“We’ve had a wonderful partnership with Rob, Charlie and Glenn and over the past 10 years. They are fantastic and prolific producers, writers and actors, and it’s great to continue to support their talents for many years to come,” said FX Networks president of original programming Eric Schrier.

Though it’s as yet unclear what the network will pair The League with this coming fall, they’ve picked up a comedy from Tracy Morgan with the intention of pairing it with It’s Always Sunny next year. There’s been no information released about the series, created by Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton and It’s Always Sunny writer Luvh Rakhe, though it’s been confirmed as a different project than Morgan’s FX pilot Do or Die. As a result of the FXX pickup, that series is no longer in play.

The Morgan project will likely be the first FXX original series, assuming the network allows The League to air on its own in the fall. Thus far, FXX has been a refuge for wayward FX comedies, as It’s Always Sunny, The League, Wilfred, and Legit have all aired or will eventually air on the FX offshoot. What was to be FXX’s maiden voyage into original scripted content, animated comedy Chozen, wound up on FX, where it recently completed its first season.

What do you hope It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia does with their next two seasons? Will the Morgan project be the first FXX series to breakout? Can The League survive without its It’s Always Sunny lead-in?

The post FXX Renews It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia for Two Seasons appeared first on TVHackr.

The comedies officially launched FXX on Wednesday night (September 4th), and retained most of their audience, despite the fact that the new channel is in 26 million fewer home than their former home, FX.

Though the shows have loyal followings, there was no guarantee that audiences would make the jump for the shows on a new night, let alone on a new network. Viewers had to do the work on their own to find FXX, which is replacing Fox Soccer on most major cable plans, and then, of course, remember that the shows now air on Wednesday rather than Thursdays.

According to Nielsen estimates, the season nine premiere of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia averaged 648,000 adults 18-49 – down from 809,000 with it’s premiere last October, though the show bested its viewership with men 18-34 (396,000 to 366,000 last year).

The League also showed promise, building from its Sunny lead-in, with 687,000 adults 18-49, down from 732,000 a year ago. The overall audience remained within 13% of last year’s viewership.

While FXX made one smart decision avoiding putting such male-skewing comedies opposite NFL programming on Thursdays, the scheduling shift now pits the comedies against first-run FX dramas The Bridge, now, and American Horror Story, next month. However, FX has said that one reason for differentiating the original network and the new comedy-centric FXX is to hopefully bring a younger skew to the latter – which was the case on Wednesday night’s opener, where comedies on FXX ranked best among men 18-34, and FX dramas performed best with men 25-54.

It will certainly be interesting to see how the numbers play out for FX/FXX dramas and comedies as the season continues. Hopefully with a bit more promotion, and the addition of FXX in homes, the network will more concretely prove itself.

In addition to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League, FXX original comedies Legit and Chozen (an animated series) will be joining the lineup.

The post Comedies Hold Steady with Move to FXX appeared first on TVHackr.

This week on TVHackr, we talked about Glee delaying their season premiere, the possibility of a 12 Monkeys series adaptation at Syfy, and new additions to Bates Motel, while the internet looked back on the best TV in 2013, suggested shows you should be watching on Hulu, and evaluated the representation of autism on television.

Helix Adds Hiroyuki Sanada, Kyra Zagorsky, and Mark Ghanime
Upcoming Syfy thriller Helix has made added three cast members, who join recently announced Billy Campbell. But who will they be playing and how will they figure into the show’s universe?

Low Winter Sun: A First Look at AMC’s Upcoming Cop Drama
Get a nearly five minute look at Low Winter Sun, which stars Mark Strong and Lennie James as Detroit detectives who collaborate on killing a fellow officer.

Glee Delays Production, Season 5 to Premiere September 26th
Due to the death of Cory Monteith, Glee has delayed its production until the beginning of August, thereby booting its season premiere from September 19th to September 26th.

The Walking Dead Season 4 to Premiere October 13th; Watch the Trailer Here
The first full-length trailer for The Walking Dead‘s fourth season was released at Comic-Con, along with a premiere date. What’s in store for the survivors this season?

Magic City Recap: A Dream in Tatters on the Sand
While Vera comes to a realization about her dancing career, Ben makes Stevie a tempting offer and Ike learns about the fate of Theresa.

Devious Maids Spoilers: Peri Becomes Paranoid About Spence Having an Affair
Coming up on Devious Maids, Genevieve hits a rough financial patch, endangering the jobs of Valentina and Zoila, while Carmen gets jealous when Sam starts dating.

Hit the Floor 1.09 Sneak Peeks: Ahsha and Jelena Battle for an All-Star Slot
Ahsha and Jelena are in the running for a performance slot at the All-Star game, Kyle has an unsettling encounter with a rich fan, and German might have had all he can stand of his girlfriend’s new personality.

Comic-Con News and Trailers: Once Upon a Time, Arrow, Bones, Family Guy, and More
Miss anything from 2013 San Diego Comic-Con? We’ve compiled the news items and trailer we missed in one handy place.

12 Monkeys Nearing Series Order at Syfy; BBC America Goes to Atlantis
While Syfy is said to be nearing a series order of 12 Monkeys, based on the Bruce Willis film of the same name, BBC America has greenlit Atlantis, a fantasy actioner from Misfits creator Howard Overman.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, and Totally Biased to Premiere September 4th on FXX
Three former FX series have been given start dates for next season, their first on fledgling cable network FXX, which opens its doors officially two days prior.

Bunheads Canceled by ABC Family
The Amy Sherman-Palladino ballet drama finished its first season this past February and joins The Lying Game in the ABC Family summer scrap heap.

The Fosters Recap: You Taste Like Badger, George
Ana won’t leave Mariana alone about the money, Callie stands up for Talya to Brandon, and Jesus takes matters into his own hands, potentially to Stef’s detriment.

News Roundup: Jason Momoa Joins Sundance’s The Red Road
The Game of Thrones star has signed on for the lead role in The Red Road, which follows a sheriff that has to negotiate a difficult relationship between his hometown and a nearby Indian reservation.

Bates Motel: Michael Vartan, Rebecca Creskoff, and Kenny Johnson Join Season 2
Bates Motel has added three recurring players to its second season, including a love interest for Norma and a member of the Bates family that has only been talked about to this point.

Twisted 1.08 Sneak Peeks: Danny and Lacey Continue Sneaking Around
While Danny and Lacey continue their secret relationship, Kyle puts more pressure on Karen and Rico battles the complicated feelings he has for his best friend.

Mistresses 1.09 Preview: Would Elizabeth Grey Have Killed Tom?
Karen deals with the bombshell that Elizabeth dropped at the end of last week’s episode, Savi and Joss’s mother Janet comes for an unexpected visit, and April tries to decide whether to be truthful to Lucy and Richard.

Sons of Anarchy Season 6 to Premiere Tuesday, September 10th
FX has announced that biker drama Sons of Anarchy will be premiering its sixth season on Tuesday, September 10th with a 90-minute episode.

The Fosters 1.09 Sneak Peeks: Callie Enlightens Brandon on Being a Foster Child
While Callie tries to help Brandon understand the twins better, Lena learns about the secrets that her children have been keeping.

FX to Air Marathons of American Horror Story and Louie
In honor of their Emmy attention, the second season of American Horror Story and the third season of Louie will be marathoned on FX in August.

BBC America Announces Premiere Dates for Ripper Street, Law & Order: UK, and More
At their TCA session, BBC America announced its plans for the rest of 2013 and the beginning of 2014, including the returns of Orphan Black, Ripper Street, and In the Flesh.

Tyrant Casts Mehdi Dehbi and Moran Atias
FX drama pilot Tyrant has named its first two cast members in Mehdi Dehbi and Moran Atias. But who will they be playing on the series?

Syfy to Wrap Sinbad, Primeval Early with Marathons
Syfy will end the runs of international acquisitions Sinbad and Primeval: New World early by showing day-long marathons of each, including episodes not yet aired in the United States.

Treme Season 4 to Premiere Sunday, December 1st at 9:00
The five-episode final season of Treme will premiere Sunday, December 1st on HBO, with Boardwalk Empire having ended its fourth season the previous week.

Cinemax Announces New Clive Owen Series The Knick
Clive Owen will star in a 10-episode Cinemax series about Knickerbocker Hospital in 1900 New York, which will be directed by Steven Soderbergh.

Hit the Floor Season Finale Sneak Peek: Olivia Delivers a Crushing Statement to the Press
On the season finale of Hit the Floor, Olivia has to man a press conference about the death of a Devil Girl. Which dancer will meet their maker come Monday?

Hit the Floor: Who Could Die in the Season Finale?
One Los Angeles Devil Girl will not make it to the second season of Hit the Floor. Who is most likely to die during the first season finale?

Lesbians Are Having the Best Summer Ever on TV (Vulture)
Vulture concludes that lesbians are having a pretty darn good summer, thanks to representation on Orange is the New Black, The Killing, The Fosters, Pretty Little Liars, Under the Dome, Mistresses, and True Blood.

5 Shows to Watch on Hulu Right Now (Vulture)
Now that we’re in a pretty calm part of the TV summer, do you need something to watch on Hulu? Vulture has five suggestions of series to dive into.

The best TV of 2013 (so far) (The A.V. Club)
The A.V. Club has compiled what they believe to be the greatest television of the year thus far. Did your favorite show make the list?

Is Chromecast Google’s Trojan Horse For Television? (Forbes)
Forbes argues that Google has created the Chromecast, a device that will let you stream web video on your TV, as a way to dip its toes into the television market. Is a network next?

Rise in injuries from falling television sets: study (New York Daily News)
Television sets injure one child every 30 minutes in America, and the rate of  emergency room visits is increasing with the popularity of flat-screen TVs, per the New York Daily News.

Television on the Spectrum: The Best (and Worst) Depictions of Asperger Syndrome on TV (Flavorwire)
Flavorwire examines 15 portrayals of autistic characters on television and rates the best and worst of the bunch. Just how honest is TV’s latest trend?

Why is TV so bad at music shows? (The Guardian)
The Guardian laments the lack of a great music show a’la Top of the Pops and CD: UK, as well as analyzes the state of music show television.

Sports Fans Slowly Move From TV to the Internet (AdWeek)
According to AdWeek, while 94% of fans watch sports on television, digital media are gaining in popularity.

The post The Week in Television Wrap July 20-26 appeared first on TVHackr.

Set to be available in 72 million homes come September 2nd at 7:00 a.m., FXX was formed earlier this year and will concentrate on (mostly comedy) programing that specifically target the 18-34 demographic. In addition to the three mentioned, Jim Jefferies vehicle Legit will also be making the move to the network, also joining animated comedy Chozen, the first new series greenlit specifically for FXX. The network has already acquired syndication rights to the likes of Parks and Recreation, Sports Night, and Raising Hope in order to fill its airwaves and get on its feet.

FX, meanwhile, will focus on dramas aimed at the 18-49 demographic, keeping Archer, Wilfred, and Louie in its comedy stable while expanding its drama slate with the likes of The Americans and The Bridge. The network has also made plans to enter into the world of limited-run programming through potential miniseries about Puritan settlers at Plymouth, an international luxury hotel in Paris, a reunion of four forty-something friends, and bank robber Willie Sutton. They’ve already ordered one limited series in Fargo, an adaptation of the 1996 Oscar-winning Coen Brothers move of the same name.

What do you think of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League moving to Wednesdays? Can Totally Biased adapt to its new format? Should FX have split into two different networks at this point in time?

The post It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, and Totally Biased to Premiere September 4th on FXX appeared first on TVHackr.

2013 San Diego Comic-Con begins Wednesday, July 17th with a preview night; the following day kicks off a four-day string of panels, press rooms, and screenings. Among the shows that have been confirmed to attend this year’s convention are Teen Wolf, Sleepy Hollow, Bob’s Burgers, Defiance, and Adventure Time.

Will you be going to Comic-Con this year? Are you surprised at any of the FX series not attending the convention? Is there a show out there that you’re disappointed about not heading to 2013 Comic-Con?

Thursday, July 18th
4:00 p.m. – Wilfred
Who’ll be there: Elijah Wood, Jason Gann, Fiona Gubelmann, and Dorian Brow,n as well as showrunners Eli Jorné and Reed Agnew and executive producer David Zuckerman

Black Sails
Who’ll be there: Zach McGowan, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Mark Ryan, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, and series creators Jonathan Steinberg and Robert Levin

Friday, July 19th
5:00 p.m. – Archer
Who’ll be there:  H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Chris Parnell, Amber Nash, and Lucky Yates, plus series creator Adam Reed and executive producer Matt Thompson

Sunday, July 21st
3:00 p.m. – It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Who’ll be there: Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito

3:50 p.m. – Sons of Anarchy
Who’ll be there: Kurt Sutter, Paris Barclay, Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman, Katey Sagal, Maggie Siff, Kim Coates, Mark Boone Junior,  Tommy Flanagan, Theo Rossi, Dayton Callie, and Jimmy Smits

The post FX, Starz Announce 2013 San Diego Comic-Con Lineups appeared first on TVHackr.

FXX will aim at the younger viewers, think the raunchy 18-34 year old crowd. Why raunchy? Because moving with the netlet will be FX staple comedies It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, The League,  and Legit.. Not exactly the same crowd other younger skewing networks go for, so it should find quite a nice niche for itself. There are also plans to develop new, scripted dramas for the network as well. It will launch in more than 74 million homes and likely take over the FX Soccer channel. I’ll wait while you rush to see if your current carrier provides the channel or if you’re going to need to start a campaign.

FXM will target 25-54 year old viewers (thank you FX for believing people don’t drop off the planet after the age of 49) and is planning on developing and airing limited series and miniseries. There was no mention on the initial rollout to the number of households. Personally, I’m extremely excited about this idea. How well this network does could go a long way to determining the future of network programming in general. For years we’ve been debating the relevance of a show with a lifespan with an expectancy of decades without cast changes and how the audience reacts to it. AMC rolled the dice on altering the original format of the The Killing by extended a wrapped up murder story in one season, and failed. They’re giving it another try, but with an entire network focusing on one thing, the dam could finally break.

The FX Suite of networks will also include an app with expanded content on-demand to authenticated users and an FX Movie Bin with over 40 on-demand movies per month.

In addition to everything mentioned above, FX have also amassed a large amount of acquired series and theatrical movies to keep their networks stocked with content.

Other news at the up fronts included the anticipated announcement additional season pickups of those series mentioned above as well as Justified, Sons of Anarchy and new programming from Ang Lee, the Coen Brothers, Guillermo del Toro, Alexander Payne, Sam Mendes and Paul Giamatti. The Coen Brothers will be a limited series version of their former theatrical release Fargo (presumably for FXM?) and Guillermo del Toro will produce The Strain “a unique, biological approach” to vampirism.

The Americans had already been renewed for a second season, American Horror Story : Coven will be out in time for Halloween and the fourth season of Louie will premiere in May 2014.

The post FX Network Up Fronts – FX Begets FXlets! The FX Suite of Networks appeared first on TVHackr.