TNT announces its fall/winter schedule today which includes the return of “The Closer,” “Rizzoli & Isles,” “Leverage” and “Southland,” plus the launch of “TNT Mystery Movie Night.”
Here is the Press Release:
After scoring its most successful summer of original programming ever, including the launch of mega-hit Falling Skies, TNT is set to heat up the fall and winter with a terrific lineup of popular and acclaimed original series and a showcase of new original movies. The drama network’s slate includes the return of basic cable’s top two series of all time, The Closer, starring 2010 Emmy winner Kyra Sedgwick, and Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander; all-new episodes of the hit caper series Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; and a new season of the critically acclaimed Southland.
TNT has also unveiled the slate for The TNT Mystery Movie Night, a new showcase of contemporary procedural dramas set to launch Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). The showcase will kick off with Scott Turow’s Innocent, starring Bill Pullman (Independence Day, Torchwood), Marcia Gay Harden (Pollack, Damages) and Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2, Law & Order: LA).
The TNT Mystery Movie Night will also star Kathy Najimy (Sister Act, TNT’s Franklin & Bash), Scottie Thompson (Star Trek, Skyline) and Jane Alexander (Testament, Warm Springs) in Deck the Halls, based on the book by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark. John Corbett (Sex and the City, Northern Exposure), Julie Benz (Dexter), Kelly Overton (The Ring Two) and Gary Cole (Midnight Caller, TNT’s Wanted) have been cast in Ricochet, based on the bestseller by Sandra Brown.
In addition, Catherine Bell (JAG, Army Wives) is set to star in Good Morning, Killer, which is being adapted by April Smith from her own novel. Dermot Mulroney (Zodiak, Copycat) and Michael Cudlitz (TNT’s Southland) will star in Silent Witness, based on the book by Richard North Patterson. And Hide, based on a book by Lisa Gardner, will star Carla Gugino (Californication, Entourage), Mark-Paul Gosselaar (TNT’s Franklin & Bash, NYPD Blue) and Kevin Alejandro (True Blood, TNT’s Southland).
Among other programming highlights, TNT will present the 30th annual Christmas in Washington concert in December and will once again team up with TBS on the live simulcast of the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in January.
TNT’s fall-winter slate will follow on the heels of a hugely successful summer for the network. Among TNT’s summer victories, Rizzoli & Isles and The Closer are leading the pack as basic cable’s #1 and #2 dramas among total viewers, while new international hit Falling Skies ranks as basic cable’s #1 drama among key adult demos and the top new series in total viewers. TNT has also garnered remarkable success this summer with Leverage, which is enjoying its best season ever, and freshman legal drama Franklin & Bash, which ranks as one of basic cable’s Top 5 new series of the summer.
