In an earlier thread, I mentioned that Southland was canceled before even one of the newest 6 filmed episodes have even aired.
However, the Hollywood Reporter is now reporting there may be some hope.
Although not a “done deal”, it looks like TNT might pick up Southland and keep the show alive!
I hope so - ever since Shield left the air, this is the closest there has been to a similar type show. Yes, it is not as good at Shield, but Southland had some promise and I like the style and storylines.
I don’t get TNT where I am-will they be able to unbleep on that channel? I thought the cuss bleepings were a lightly subversive take on network decency standards.
It’s a toss up. They don’t have the free reign with language that HBO & Showtime do, but I know I’ve watched shows on TNT and USA that have called people an “ass” before. Never have they uttered a “fuck” though.
I would think that a TNT show would be governed by the same rules that an FX show would be, and Always Sunny in Philadelphia has lots of unbleeped swearing. However, standards and practices on TNT may be tougher than FX. And if TNT puts it on a pre 10pm ET/9pm CT timeslot, most any swear word would be bleeped.
I actually kind of liked the bleeps and the sparing use of shaky cam. Gave the show a COPS flare. Dramatic, scripted reality t.v. shrug I just want me some more John Cooper - that was a kickass character!
First of all - YAY! Southland was my favorite new show from last season.
Secondly, and for the last time - basic cable standards are dictated by the sponsors. The FCC has NOTHING TO DO with anything shown on cable. If you can find a company to sponsor your fuck-filled show by airing ads during it, then you’re good. Problem is that there are organizations like http://parentstv.org who have nothing better to do than badger the sponsors of any show which they don’t like, even when it’s on at an hour when their kiddies shouldn’t even be watching tv, so it’s one of those things that many businesses just don’t want to touch with a 10 foot pole.
I think one of the gimmicks of Southland was that it was trying to be like The Shield, except pushing network-tv standards to the limit. Now that it’s on cable, they’re either going to drop the gimmick or try to push it further. Either way, as long as it stays top notch storytelling, I’m in.
For a season or two, they used to have someone (usually Sipowitz) say “bullshit” at least once per episode on NYPD Blue, a broadcast network show. Then Justin Timberlake had to rip off Janet Jackson’s top at the StupidBowl and get everyone all worked up.
