime’s series about the out-of-control Gallagher family, but their patience will be rewarded soon(ish). With the second season is set to premiereJanuary 8, 2012, the network has begun releasing teasers showing that, nope, these miscreants haven’t changed one bit.
[viaZap2It]
In addition, Showtime will be releasing an interactive web series revolving around the oldest brother, Lip Gallagher (Jeremy Allen White). Fans can play truth or dare with the character by submitting either truth questions or dares to Lip viaFacebookorTwitter, using the hashtags #liptruth or #lipdare. The network will select their favorite requests and film Lip either answering the questions or doing the dares in up to ten webisodes. [The Hollywood Reporter]
We also have the first trailer forStarz’Magic City, a period drama set in 1959 Miami.Jeffrey Dean Morganstars as Ike Evans, a hotelier with mob connections, withOlga Kurylenkoplaying his wife andDanny Hustona mob boss. The teaser starts out looking like the California-set episodes ofMad Men, and then moves into some more violent territory that makes it seem like, I don’t know, a more lightheartedBoardwalk Empire? See for yourself:
Magic Citywill premiere this spring on Starz. [Deadline]
Moving right along to the pickups: CBS has given full season orders to its first-year dramasUnforgettableandPerson of Interest, which have been doing quite well in the ratings despite lackluster reviews.A Gifted Manis now the only new CBS show whose future remains uncertain, as2 Broke Girlshas already been picked up andHow to Be a Gentlemanhas been cancelled (twice). [Vulture]
Meanwhile, Showtime has renewed its CIA thrillerHomelandfor a second season, following four well-received episodes. The show has only increased its viewership since it debuted to 4.4 million viewers across all platforms, and has become the network’s highest-rated freshman drama. Production on the 12-episode seaon is scheduled to begin next spring. [Variety]
And now, for some casting.
Jenna Elfman, formerly ofAccidentally on PurposeandDharma & Greg, has joined the cast of DirecTV’sDamagesfor its fifth and final season. Elfman will play a bank employee who may reveal some unsavory truths about her employers. Also set to appear in the upcoming season areRyan PhillippeandJohn Hannah. The legal drama, which starsGlenn CloseandRose Byrne, will return in summer 2012. [TVOvermind]
Over at CBS,Jennifer Coolidgehas signed on for a recurring role on2 Broke Girls, which starsKat DenningsandBeth Behrsas twentysomething waitresses living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She’ll play the girls' hardworking new neighbor Sophie, a character that was created specifically for Coolidge. I’m pretty much always happy to see Coolidge, so she sounds like a great addition to the show.
Also appearing on the comedy will beMarsha Thomason(White Collar), who’ll drop in during November sweeps to play a romantic rival to Dennings' character. [Deadline,Zap2It]
Finally, let’s talk about some showrunner shake-ups. Starz’Bosshas lost its two executive producers/co-showrunnersRichard LevineandLyn Greene, just after the series premiered earlier this week. Creator/executive producerFarhad Safiniaapparently on board. The drama, which starsKelsey Grammaras a Chicago mayor who’s been diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disorder, has received generally positive reviews, and was renewed for a second season last month. (Yup, it was renewed before the premiere ever aired.)
Boss' other executive producers include Grammer, directorGus Van Sant,Brian Sher, andStella Bulochnikov. The search for a new writing executive producer is already underway. [Deadline]
And ABC’s period dramaPan Amhas found a new showrunner in TV vetSteven Maeda, who previously worked onCSI: Miami,Miami Medical, andLie to Me. He also served as co-executive producer and writer for the second season ofLost, during which the series won Writers Guild of America awards for Best Dramatic Series.Pan Amhas yet to receive a back-nine order, but especially now that Maeda’s involved, it’s probably likely to get picked up soon. [The Hollywood Reporter]
