The Celebrity Truth

After being cancelled by NBC to make room for The Jay Leno Show five nights a week, Southland has been revived, with the announcement that it’s been picked up by TNT and will air from January 12.

TNT have announced that it will re-broadcast the series’ original seven episodes, which NBC have already aired, plus the six new hours that NBC ordered but never broadcast.

The show stars The OC’s Benjamin McKenzie as a rookie cop on the streets of LA, being guided by veteran cop John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz – A River Runs Through It).

“This is a perfect opportunity for us to introduce the series to new viewers,” says Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks.

If ratings are strong, TNT plans to order more episodes.

The deal was made possible after NBC and Warner Bros. made an agreement that relieved NBC of any further commitment to the show, which cleared the way for TNT to step in.

“We are extremely pleased that TNT has acquired all 13 episodes of Southland, giving devoted fans the opportunity to watch a show that they passionately support,” says Peter Roth, president of Warner Bros. Television.

TNT plans to run the tough cop drama on Tuesday nights at 10 pm, opposite The Jay Leno Show.

Photo: NBC.