We’ve been waiting for this as some of us are big fans of Rizzoli & Isles here at The Flickcast offices. Yes Mr. Ullrich, we’re looking at you. Still, that doesn’t mean TNT doesn’t have some other fine programming as well.

To let us all know what the network hsa in store for us for the Fall and Winter, they’ve released their schedule for all to see. The new schedule includes the continuation of the current seasons of The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles and Leverage, which all return with new episodes on November 27 and 28.

It also includes the new season of Southland, which will kick off in January and the first installment of the network’s new original movie franchise TNT Mystery Movie Night, which will debut November 29.

TNT also announces additional castings on several of its movies, including Alfred Molina joining Scott Turow’s Innocent, Dermot Mulroney in Silent Witness, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Kevin Alejandro in Hide.

Here’s all the details on TNT’s upcoming premiere dates from the official press release:

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From kicking it in The O.C. for 4 years to saving lives for the past few years in Southland, Ben McKenzie has managed to carry a pretty big fan base with him from project to project. Now he’ll be switching gears entirely to the animated DC Universe, as he voices a young and cocky Bruce Wayne in the upcoming animated film Batman: Year One.

Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller, the story was basically Batman Begins from when Bruce left Wayne Enterprises to when he donned the cowl. Traveling, learning his trade, and figuring out what it took to take out the crime in Gotham City, that’s what McKenzie has to tackle in this performance of the Dark Knight.

We got the chance to talk with Ben in San Diego about taking on this massive role, to his process when coming to a character that has been voiced and portrayed by dozens of award-winning actors.

Check out what Ben had to say about his upcoming role, and check out our interviews with Katee Sackhoff and Eliza Dushku about their roles in Batman: Year One, which hits shelves on October 18th.

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Chalk one up for the good guys in blue as TNT has announced they will be giving cop drama Southland a fourth season on the network. The show, which wrapped up its third season March 8, stars Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King and Ben McKenzie.

According to TNT’s head of programming Michael Wright: “Southland has been acknowledged by many critics as one of the sharpest, most entertaining and most authentic dramas on television today,” Wright said. “We are extremely proud to have Southland on TNT and to bring it back for a fourth season.” Kudos Mr. Wright. Good call.

It’s done pretty well for TNT, after its move from NBC where it had been cancelled, and has averaged 2.9 million viewers per episode this season. That’s up 6% compared to Season 2. Don’t worry, although those numbers may seem small, remember that TNT is a basic cable network so those numbers are actually pretty good — especially considering NBC had completely written the show off.

Just goes to show that if you make a quality product, people may sometimes catch on and it will be given a chance to succeed. As a fan of this show from way back when I reviewed the pilot I, for one, am thrilled it will be returning for 10 all-new episodes. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, you should.

Back in the old days we had three TV networks and they scheduled new shows to premiere in the Fall and reruns all Summer. That scheduling model is now a distant memory as new shows premiere pretty much any time of the year these days.

One of the biggest times for networks to bring out new shows is during what is known as midseason. This midseason is no exception with many new shows hitting the air for the first time or previous ones coming back after the holiday break. So, to help you get your DVRs ready, here is a list of the major premiere dates on broadcast and cable compiled by the extremely helpful folks over at Deadline.

It includes season/series premieres and many return dates for series with split seasons. Now to find that DVR remote and get to programming.

Jan. 3
The Bachelor, ABC, season premiere
Pretty Little Liars, ABC Family, winter season premiere
Greek, ABC Family, season premiere

Jan. 4
V, ABC, season premiere
Live to Dance, CBS, series premiere
The Biggest Loser: Couples, NBC, season premiere
Southland, TNT, season premiere
Chopped, Food Network, season premiere
Caprica, Syfy, final 5 episodes

Jan.5
Ghost Hunters International, Syfy, season premiere
Are We There Yet?, TBS, season premiere
Flying Wild Alaska, Discovery, series premiere

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Yesterday, we were elated to bring you news that TNT had more guts and faith than NBC to renew Southland for another season. While we were so excited about the news, we neglected to notice that where a cable show gets a stay of execution, the fantasy series Legend of the Seeker gets the axe.

The series, based on the Sword of Truth book series by Terry Goodkind, had a good run, making it 40 episodes in 2 seasons, but it wasn’t pulling in the numbers that a network like The CW needed for it to survive. From EW:

The outlook had been bleak since last March, when many of Tribune Station Group’s markets dropped the syndicated series, which had been developed by Hercules/Xena producers Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert. ABC Studios, which produces it, kept shopping it around. But, I’m told, they found no takers. So, after two action-packed seasons, Legend is history.

The premise was much like many other stories we’ve heard before, including Star Wars in that a young farm boy learns that he has a destiny to take down the evil lord who threatens their world, alongside a kind old wizard and a beautiful princess. Add two droids and George Lucas may just sue somebody.

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Sometimes good shows actually get the treatment they deserve instead of being unceremoniously dumped from their network. Case in point is TNT’s excellent cop drama Southland which began life on NBC but after only a limited run, wan’t asked to continue on the network.

Instead, TNT picked it up and aired the remainder of episodes to what was apparently good results as the show has been given another season. In case you’re not familiar with Southland, it was created by Emmy winning writer Ann Biderman (NYPD Blue) and concerns a group of uniformed LAPD officers, among them Ben McKenzie (The OC), Michael McGrady (Band of Brothers), Regina King (Jerry McGuire, 24) and Tom Everett Scott (That Thing You Do), who deal with the daily trials and tribulations of life as a front line police officer.

Sporting a very good cast who deliver nuanced performances, good writing and excellent visuals, the show deserved a chance to find an audience and I, for one, am glad it seems to be doping just that. And even though we are all big fans of many of NBC’s shows, at least with this show in particular, they made a mistake letting it go. Oh well, their loss is TNT’s gain it would seem.

We’re back this month with Cortney’s TV Digest, everything you need to know about the latest and greatest shows on the tube. This month we’ve got some interesting new shows to tell you about from a bunch of your favorite networks, as well as the resurrection of one show we worried we’d never see again.

Parenthood – NBC

Based on the 1989 film of the same name, this new show is produced by movie and tv genius Ron Howard. The show follows the parenting experience of the Bravemen family: single mom Sarah (Lauren Graham), her brother Adam (Peter Krause) and wife Christina (Monica Potter) whose son is diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, and their headstrong father (Craig T. Nelson). Parenthood premiers March 2nd at 10 PM on NBC.

Southland – TNT

Back in 2009, NBC premiered their new, gritty cop drama, Southland. The show centered around Los Angeles and the members of the LAPD, including The OC’s Ben Mackenzie as rookie Officer Ben Sherman. Shortly before the beginning of its second season, NBC suddenly canceled Southland. It was doubtful whether we’d ever see the six episodes scheduled to air, but TNT swooped in and bought them, effectively saving the show from certain doom. The previous season began airing in January and season 2 starts on March 2nd.

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It’s almost February and some really great movies are hitting store shelves this week for the first time and for the first time on Blu-ray. This week’s releases include This Is It, Surrogates, Whip It, Saw IV, the complete run of NBC’s canceled-too-soon Southland and the Blu-ray release of Wim Wenders’ classic Paris, Texas with Nastassja Kinski and Harry Dean Stanton. (pictured above).

Check out this week’s new releases:

Movies

Atonement ~ James McAvoy (Blu-ray)

Bright Star ~ Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw (Blu-ray and DVD)

Fame (1980) ~ Irene Cara (Blu-ray)

Give ‘Em Hell Malone ~ Doug Hutchison, Thomas Jane (Blu-ray and DVD)

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell ~ Matt Czuchry, Geoff Stults (Blu-ray and DVD)

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Created by Ann Biderman, who won an Emmy for NYPD Blue, and produced by ER’s John Wells, Southland has all the earmarks of a potentially great drama with engaging characters, intense and dramatic situations and storylines and enough police action and procedure to satisfy even the most devout cop show fan. Originally produced and broadcast in a limited run on NBC, the show was scheduled to return late last year. Inexplicably, NBC canceled the show and TNT decided to pick it up. I, for one, am glad they did.

In the deal, TNT will rebroadcast all the original 7 episodes that aired on NBC and then the remaining completed ones that NBC never showed. TNT will see how the rating do for the show to determine if they will order any more episodes. In the meantime, the original pilot airs tonight.

In the pilot, new police trainee Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie) is having a pretty bad day. His training officer (Michael McGrady) is on him and trying to get him to quit, he’s being harassed by other cops and to top it off, he’s had to **SPOILER** shoot his first suspect. All in all, a pretty intense way to spend your first day as a cop.

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Listen up all you disgruntled Southland fans, TNT is your new favorite network. The acclaimed police drama has risen from the ashes of cancellation and will be returning to television on a new network:

“TNT has picked up the critically acclaimed series “Southland,” closing a deal with Warner Bros. Television that will bring the drama from Emmy-winning producer John Wells (“ER,” “The West Wing”) to the network in January.

TNT has obtained exclusive rights to air all six episodes that have been shot for the second season, as well as the seven episodes from the series’ first season. “Southland” will air on TNT Tuesdays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), beginning with the first episode of the series on Jan. 12.”

This is great news for the series especially given the somewhat surprising cancellation by NBC before the show even returned for a second season.  Honestly, they brought back Heroes but not Southland? What gives?

Producer John Wells said: “We’re delighted that TNT has stepped forward to pick up ‘Southland.’ We are all extremely proud of the show.”

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I find it somewhat surprising that as successful as NBC‘s Thursday night lineup can be (how many Emmy’s has 30 Rock won?) the network continues to struggle. In what seems like a perpetual fourth place position, NBC is constantly trying to drum up ratings. This year is no exception and only a month or so into the new season we’re staring to see television schedules being  juggled.

In light of this, Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello is reporting that NBC may bring back Chuck earlier then anticipated:

“As early as late October, my moles tell me. And while it remains unclear whether the little show that could (and has and shall again) would return to its Monday timeslot or find itself a new perch, NBC insiders who’ve seen the first four episodes are calling this season the best yet.”

Originally Chuck was slated to return in March. The show was set to pickup the timeslot Heroes held on Mondays once that show concluded its shorter season. While this early return is good for Chuck, the same may not be said for Heroes.

The struggling super hero drama continues to slip in ratings. This week’s episode gained just over 5 million live viewers. Bad news considering it ended last season holding around 8 million until the finale. Granted, once you factor in DVR numbers, Heroes may fair better, but even then the show just isn’t gaining as much traction this season.

Chuck’s rumored October return combined with the sudden cancellation of Southland makes me wonder if NBC is looking to make even more radical changes. If Chuck takes over the Monday night timeslot what will that mean for Heroes? Will it be bumped to another night or from the schedule completely? At this point, anything seems possible and it may be in Heroes‘ fans best interest to start a “Save Heroes” website just like the one for Dollhouse.

Much to our dismay here at The Flickcast, Variety reports NBC has canceled Southland. The cop drama was set to start its second season October 23rd. Insiders say the dark nature of the show was a big factor in the cancellation.

Southland centered around Los Angeles and the members of the LAPD. The OC’s Ben Mackenzie played rookie Officer Ben Sherman, and while the first season only had a seven-episode run, the show made enough of an impression that NBC had renewed it, before its cancellation yesterday.

However, the show may have some hope. “I’m disappointed that NBC no longer has the time periods available to support the kind of critically acclaimed series that was for so many years a hallmark of their success,” said John Wells, the show’s creator. “We remain extremely proud of ‘Southland’ and are actively looking for another home for the series.”

NBC hopes to be able to air the six episodes already shot of season 2. In the meantime, the actors will remain under contract while the producers find the show a new home. With Southland out of the running and Dollhouse still hanging in the balance, we hope here at The Flickcast that all our favorite tv shows stay on the air for our viewing pleasure.