“The authenticity that Virginia brings to the story we’re telling in TURN: Washington’s Spies has been an enormous part of the series,” said executive producer Barry Josephson.  “We’re thrilled to be back for season two and honored that Colonial Williamsburg and the College of William & Mary agreed to allow us access to these amazingly beautiful and magnificently preserved historical buildings.”

Based on the Alexander Rose novel Washington’s Spies and adapted for television by Craig Silverstein (Nikita), TURN: Washington’s Spies follows New York farmer Abe Woodhull (Jamie Bell) as he brings together a group of childhood friends that will turn the tide of the Revolutionary War. Known as the Culper Ring, the group turned against both family and the king for a cause they believed in – helping George Washington win the Revolutionary War and freeing the United States from the British. In addition to Bell, TURN: Washington’s Spies stars Seth Numrich (Gravity), Heather Lind (Boardwalk Empire), Daniel Henshall (The Babadook), Burn Gorman (The Dark Knight Rises), and Angus Macfayden (Braveheart).

Joining the second season of TURN: Washington’s Spies are Lost Girl alum Ksenia Solo, who will play urban sophisticate Peggy Shippen, and Alexander Rose, who boards the show’s writing staff after serving as a consultant for season one.

The second season of TURN: Washington’s Spies is set to premiere next spring on AMC.

Will you be watching the second season of TURN: Washington’s Spies? Do you think filming in places like Williamsburg and William & Mary will give the second season added authenticity? What are you hoping to see from season two of TURN: Washington’s Spies that you didn’t get from season one?

The post TURN: Washington’s Spies Begins Production on Season 2 appeared first on TVHackr.

Based on the Alexander Rose book Washington’s Spies and adapted for television by Craig Silverstein (Nikita), TURN: Washington’s Spies tells the story of New York farmer Abe Woodhull (Jamie Bell) as he brings together what would become The Culper Ring, a group of childhood friends whose espionage turns the tide in the Revolutionary War. The series also stars Seth Numrich (Gravity), Heather Lind (Boardwalk Empire), Daniel Henshall (The Babadook), Burn Gorman (The Dark Knight Rises), and Angus Macfayden (Braveheart).

In addition to her role on the Syfy/Showcase drama, Solo has appeared on the likes of Life Unexpected, Nikita, and Moonlight. It’s as yet unclear whether she’ll be returning for the final season of Lost Girl, though it seems unlikely that she’ll be appearing in the first of two episode batches slated to conclude the supernatural series after five seasons.

The second season of TURN: Washington’s Spies is slated to premiere in spring 2015 on AMC. The first season is currently being replayed on Saturdays alongside new episodes of Hell on Wheels.

Will you be watching the second season of TURN? Do you think we’ll see Kenzi again on Lost Girl, given that Solo has a full-time gig now? Who else would you like to see join the cast?

The post TURN: Washington’s Spies: Ksenia Solo Joins the Cast appeared first on TVHackr.

“Craig Silverstein, Barry Josephson and a talented cast and crew delivered a truly distinctive and engaging premiere season. We look forward to continuing this revolutionary journey into season two,” said Charlie Collier, AMC president. “AMC and its creative partners have a track record of nurturing programs we collectively believe in, patiently growing viewership and engagement over time. With Turn, once again, we dive in with our partners to build upon this very promising first season.”

Based on the Alexander Rose book Washington’s Spies and adapted for television by Craig Silverstein (Nikita), Turn follows farmer Abe Woodhull (Jamie Bell) as he bands together a group of childhood friends to form The Culper Ring, a spy ring dedicated to turning the tide of the war in favor of the rebels. Averaging two million viewers over the course of its first season, 709,000 of those in the desirable 18-49 demo, Turn also stars Seth Numrich (Private Romeo), Daniel Henshall (The Snowtown Murders), Heather Lind (Boardwalk Empire), Kevin R. McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl), and Burn Gorman (The Dark Knight Rises).

The 10-episode second season of Turn is set to premiere sometime next spring on AMC.

Will you be watching the second season of Turn? Do you think the repeats airing behind Hell on Wheels will generate more interest in season two? Could the renewal of Turn mean that Halt and Catch Fire is a dead show walking?

The post Turn Renewed for Season 2 by AMC appeared first on TVHackr.

Turn comes to AMC at an interesting time, as the network is in a transitional period following the cancellation of The Killing and Low Winter Sun and the conclusion of Breaking Bad. With Mad Men edging its way out the door over the next two years, its final season broken up into intervals of seven episodes, The Walking Dead is the only veteran Sunday drama without an end date in sight, meaning that Turn could have an easier time in getting a second season renewal.

In addition to Bell, Turn is set to star Kevin McNally (Downton Abbey), Burn Gorman (Revenge), Meegan Warner (Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo), Heather Lind (Boardwalk Empire), Angus Macfadyen (Chuck), and Seth Numrich (Gravity).

The series premiere of Turn is set to air Sunday, April 6th at 9:00 on AMC. You can check out an additional teaser for the show, which is the first of two planned scripted original series debuts in the coming year for AMC (the other being tech drama Halt and Catch Fire), here.

Will you be watching Turn? Do you think the show will complement Mad Men, which will be airing at 10:00 beginning April 13th? Has the newest trailer made you more apt to give the show a chance this spring?

The post Turn: Get Another Look at the Upcoming AMC Period Drama appeared first on TVHackr.

Turn will be another period drama for AMC, who already has Mad Men (1960s-1970s) and Hell on Wheels (1860s) in its roster of shows. Presumably, the show is going to take over the June-August window that The Killing aired last season, with fellow new drama Catch & Fire to follow in the fall, as The Walking Dead airs in the winter and Mad Men the spring. Since the network likely won’t want anything to go up against the fourth season of Game of Thrones this spring, especially considering the need to launch new hits in order to replace their departing critical darlings, Turn could comfortably air during the summer without the smothering in-season competition, which gives it a better shot at finding an audience.

In addition to Bell, Turn is set to star the likes of Kevin McNally (The Mill), Burn Gorman (Revenge), Meegan Warner (Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo), Daniel Henshall (Out of the Blue), and Heather Lind (Boardwalk Empire).

Production on Turn is ongoing for a debut sometime in 2014.

Does Turn look like something you would watch? Will the show become the next hit for AMC? Is the success of Sleepy Hollow an indication that the Revolutionary War is a time period ripe for a series portrayal?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnSmrfqs3EM

The post Turn Teaser: Get a First Look at AMC’s Upcoming Spy Drama appeared first on TVHackr.

This week on TVHackr, we talked everything (and I do mean everything) TCA and the third season finale of The Killing, while the internet touched on Facebook TV ads, South Park cursing, and television embroidery.

Black Sails Renewed for Season 2 by Starz
Six months ahead of its series premiere, the Michael Bay-produced pirate drama has been picked up for a second season by Starz and given two additional episodes for said season.

Starz at TCA: The White Queen Early Start, Dancing on the Edge Premiere
During its TCA session, Starz revealed that The White Queen premiere will air after the Magic City season finale, while UK miniseries Dancing on the Edge is set to premiere in October.

MTV at TCA: Miley Cyrus, Nurses, and the Fall Season of Awkward
During its TCA session, MTV revealed the premiere windows for Awkward and two upcoming docuseries, while also announcing a Miley Cyrus documentary and new writers added to its Scream pilot.

AMC Greenlights Scripted Series Halt & Catch Fire, Turn
AMC has picked up its next two scripted series, the first centering on the computer boom of the 1980s and the latter being a spy drama set in 1778.

Witches of East End to Premiere October 6th on Lifetime
Lifetime will debut its next new scripted series this fall, an adaptation of the book of the same name, which co-stars the likes of Julia Ormond and Jenna Dewan-Tatum.

Magic City Recap: Bacchanalian Disc Jockeys Gone Wild
While Stevie’s convention doesn’t go quite as expected, resulting in an attempted rape and quite a bit of property damage, Ike’s plan to fix the Cuban national lottery goes off without a hitch.

News Roundup: NBC at TCA, Syfy Pilots, and 30 for 30 Documentary Dates
Get all the details of what NBC revealed at TCA, in addition to information on the latest Syfy pilot and the fall schedule for ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary series.

Devious Maids Spoilers: Valentina Reaches Out to Zoila About Remi
Coming up on Devious Maids, Remi’s new habit has Valentina at her wit’s end, while Evelyn blackmails Rosie into seeing baby Tucker and Carmen learns that Odessa is hiding something.

The Killing Season 3 Finale Preview: Could Seattle PD Have Something to Do with the Murders?
After discovering new evidence in the Pied Piper case, will Holder and Linden suss out the involvement of someone at Seattle PD in the abductions and murders they’ve been investigating?

Under the Dome Renewed for Season 2 by CBS
CBS officially renewed ratings behemoth Under the Dome for a second season, which will premiere in the summer of 2014.

Masters of Sex: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Upcoming Showtime Drama
Get a look at the upcoming Showtime drama, which stars Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan as sex researchers William Masters and Virginia Johnson.

The CW Changes Fall Premiere Dates for Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries
The CW has pushed up the season premieres of Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries, while also moving up the series premiere of The Originals and sliding Reign back a week.

News Roundup: Homeland Season 3 Teaser, Teen Choice Hosts, and a Whose Line Renewal
The first teaser for Homeland‘s third season has been released, while hosts for the 2013 Teen Choice Awards have been named and the Whose Line revival has been renewed for a second season, set to consist of 24 episodes.

The Fosters Recap: Life Gave Us the Gift of You
The family gathers at the hospital waiting for news on Stef, while Mike makes a decision about his drinking and we get copious flashbacks of how Lena and Stef came to be.

Hit the Floor Season Finale Recap: Gagging on the Irony
Which Devil Girl ended up biting the bullet during the season finale of Hit the Floor? And how will that impact the show going forward?

ABC Family Renews Switched at Birth, Orders More Episodes of The Fosters and Twisted
ABC Family officially renewed Switched at Birth for a third season while picking up back orders for The Fosters and Twisted.

Showtime at TCA: Josh Hartnett, Eva Green, Ruth Wilson, and Philip Seymour Hoffman Castings Announced
Added to Showtime pilots were Ruth Wilson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Kathryn Hahn. Josh Hartnett and Eva Green, meanwhile, are the first two cast members for thriller Penny Dreadful, which begins series production this fall.

Shameless, House of Lies, and Episodes to Premiere January 12th
The first three original series to air next year on Showtime will debut Sunday, January 12th beginning at 9:00.

The Fosters Summer Finale Sneak Peeks: Will Callie Have to Say Goodbye to Wyatt?
Callie gets more bad news after finding out that Brandon and Talya have gotten back together.

Twisted 1.09 Sneak Peeks: Did Karen Kill Regina Crane?
Even though Karen confessed to killing Regina on the last episode of Twisted, did she actually commit the crime? And if so, why?

Parks and Recreation: Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones to Leave During Season 6
Veteran NBC comedy Parks and Recreation will say goodbye to an original cast member and someone who had been involved with the show for 70 episodes. Their last episode will air during February sweeps.

Continuum Season 3 to Air on Syfy in 2014
The series was already renewed for a third season in Canada and will likely stay put on Fridays, as its up about 20% in the ratings since moving from Mondays.

The Fosters Marathon to Air Monday, August 5th
The day that The Fosters is set to have its summer finale, ABC Family will air the previous eight episodes beginning at 12:00 p.m.

Devious Maids Marathon to Air Sunday, August 4th
After climbing in the ratings since its modestly-rated series premiere, the first six episodes of Devious Maids will be reaired on Sunday.

FOX at TCA: A Broadchurch Adaptation, a 24 Casting, and Junior Masterchefs
During their TCA session, FOX announced an adaptation of hit UK miniseries Broadchurch, the second cast member in its 24 miniseries, and the cast for Masterchef Junior, airing Fridays this fall.

News Roundup: Kelly Reilly to Star in ABC’s The Black Box
ABC has found its leading lady for limited series The Black Box, from The L Word‘s Ilene Chaiken and House‘s Bryan Singer, while Florida-Georgia Line will perform at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards and there will be Sharknado merchandise.

Casting News: Elementary, Nashville, Blue Bloods, Hawaii Five-0, Hart of Dixie, and More Add to Casts
Among the shows that have added to their casts in recent days are Drop Dead Diva, Saint George, Hart of Dixie, Elementary, Nashville, and Open.

Baby Daddy Spoilers: Emma’s Baptism Brings Difficult Decisions for Ben
Who will Ben choose to be Emma’s godfather: Tucker or Danny?

CineStitch: The Best of Etsy’s Film and TV Embroidery (Vulture)
Vulture gathered several embroideries with TV-related images or phrases, all for sale on Etsy. Among the shows included are Friday Night Lights, Arrested Development, and Bob’s Burgers.

A South Park episode that’s a real “shit” show (The A.V. Club)
The A.V. Club has a roundtable discussion about an episode of South Park that uses a certain expletive 200 times.

Netflix Users Aren’t Abandoning Traditional Television (WebProNews)
According to a study by TiVo, which was reported on by WebProNews, Netflix users are watching just as much cable television as non-Netflix users.

Primetime Television Is Looking Less Gay (Huffington Post)
With the cancellations of The New Normal, Smash, Southland, Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt. 23, 1600 Penn, Happy Endings, 90210, and Partners, broadcast just got rid of quite a few gay characters, but what happens now? The Huffington Post pontificates this very matter.

Pakistan TV show hosted by Aamir Liaquat Hussain gives away babies to audience (CNN)
And you get a baby! And you get a baby! And you get a baby! Everybody gets babies! (Everybody in the audience at Aamir Hussain’s show, that is.)

In Defense Of … Netflix Being the Future of Television (PopMatters)
Is Netflix in the same conversation with the likes of HBO, Showtime, and FX at the television “big boys’ cool table”? PopMatters seems to think so.

WVU Healthcare uses television to help patients (Charleston Daily Mail)
Doctors on Call, a popular West Virginia live medical call-in program that features physicians and other health professionals, reached 700 episodes recently.

Nielsen’s Facebook-commissioned report adds fuel to television-style ad fire (BizReport)
Facebook will begin selling 15 second television-style ads later this year. Users reportedly won’t have to deal with more than three per day.

The post The Week in Television Wrap July 27-August 2 appeared first on TVHackr.

Halt & Catch Fire takes a look at the computing boom of the 1980s and follows a visionary, an engineer, and a prodigy as they tackle an industry that could make or break their personal and professional partnerships. The series stars the likes of Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies), Scoot McNairy (Argo), Mackenzie Rio Davis (Smashed), Kerry Bishe (Red State), and David Wilson Barnes (The Bourne Legacy).

Meanwhile, Turn, developed and written by Nikita’s Craig Silverstein, is based on Alexander Rose’s Washington’s Spies and takes place in the year 1778. The series follows a New York farmer who helps form an unlikely group of spies and stars Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot), Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Strange Tides), and Burn Gorman (The Dark Knight Rises).

“The simultaneous greenlights today are the first in network history and  underscore AMC’s growth and commitment to original scripted programming,” said Joel Stillerman, AMC’s EVP of original programming, production and digital content. “Each of these projects takes the audience into a unique world through compelling characters told with an original voice. We are so fortunate to be  working with such exceptional talent on these series and can’t wait to bring  them to viewers.”

It should be interesting to see how the greenlight for both Halt & Catch Fire and Turn will impact the fates of The Killing and Hell on Wheels, the two weakest performers in ratings and critical reviews that the network has. The Killing, which is currently airing its third season, might be saved due to the deal the network made with Netflix that lowered the licensing fee, in addition to the more positive reception it’s had this season; meanwhile, Hell on Wheels is owned by the network, but its move to Saturdays doesn’t inspire confidence that it can keep its head above water, particularly with a new showrunner at the helm. Could AMC possibly keep all four, if ratings allow them to?

Which pilot do you think sounds better? Does the fact that AMC picked up two new shows mean that more pressure is now on The Killing and Hell on Wheels to perform? What type of show would you like to see the network pick up in the future?

The post AMC Greenlights Scripted Series Halt & Catch Fire, Turn appeared first on TVHackr.