TNT Orders Steven Bochco Drama Murder in the First to Series

TNT has announced that it has picked Steven Bochco (L.A. Law, NYPD Blue) drama Murder in the First up to series with a 10-episode first season order. Set to premiere in summer 2014, the series stars Taye Diggs (Private Practice) and Kathleen Robertson (Boss) as homicide detectives Terry English and Hildy Mulligan, whose investigation into the murder of a drug addict lead them to the doorstep of a software prodigy.

“Murder in the First sets up an engrossing, season-long mystery that’s certain to appeal to TNT fans,” said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “We are thrilled to be working with Steven Bochco once again. We look forward to seeing this fascinating mystery unspool in the hands of Steven, Eric Lodal and the incredible cast and crew of Murder in the First.”

In addition to Diggs and Robertson, Murder in the First stars the likes of Tom Felton (Harry Potter), Steven Weber (Wings), and Raphael Sbarge (Once Upon a Time). The series will be one of several new offerings from TNT in the coming year, with Mob City slated to premiere in December and The Last Ship and Legends set to air during the summer.

Reportedly, decisions on the TNT dramas that have yet to learn their fate, including King & Maxwell and Franklin & Bash, will be made in the coming weeks, though with the huge influx of new programming, a renewal for either is questionable at best. There’s been massive turnover at the network in recent months with the cancellations of Southland and Monday Mornings and the feeling that their focus is going to be on launching louder, broader reaching programming, so the lack of buzz during the season for King and Franklin might end up being their respective death knells.

Does Murder in the First sound like something you would watch? How can the premise be extended beyond a season or two of material? Is this the type of crime drama that TNT should be embracing?