“TNT’s refreshed and recharged drama brand is soaring this summer, and that is due in large part to these three enormously popular dramas,” said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “The Last Ship has become this summer’s top drama among key adult demos with its epic scale and visceral storytelling. Major Crimes continues to be one of the most enduring and popular crime-drama franchises on television. And Falling Skies has begun an ambitious and thrilling story arc this summer as it sets the stage for next year’s climactic final season.”

While The Last Ship has become basic cable’s #1 scripted series this summer in adults 18-49 and the TNT target demo of adults 25-54, Major Crimes has seen an uptick in total viewership that has put it behind only Rizzoli & Isles and Falling Skies has been averaging some 5.5 million total viewers in L+7. Interestingly, Perception and Murder in the First have been left out of the TNT mass renewal; it’s not necessarily a sign of doom for either show, considering that each still has several episodes remaining in which to make a case for their renewal, but it’s hard not to look at this as an indication of vulnerability. With TNT looking to go younger with its programming choices, Perception not breaking out following the biggest lead-in on the network and Murder in the First failing to stir up much in the way of buzz might cause both to lost their spots on the schedule.

The Last Ship airs Sundays at 9:00 on TNT, with Falling Skies following at 10:00 and Major Crimes airing Mondays at 9:00.

Have you been watching The Last Ship? What have you thought about this season of Major Crimes? Are you sad that there’s only one season of Falling Skies remaining?

The post Falling Skies, The Last Ship, and Major Crimes Renewed by TNT appeared first on TVHackr.

While Falling Skies returns Sunday, June 22nd at 10:00, the show gets a lead-in for the first time in the form of The Last Ship, which premieres the same night at 9:00. Executive produced by Michael Bay, the series stars Eric Dane (Grey”s Anatomy) as Naval Captain Tom Chandler, in charge of the U.S.S. Nathan James. With a global catastrophe that decimated the world”s population in their rearview mirror, the crew must confront the idea that they”re some of the few remaining humans on Earth. In addition to Dane, The Last Ship stars Rhona Mitra (Strike Back) as Rachel Scott, the ship”s paleomicrobiologist and Adam Baldwin (Firefly) as XO Mike Slattery, Chandler”s second-in-command.

Wednesday, August 20th will see the premiere of Legends, a thriller based on the award-winning book by spy novelist Robert Littell. Starring Sean Bean (Game of Thrones), the series tells the story of Martin Odum, an undercover FBI agent with the ability to completely transform himself into online casino another person for each job. Soon enough, though, he”s confronted with the notion that the man he thinks himself to be isn”t who he truly is. In addition to Bean, the series stars Ali Larter (Heroes) as Crystal Quest, an FBI operative who has history with Odum; Morris Chestnut (Nurse Jackie) as Tony Cimarro, a DCO agent; Tina Majorino (Veronica Mars) as Maggie Harris, the newest member of the DCO team; Steve Harris (Awake) as Nelson Gates, director of the DCO task force; and Mason Cook (The Lone Ranger) as Martin”s pre-teen son Aiden.

Premiere dates for Major Crimes, Perception, Rizzoli & Isles, Franklin & Bash, Dallas, and Stephen Bocho drama Murder in the First will all be revealed at a later date.

What do you think will happen on Falling Skies this season? Will you be watching either Legends or The Last Ship? Do you expect either one to be the next big hit for TNT?

The post TNT Sets Premiere Dates for Falling Skies, Legends, and The Last Ship appeared first on TVHackr.

“The Last Ship has all the elements of a big Hollywood blockbuster, from its epic storytelling to its top-notch cast headed by the perfect leading man, Eric Dane,” said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “Michael Bay and his fellow executive producers have shaped William Brinkley’s story and characters into an exceptional drama full of action, suspense, tragedy and triumph. The Last Ship is smart, fun television that takes you on a great ride.”

The Last Ship stars Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy) as Captain Tom Chandler, a career Navy man who is authoritative and decisive, but also fair and courageous; Rhona Mitra (Strike Back) as Rachel Scott, a strong-willed, intelligent and fearless paleomicrobiologist assigned to the Nathan James to investigate the cause of billions of deaths worldwide; Adam Baldwin (Firefly) as Slattery, the ship’s second-in-command who worries deeply about his family and occasionally clashes with Dane’s Captain Chandler over the best course of action; and Tracy Middendorf (Boardwalk Empire) plays Darien Chandler, the captain’s wife.

The network has one other pilot still in contention for a pickup. Legends, starring Sean Bean and executive produced by Homeland‘s Howard Gordon, centers on Martin Odum, a deep-cover operative who has an uncanny ability to transform himself into a different person for each job. With its upfront presentation looming next week, TNT might wait until then to announce the pickup, if there is to be one.

Will you be watching The Last Ship? Can a show like this survive on TNT, which is known more for its quirky legal dramas? If the show does make an impact, should the network lean more on this type of programming?

The post TNT Greenlights Michael Bay’s The Last Ship appeared first on TVHackr.