Southland

POPSUGAR Entertainment

Regina King on Directing Southland and Representing Other Working Moms

Regina King is making her Southland directorial debut tonight, and she stopped by our LA studios to tell us all about playing double duty.

Regina King is making her Southland directorial debut tonight, and she stopped by our LA studios to tell us all about playing double duty. Regina has starred on the cop drama since the first season aired on NBC in 2009 and continued her role as Detective Lydia Adams as the show made its move to TNT. Regina's flexed her directing muscle in the past, but this was the first time she's directed her own series and her Southland costars. Check out our interview to see what she told us about working motherhood and her teenage son, as well as her memorable real-life interactions from female police officers who watch the show. Southland airs Wednesdays at 10/9 Central. On Lindsay: bebe blazer.

Ben McKenzie

Ben McKenzie Proudly Steps Out With His Costars For a Paley Center Discussion

Ben McKenzie joined his Southland costars Shawn Hatosy, Regina King, and Michael Cudlitz for a discussion panel at LA's Paley Center last night.

Ben McKenzie joined his Southland costars Shawn Hatosy, Regina King, and Michael Cudlitz for a discussion panel at LA's Paley Center last night. The cast congregated to chat about the gripping finale, working together under extreme circumstances, and what lies ahead for their emotionally charged characters. Ben has a few more months to relax and work on his new project, voicing Bruce Wayne in the animated Batman: Year One series, before slipping back into uniform and returning to the streets of LA to begin shooting their fourth season in October. The O.C. alum will be in good company on primetime this Fall, when his old pal Rachel Bilson makes her comeback to the small screen in the CW's Hart of Dixie.

Stars on the Set

Ben Affleck and Ben McKenzie Share a Common Bond

Ben McKenzie suited up yesterday to shoot Southland in LA.

Ben McKenzie suited up yesterday to shoot Southland in LA. His cop drama made Buzz's list of returning midseason shows they're excited to see — which are you most enthusiastic about? The executive producer of the series, John Wells, has an eye for good-looking Bens, having also worked with Ben Affleck on The Company Men, which opens nationwide tomorrow. John and Ben Affleck's movie actually debuted at Sundance last year, though there have been reshoots since that early screening to create the finished product. We caught up with Mr. Affleck in 2010, and we'll be back in Utah this week to report the latest from 2011's festival — make sure to follow us on Twitter for updates on the new crop of films!

Parks and Recreation

Which Returning Midseason Show Are You Most Excited About?

We've been getting you acquainted with some of the first new shows of 2011 thanks to our handy pilot scoops and midseason preview guide, but let's not forget about our returning favorites as well.

We've been getting you acquainted with some of the first new shows of 2011 thanks to our handy pilot scoops and midseason preview guide, but let's not forget about our returning favorites as well. Just this week we've been treated to Winter premieres of Greek, Pretty Little Liars, and V, and there's plenty more where that came from. I'm particularly psyched for this Sunday's return of Californication, and of course, my beloved Parks and Recreation. Just watch the preview below and I dare you not to feel giddy with anticipation.

Of course, I'm also looking forward to the brand new American Idol and the final season of Big Love. What about you — which returning show are you most excited about?

TV

Do You Still Follow TV Shows When They Switch Networks?

It's official: Southland is saved!

It's official: Southland is saved! TNT issued a press release this morning announcing that the cable network is resuscitating the cancelled NBC cop drama starting in January.

While this is obviously good news for Benjamin McKenzie fans, I'm still approaching it with moderate skepticism. The series may be alive and kicking, but if the numbers from other swapped shows are any indication, Southland may be in for a struggle. Take, Project Runway: After moving from Bravo to Lifetime, it took off like ratings gangbusters, but has since faced a decline. Or there's my favorite old-school example: Roswell. It used to air on the WB (in its pre-CW days), but after it failed there, it got bounced around to UPN — where it was cancelled again.

Obviously some viewers drop off when a show changes channels, but what about you — do you still follow TV shows when they go under a new network? Or do you lose interest?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Link Time

Link Time!

Friday Night Lights

TCA Tidbits: NBC Talks Southland, Chuck, Heroes, and More

With Ben Silverman leaving NBC earlier this Summer, reporters were bound to be a little chippy at NBC's executive session today at the TCA press tour.

With Ben Silverman leaving NBC earlier this Summer, reporters were bound to be a little chippy at NBC's executive session today at the TCA press tour. There were plenty of questions about how NBC's entertainment president, Angela Bromstad, would define NBC's brand (apparently it includes Heroes, The Office, and The Apprentice equally?), but we also got some concrete info about shows like Southland and Friday Night Lights. Some details:

  • Bromstad said Southland "tried to do too much" in its first six episodes and became too serialized. When it returns, it will focus more on Ben McKenzie and Regina King's characters.
  • With regard to the rumor that Chuck could return sooner than March, Bromstad said March is still the plan. But she said the show is in a good place production-wise (several scripts are already done), and "it is something we can move around." One other possibility is having the show be part of the Summer schedule.
  • Speaking of Summer, that's when Friday Night Lights will be back on NBC. (It will air on DirecTV before that — an Oct. 28 premiere date was just announced.) Bromstad said the show just doesn't have the ratings to justify a place on the Fall schedule, but it can be a "premier" show in the Summer.

For thoughts on Medium, Day One, and Heroes, just read more

Parks and Recreation

NBC Announces Six New Shows — and Leaves Some in Limbo

NBC revealed a big chunk of its primetime plans for next TV season this morning, announcing six new dramas, four comedies, and four renewed series.

NBC revealed a big chunk of its primetime plans for next TV season this morning, announcing six new dramas, four comedies, and four renewed series. But it left a lot of questions open, too — including the fate of Chuck and Law and Order and when all of these shows will fit on the new primetime schedule.

Those answers are supposed to come May 19 — the same week the rest of the networks will announce their schedules. But for now, here's what we know: The four new dramas are Parenthood, based on the feature film of the same name; Trauma, a fast-paced medical show; Mercy, another medical show revolving around the lives of nurses; and Day One, about the aftermath of a global catastrophe. The comedies are Community, about a band of misfits at a community college, and 100 Questions, about a young woman looking for love online.

Returning for sure next season are Heroes, Parks and Recreation, Southland, and Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday, which aired a few special episodes before last Fall's presidential election and will air six more times this Fall. Despite reports of a renewal over the weekend, no decision was announced about Medium. The network previously renewed The Office, 30 Rock, The Biggest Loser, The Celebrity Apprentice, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, and Friday Night Lights and had announced the new reality series The Marriage Ref, Breakthrough with Tony Robbins, and Who Do You Think You Are?

I'll be back with clips, photos, and my take on NBC's new shows a bit later, but for now, you can read official descriptions of all the shows if you read more

Parks and Recreation

Which New Show Are You Most Excited to Watch Tonight?

Three new network TV series will make their premieres tonight: NBC has Parks and Recreation and Southland, while CBS has Harper's Island.

Three new network TV series will make their premieres tonight: NBC has Parks and Recreation and Southland, while CBS has Harper's Island. So, what'll it be for you: the small-town political comedy, the big-city cop drama, or the island-based murder mystery?

Photos courtesy of NBC and CBS