All canceled shows should be this lucky:

Southland got the axe from NBC this fall, only to be snatched up by TNT just a few weeks later. The police drama will debut on that network on January 12.

In an interview with TV Guide Magazine, producers Chris Chulack and Ann Biderman speak on the switch and the fate of their show. A few excerpts:

Chulack, on new cast members: We have two new detectives: Clifton Collins (The Shield) and Laz Alonzo (Fast & Furious). Tom Everett Scott is not a series regular, but he’s back for several episodes.

Biderman, on the six new episodes filmed so far: There are secrets revealed, alliances and heartbreak in our characters’ personal lives.

Biderman, on NBC pulling the plug: I don’t want to NBC-bash because at the end of the day, they did the right thing. They could have put it on the air with a really bad time slot.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.