Southland

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.

In January, TNT will begin airing new episodes of Southland.

The cable network has revived this drama, following NBC's surprising decision to cancel it prior to the premiere of season two.

“We’d been hearing whispers for the last couple of weeks,” said casting director John Frank Levey of the switch. “It’s a great place for us to be. I think we’re going to be free to tell the story the way we wanted to.”

But will there actually be a full second season?

The series has shot six episodes so far, but will need to wait for ratings to come in for these installments before it can rely on a lengthy, The Closer-like stay on TNT.

Levey confirmed as much in an interview with TV Guide Magazine:

"As they see how it goes, one hopes they’ll order a second season quickly. We’ll probably know by February, maybe by Valentine’s Day, whether we’d be back in production by August. It would be fantastic.”

Southland has been resurrected.

Following a shocking cancellation by NBC - prior to its second season hitting the air - the series has been picked up by TNT.

“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.”

The show will air on Tuesday nights and premiere on January 12.

Benjamin McKenzie and company are running over to TNT, to the thrill of Southland fans everywhere.

Added producer John Well: “We’re delighted that TNT has stepped forward to pick up Southland. We are all extremely proud of the show."

For now, the network has simply acquired the six season two episodes that have already been filmed. It's safe to assume, however, it will air more if ratings are solid.

Looks like Southland fans are in luck.

While the show won't return to NBC, sources confirm that it's very close to being picked up by TNT.

The drama has already shot six episodes for its second season. No word yet on when it might premiere on TNT, but a show insider says:

"NBC has been holding things up, but we're getting closer. This behavior from NBC has been unbelievable and amazingly f-cked-up - even for them - which is really saying something."

Two of the funniest new shows on TV will remain on the air through May.

Both Modern Family and Cougar Town received full-season pick ups from ABC today, while NBC gave the axe to a show before its second season even premiered.

Just two weeks prior to the October 23 debut of Southland, NBC pulled the plug on this NBC drama. Much to the chagrin of Michael Cudlitz, who played Ben McKenzie's partner on the series. He Tweeted:

"Don't go quietly. People need to know when they f--k up this big. Saw ep 2.1...Dumb f--king people. Call NBC and ask them where the promos are. I am serious."

Earlier this week, CBS announced full-season orders for NCIS: Los Angeles and The Good Wife.

It doesn't premiere until October 23, but Southland is already undergoing a cast shake-up.

After just three episodes as a new regular on the cop drama, Amaury Nolasco has dropped out as the new partner of Lydia Adams. No explanation for why has been provided yet.

The NBC series has tapped Clifton Collins to fill the void. He'll portray a new character named Ray Suarez.

Collins most recently appeared in Star Trek and has also enjoyed big screen roles in Crank: High Voltage and Sunshine Cleaning.

While Southland appears to be moving full steam ahead with season two storylines - Amaury Nolasco is joining the cast; and Officer Cooper's sexuality will be explored - viewers will need to wait a bit longer to actually see these developments take place.

The show's second season premiere has been delayed; it will now air on October 23.

NBC sources say the network wanted to isolate Southland from a busy premiere week, where it would have gone head-to-head with Dollhouse and Medium; the move allows NBC to provide the series with four additional weeks of hype.

One change coming to Southland next season: it will air on Friday nights.

But one thing that won't change on the NBC police drama: it will continue to tackle real life issues.

For example, we already know that officer John Cooper's sexuality will be explored in depth during season two.

Now, Shawn Hatosy - who portrays Detective Sammy Bryant - has provided the following Southland preview when asked about the series by E! News:

"It's kind of picking up where we left off. It still has the honest approach at this world. My wife and I are still not getting along so great. It seems like we're heading toward something big this season. I can tell where the scripts are going by the training they give us.

"All I'll say is they brought in a gang detective who was a D3, the highest rank, detective three, like a supervisor of gangs. He came in and talked to us a lot about the birth of gangs in L.A. and walked us through all the steps these guys go through. So that tells me they're probably going to be delving a bit more into that."

Amaury Nolasco has broken out of jail, and now he's becoming a cop!

The former Prison Break star has landed a recurring role on Southland.

Nolasco will play the aggressive new partner of Detective Lydia Adams (Regina King). His character will reportedly drive her nuts.

Nolasco has also enjoyed a solid big screen resume recently. He's appeared in Transformers and Max Payne.

As we inch closer to the fall television season, here are a couple of storyline tidbits regarding a couple of returning shows:

• On Southland, look for Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott, pictured) to survive his gunshot wound. The drama will then explore the psychological toll this shooting has on the detective.
• Via E! News, Smallville Executive producer Kelly Souders says fans will see flashbacks to Zod's (Callum Blue) days in Kandor, which is the capital city of Krypton.