TNT Orders Pilot for New Drama Series L.A. Noir, From Executive Producers Frank Darabont, Michael De Luca and Elliot Webb

posted by Chris Sweda

TNT has ordered a pilot for L.A. Noir, a new drama series from executive producers Frank Darabont (The Walking Dead, The Shawshank Redemption), Michael De Luca (The Social Network, Moneyball) and Elliot Webb (Tall Time Tales). The project from TNT Original Productions is based on John Buntin’s critically acclaimed book L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City, which chronicles the epic battle between Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker and mobster Mickey Cohen. Alissa Phillips (Moneyball) of Michael De Luca Productions serves as co-executive producer. Darabont is set to write and direct the pilot.
“The story of L.A. Noir is inspired by an incredibly dramatic period in the history of Los Angeles,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “This project is a sweeping tale of the battle for the soul of the city that was waged between the forces of the LAPD and the West Coast mob. We’re thrilled to be working with Frank Darabont and Michael De Luca, two award-winning storytellers behind some of the most entertaining films of the past two decades, as they to bring this intense and exciting crime-drama to TNT.”
“Noir is a passion of mine, so I feel blessed to delve into a project that speaks in the hardboiled vernacular,” said Darabont. “John Buntin’s superb book, though non-fiction, is our touchstone and inspiration for the stories we’ll be telling, weaving fiction throughout the facts and facts throughout the fiction. The book provides elements that are irresistible, a big canvas with endless possibilities. The goal is to deliver on the tone that the title L.A. Noir promises: a smart, gritty, authentic, period noir drama. Also a blessing is the warm welcome we’ve gotten from Michael Wright and TNT, a great bunch of folks with huge enthusiasm for the source material. The best bonus of all is getting to work with my friend Mike De Luca. He’s terrific, a tremendously smart and talented producer, a gem. Partnering with him on this marvelous project after knowing him for so many years is an absolute treat for me.”
“It has been a personal dream of mine to work with Frank Darabont since he was kind of enough to become my friend when we met in the late 1980s,” said De Luca. “He’s been an inspiration to me ever since. There is no one working at his level today who puts more integrity and humanity into their efforts to create lasting and original entertainment. This rich source material is a perfect fit for his talents, and we’re grateful to Michael Wright and TNT for this amazing opportunity.”
L.A. Noir is the true story of a decades-long conflict between the Los Angeles Police Department, under the determined leadership of Police Chief William Parker, and ruthless criminal elements led by Mickey Cohen, a one-time boxer who rose to the top of L.A.’s criminal world. The series is a fast-paced crime drama set in Los Angeles during the 1940s and ’50s. It’s a world of glamorous movie stars, powerful studio heads, returning war heroes, a powerful and corrupt police force and an even more dangerous criminal network determined to make L.A. its West Coast base.
Darabont’s extraordinary career includes three Oscar nominations – one for writing the sleeper hit The Shawshank Redemption and two for writing and producing The Green Mile. Darabont also has the distinction of being one of only six directors in the history of the Oscars to have his first two movies each receive Best Picture nominations. He recently earned his third Directors Guild of America Award nomination for directing the pilot of the series The Walking Dead, for which he also served as executive producer.
De Luca’s extensive big-screen credits as executive producer include such high-profile films as Boogie Nights, Wag the Dog, Dark City, Pleasantville, American History X, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Magnolia and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. As a producer, he earned an Oscar nomination for The Social Network and produced the acclaimed 2011 film Moneyball.
L.A. Noir is the latest project to join TNT’s rapidly expanding development slate. The network recently ordered a pilot for Chelsea General (working title), a new medical drama series from award-winning producer David E. Kelley and practicing neurosurgeon and CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, M.D. The project is based on Gupta’s upcoming novel Monday Mornings. In September, TNT ordered a pilot for Scent of the Missing fromCBS Television Studios.Based on Susannah Charleson’s book about an adrenaline junkie who leads a canine search-and-rescue team, the pilot stars Tricia Helfer, Gerald McRaney, Eric Winter and Summer Glau. And in August, TNT ordered a pilot for Gateway from Warner Horizon Television. The Western saga involves three brothers who step in to save their town when their father, the town sheriff, is murdered. The brothers are pitted against a corrupt cattle baron who is determined to make the town his own. The cast includes Cam Gigandet, Keir O’Donnell, David Denman, Karen Allen, Ana De La Reguera, Keith Carradine, Donal Logue, Shanno Lucio, Eric Lang, Anthony Lapaglia and Bill Sadler.

TNT unveils new trailer for eagerly anticipated series DALLAS

TNT has unveiled the latest trailer for the eagerly anticipated new series DALLAS, which premieres next summer:

Justin Bieber, Cee Lo Green, Jennifer Hudson, Victoria Justice and The Band Perry Join Lineup for TNT’s Christmas in Washington, Hosted by Conan O’Brien

It’s going to be a holiday to remember as Justin Bieber, Cee Lo Green, Jennifer Hudson, Victoria Justice and The Band Perry are set to come together in the nation’s capital for TNT’s annual Christmas in Washington special. Hosted this year by Conan O’Brien, the star-studded concert will premiere Friday, Dec. 16, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT), exclusively on TNT.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Christmas in Washington is a holiday tradition benefiting the Children’s National Medical Center. The concert is attended each year by the President and First Lady and other Washington VIPs. Christmas in Washington will be taped at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, Dec. 11.

Conan O’Brien, the star of TBS’s hit late-night series CONAN, is making his first appearance as host of Christmas in Washington. Earlier this year, he earned an Emmy® nomination (his 19th) for his work on CONAN, and his show was nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series.

Justin Bieber, whose first-ever holiday album Under the Mistletoe is now on sale, is a worldwide phenomenon. An Ontario native, Bieber began his career through a series of online videos he posted after placing second in a local singing competition in 2007. The videos caught the attention of So So Def marketing executive Scooter Braun, who provided an opportunity for Bieber to audition for R&B star Usher, who signed the 15-year-old to a recording contract. In 2009, Bieber’s first hit single, “One More Time,” hit the charts, followed quickly by the release of his platinum debut album, My World. The following year saw the release of his first full studio album, My World 2.0, featuring the international Top 10 hit “Baby.” The music video for “Baby” wound up becoming the most-watched video in the history of YouTube. Bieber has enjoyed tremendous success with his subsequent albums, including My World Acoustic and Never Say Never – The Remixes, featuring songs from his blockbuster 3D concert movie Justin Bieber: Never Say Never. Bieber was named Artist of the Year at the 2010 American Music Awards and, early this year, earned a pair of Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album. Bieber will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sales of Under the Mistletoe to charity as part of his new Believe charity drive initiative.

Cee Lo Green is a singer-songwriter, rapper, producer, actor and one of the busiest men in show business. He recently received five 2011 Grammy® nominations for his worldwide hit “Forget You” (aka “F— You”), winning the category for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Among his many activities this year, he served as a judge/mentor on the popular singing competition series The Voice. His new talk show, Talking to Strangers, premiered on Fuse TV in June. Green first came onto the music scene in 1995 as a member of the hip-hop group Goodie Mob. They released their debut album, Soul Food, which shot them to the top of the emerging Southern rap scene. Goodie Mob released two more albums, Still Standing and World Party, and recently returned to the studio to record a new album. After Green’s success with Goodie Mob, he reinvented himself and formed Gnarls Barkley with DJ-producer Danger Mouse, releasing the chart-topping hit “Crazy” in 2006. He then turned his focus to his solo career, resulting in the acclaimed 2010 album The Lady Killer. Green will soon appear in the film Sparkle and will return for the second season of The Voice in February 2012. He is also presently in the studio working on a new solo album featuring covers of his favorite classic songs, as well as a new Goodie Mob album.

Jennifer Hudson is an Academy Award®-winning actress and Grammy-winning recording artist. In January 2012, she will release her first book, I Got This, an inspirational weight-loss memoir for Dutton Publishing, and will next be seen on the big-screen in the Farrelly Brothers’ comedy The Three Stooges. Hudson won an Oscar® and numerous other accolades for her performance as Effie in the smash hit Dreamgirls. She also received an NAACP Image Award nomination in 2009 for her role in The Secret Life of Bees. On the music front, Hudson released her sophomore album, I Remember Me, earlier this year to rave reviews. The album debuted at #2 and has since been certified gold. Previously, Hudson’s self-titled debut album sold more than 1.1 million copies and won the Grammy for Best R&B Album.

Victoria Justice is the star of the hit series Victorious and recently completed filming Fun Size, a big-screen comedy due out in 2012. On top of that she is a budding sensation in both the music and fashion worlds. Justice’s vocal talents are showcased on the album Victorious, the first official soundtrack from the series. Several of the songs have already turned into bona fide smashes, including “Freak the Freak Out,” which has sold more than 600,000 digital copies. Other hit singles from the album include “Beggin’ On Your Knees,” “Best Friend’s Brother” and the show’s theme song “Make it Shine,” which was co-written and produced by Dr. Luke. After debuting at #5 on the Top 200 charts and at #2 on the pop charts, the album had more than 1.8 million downloads for the first four singles. Prior to her current show, Justice co-starred in the series Zoey 101. She has been nominated for Teen Choice and Kids’ Choice Awards, an NAACP Image Award, an ALMA award, as well as an Imagen Foundation Award. She is currently working on a new solo album and is filming the third season of Victorious.

The Band Perry is heading into the holidays after having just won three Country Music Association Awards: New Artist of the Year, Single of the Year and Song of the Year. That’s on top of three American Music Award nominations and six American Country Award nominations under their wing. Earlier this year, they won the CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year; the Best New Live Act Award; and two Academy of Country Music Awards for Best New Duo or Group of the Year and Best New Artist of the Year. The Band Perry has also been nominated for a Grammy and numerous other awards. The trio’s “modern throwback” style combines classic country with an eclectic infusion of rock, gospel and soul. As songwriters and musicians, their sound is distinct and rounded out by perfect three-part harmonies. The Band Perry’s self-titled debut album was released in October 2010 and was certified gold just four months later. It is poised to go platinum by the end of 2011. The album contains the triple-platinum, Grammy-nominated single “If I Die Young”; the Top 10 single “You Lie” and the romantic ballad “All Your Life.”

TNT has been televising Christmas in Washington since 1999. The show has earned two Emmys® for Musical Direction and 12 nominations overall. Christmas in Washington is executive-produced by 15-time Emmy winner George Stevens, Jr. and directed and produced by four-time Emmy winner Michael Stevens for The Stevens Company. Most recently, the pair produced Thurgood for HBO. They previously produced the We Are One concert at the Lincoln Memorial on the eve of the Inauguration of President Barack Obama and earned Emmys for the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Kennedy Center Honors – one of only 12 programs ever to win three consecutive years.

LAPD’s Top Investigator Returns in November

potentially career-ending lawsuit is just one of the issues that continue to plague top LAPD investigator Brenda Leigh Johnson this winter in TNT’s blockbuster series The Closer. The acclaimed drama, starring EmmyÒ winner Kyra Sedgwick, returns Monday, Nov. 28, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) with five new episodes of its seventh season, with the series’ conclusion coming in summer 2012. Among this winter’s offerings will be the 100th episode of The Closer, which is set to air Monday, Dec. 5, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).

Over the past six and a half years, Sedgwick’s Chief Johnson and the LAPD’s Major Crimes unit have put some of Los Angeles’ most brutal killers behind bars. With her keen investigative instincts and brilliant interrogation techniques, Brenda usually closes her cases by eliciting a confession through sometimes-questionable methods. This summer, Brenda’s tactics resulted in a civil lawsuit that raised scrutiny over her controversial style and revealed a mysterious leak in her division. Although the original suit was settled, Brenda is now the target of a federal civil rights suit. Special guest star Mark Pellegrino (Lost) returns this winter as Brenda’s lawyer to defend her against the mounting federal investigation by prosecutor Peter Goldman, played by returning guest star Curtis Armstrong (American Dad!).

In the five new episodes airing this winter, the cast will be joined by several additional guest stars. In the show’s 100th episode, “You Have the Right to Remain Jolly,” airing Monday, Dec. 5, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), Fred Willard (Modern Family)guest stars as Santa Jack, the owner of a Christmas village who believes he could be the real Father Christmas. Brenda’s parents, played by guest stars Frances Sternhagen and Barry Corbin, return on Monday, Dec. 12, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) in “Relative Matters,” the second holiday-themed episode of the season, with surprising news that keeps Brenda’s mind from her case.

Mark Moses (Mad Men) and Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds) will guest-star in “Road Block” on Monday, Dec. 19, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), as the LAPD’s Police Commissioner and his wife, Gail, who may be in trouble when Brenda becomes determined to uncover a scandal one of them tried to cover up. And in the winter finale, “Silent Partner,” airing Monday, Dec. 26, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), Brenda seeks help from a businessman, played by guest star Jason George (Grey’s Anatomy), with old ties to the neighborhood where Turell Baylor was murdered.

Sedgwick is joined by The Closer’s extraordinary Screen Actors Guild AwardÒ-nominated cast, including Jon Tenney as Brenda’s husband, FBI Special Agent Fritz Howard, who often feels as if their marriage takes a back seat to Brenda’s cases; J.K. Simmons as interim Police Chief Will Pope, whose career has undergone several seismic shifts; Robert Gossett as Commander Taylor, whose role in the department is constantly being redefined; Corey Reynolds as Brenda’s right-hand man, Detective Sergeant David Gabriel; Tony Denison as Lieutenant Andy Flynn, whose sarcastic comments have frequently landed him in sticky situations; G.W. Bailey as Lieutenant Provenza, a seasoned veteran who serves as Brenda’s second in command, despite a record of embarrassing blunders; Michael Paul Chan as the squad’s tech guru, Lieutenant Mike Tao, whose obsessive attention to detail can try his colleagues’ patience; Raymond Cruz as gang expert Detective Julio Sanchez, who often allows his emotions to get the better of him; and Phillip P. Keene as audio-visual technician Buzz Watson, who demands the utmost respect for the department’s equipment.

Two-time Oscar® nominee Mary McDonnell joined The Closer as a regular cast member this season in the role of Captain Sharon Raydor. For her portrayal, McDonnell recently earned an Emmy nomination, and she will continue to play Raydor in TNT’s new series Major Crimes, which is slated to premiere after the conclusion of The Closer next summer.

Since its premiere in 2005, The Closer has garnered numerous ad-supported cable viewership records, including being the only series in cable history to rank #1 for five consecutive years. This summer, the show averaged more than 8.7 million viewers.

The Closer is produced for TNT by The Shephard/Robin Company, in association with Warner Bros. Television. The series was created by James Duff, who serves as executive producer with Greer Shephard, Michael M. Robin, Kyra Sedgwick and Rick Wallace. The show is produced by Andrew J. Sacks. Gil Garcetti, Los Angeles district attorney from 1992 to 2000, serves as consulting producer.

Cast and Crew of Southland Hit the Streets of L.A. As Production Begins on Fourth Season of Acclaimed TNT Drama Series

The cast and crew of Southland are back on the streets of Los Angeles as production begins on a fourth season of the acclaimed TNT drama series. The intensely personal, first-person look at cops and detectives on the beat stars Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King and Ben McKenzie, who will be joined this season by special guest star Lucy Liu. TNT’s Southland is set to launch its new season Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).

Redefining the police drama with itsraw, authentic look at the lives and work of Los Angeles detectives and beat cops, Southland centers on four main characters: Officer John Cooper (Cudlitz), a seasoned cop who will have to prove himself again after recovering from surgery; Officer Ben Sherman (McKenzie), who still has much to learn after recently completing his training rotation; Detective Lydia Adams (King), who seems to take every case personally; and Sammy Bryant (Hatosy), a former detective who decided to go back to being a uniform cop after the traumatic death of his partner.

This season on Southland, Detective Adams will take on another new partner, this time a former Marine (guest star Dorian Missick), while also facing a major upheaval in her personal life. Cooper will be back on the job after surgery to repair the back problems that led to his drug addiction. He will be teamed up with a new partner, Jessica Tang (Liu), who will bring her own set of emotional baggage to their patrol car. Cooper’s former trainee, Sherman, is now a full-fledged cop, partnered with Bryant, who continues to struggle with the trauma of the past.

Shot on location in the streets and neighborhoods of Los Angeles, Southland captures a realistic, natural environment where similar situations can and often do occur in real life. The series comes to TNT from Warner Bros. Television and Emmy®-winning producer John Wells (ER, The West Wing). Created by Emmy® winner Ann Biderman (NYPD Blue, Public Enemies), the series is executive-produced by Emmy® winners Christopher Chulack (ER, Third Watch) and Wells. Chulack is also a primary director of the series, while Andrew Stearn (Shameless, The West Wing) and Jonathan Lisco (The District) serve as co-executive producers.

To launch the start of production, cast members will provide Twitter updates using the hashtag #tntbackontheset

TNT Releases Video of Larry Hagman & Josh Henderson on First Day of Shooting New Series DALLAS

This video is from the first day of shooting TNT‘s eagerly anticipated new series Dallas, which began production last week. The video features Larry Hagman, who returns to his iconic role as J.R. Ewing, and Josh Henderson, who plays J.R.’s son, John Ross. The battle for power, love and the control of Southfork will erupt again when TNT premieres the new Dallas next summer.

Day 1 on the set of TNT’s Dallas:
http://www.turnerentertainmentpr.com/tnt/showpage.jsp?oid=855

TBS Delivers More Than 7 Million Total Viewers For Network’s Exclusive Coverage of ALDS Game Four of Yankees-Tigers Series

TBS and TNT’s exclusive coverage of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) League Division Series (LDS) featured a four-game slate including a primetime match-up in Game 4 between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers that delivered 7,012,000 total viewers, up + 16% and a 4.6 U.S. Household rating, up +18% over coverage of Game 3. The match-up was the most-watched LDS game since 2007 (Yankees-Indians Game 4, 9,232,000 total viewers).

The networks of Turner Sports (TBS and TNT) exclusively aired all four LDS games on Tuesday with the two networks averaging 4,001,000 million viewers, up +9 % over comparable coverage of Day 5 in 2010. With coverage of TBS’s Yankees-Tigers Game 4, a 10-1 New York victory (8:30 PM-12:00 AM ET), and TNT’s Brewers-Diamondbacks Game 3, an 8-1 Arizona win (9:30 PM-12:45 AM ET), overlapping each other, the aggregate audience on the two networks totaled 9,065,000 total viewers and a 5.7 U.S. HH rating.

Last night, the Turner Networks featured:
•The series-clinching Game 4 between the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers (TBS, 2:00 PM), which delivered 2,228,0000 total viewers and a 1.7 U.S. HH rating, up + 13% (1.5 U.S HH rating in 2010) from the same match-up a year ago.
•Game 3 between the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals (TBS, 5:00 PM), which delivered 4,617,000 total viewers and a 3.1 U.S. HH rating, up + 19 % ( 2.6 U.S HH rating in 2010 for Day 5 San Francisco-Atlanta Game 3, Sunday 8:00 PM).
•Game 3 between the Milwaukee Brewers and Arizona Diamondbacks (TNT, 9:30 PM), which delivered 2,107,000 total viewers and a 1.2 U.S. HH rating.
The games on TBS and TNT delivered the following in their local DMA’s:
•New York DMA averaged a 15.2 Household rating
•Detroit DMA averaged a 22.7 Household rating
•Dallas-Fort Worth averaged a 7.8 Household rating
•Tampa/St. Pete market averaged a 10.6 Household rating
•Philadelphia market averaged a 21.6 Household rating
•St. Louis market averaged a 20.4 Household rating
•Milwaukee market averaged a 17.2 Household rating
•Phoenix market averaged an 11.3 Household rating
TBS is the exclusive television home of all four of Major League Baseball’s League Division Series (LDS) and the National League Championship Series (NLCS).

Wednesday, Oct. 5 Games on TBS include: •Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals, Game 4 (6:00 PM ET)
•Milwaukee Brewers at Arizona Diamondbacks, Game 4 (9:30 PM ET)

Thursday, Oct. 6 Game on TBS Includes: •Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees, Game 5 (8:00 PM ET)

TNT to Present Marathon of Castle Episodes as Hit Crime-Drama Gears Up

TNT, which earlier this summer secured the exclusive off-network cable rights to the hit series Castle from Disney-ABC Domestic Television, will present eight memorable episodes of the show on Thursday, Sept. 15, beginning at 3 p.m. (ET/PT). The marathon is part of the build-up to the fourth-season premiere of the show on ABC.

TNT cancels series

 

Source: Deadline Hollywood
TNT announced that they will be cancelling “Hawthorn”.

See full article here. http://dlvr.it/jvNsq

TNT Announces Fall/Winter Schedule

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.
 
Below is a complete rundown of TNT’s original programming highlights for fall and winter. Artwork for TNT’s original programming can be accessed through the following link: http://on.tnt.tv/3KTSdW.

TNT Original Series

Leverage – Season 4 returns Sunday, Nov. 27 – Season 4 Winter 2011: 8 Episodes
Television’s coolest gang of thieves, grifters and con artists are ready to freeze out the bad guys this winter as this fast-paced, light-hearted caper series returns to wrap up its fourth exciting season. Academy Award® winner Timothy Hutton stars, along with Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf and Aldis Hodge. Leverage premiered in 2008 and is currently averaging more than 4.8 million viewers in its fourth season, up 10% over last season.

The Closer – Season 7 returns Monday, Nov. 28, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) – Season 7 Winter 2011: 5 Episodes
TNT’s The Closer, starring Emmy winner Kyra Sedgwick, will be back this winter as the blockbuster series’ seventh and final season continues. This year, 2011 Emmy nominee and two-time Oscar® nominee Mary McDonnell has joined the cast of The Closer as Capt. Sharon Raydor, the role she will continue to play in TNT’s upcoming new series Major Crimes. In its seventh season, The Closer has averaged 8.6 million viewers, while its performance among key adult demos are up significantly over last season. The Closer will return to wrap up its seven-season run with six episodes in summer 2012, followed by the premiere of Major Crimes.

Rizzoli & Isles – Season 2 returns Monday, Nov. 28, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) – Season 2 Winter 2011: 5 Episodes
Topping the charts for the second consecutive year as basic cable’s most-watched drama, Rizzoli & Isles will return this winter with Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander as Boston’s top crime-solving duo. Developed for television by executive producer Janet Tamaro and based on characters created by best-selling crime novelist Tess Gerritsen, Rizzoli & Isles is currently averaging 8.8 million viewers for its second season.

Southland – Season 4 premieres Jan. 17, 2012, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) – Season 4: 10 Episodes
This critically acclaimed drama series takes viewers directly to the streets of LA to present an intensely personal, first-person look at cops and detectives on the beat. The extraordinary show – starring Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King and Ben McKenzie – has redefined the police drama genre with a raw, authentic look at the lives and work of detectives and beat cops. Special guest star Lucy Liu will appear throughout the season as a member of the LAPD. In its third season, Southland grew its audience by 8% over the second season.

TNT Mystery Movie Night

Scott Turow’s Innocent– Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)
Bill Pullman stars as Rusty Sabich, a judge charged with the murder of his wife, a situation that comes 20 years after he was cleared in the death of his mistress. During this latest trial, a secret affair from Rusty’s recent past threatens to hamper his defense and fracture his relationship with his son. Oscar® winner Marcia Gay Harden plays Rusty’s wife, while Alfred Molina is his friend and defense attorney. Emmy® winner Richard Schiff (The West Wing, The Lost World: Jurassic Park), Callard Harris (TBS’s Glory Daze, Intermedio), Mariana Klaveno (True Blood, While the Children Sleep) and Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica, Dollhouse) also star. Scott Turow’s Innocent is a sequel to Turow’s bestseller Presumed Innocent. The movie is written and directed by Mike Robe (TNT’s HawthoRNe, Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King), with Robe and Frank von Zerneck (We Were the Mulvaneys, Miracle on Ice) serving as executive producers.

Ricochet – Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)
Two homicide detectives find their careers – and lives – on the line when they get caught up in a case of murder and betrayal in high-society Savannah. Emmy nominee John Corbett is set to star in this atmospheric tale based on the book by #1 New York Times best-selling author Sandra Brown. Corbett plays Det. Sgt. Duncan Hatcher, who is investigating a corrupt judge (Gary Cole) while also becoming romantically involved with his wife (Julie Benz). Kelly Overton plays Det. Deedee Bowen, Hatcher’s blue-collar partner; Kadeem Hardison (Panther, Made of Honor) is Detective Bob Worley; and Haaz Sleiman (The Visitor, Nurse Jackie) is drug dealer Robert Savich. Nick Gomez (Dexter, Drowning Mona) is directing Ricochet from a script by Donald Martin (The Craigslist Killer). Howard Braunstein (The Informant!) and Jim Head (On Strike for Christmas) serve as executive producers.

Hide – Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)
In this movie based on Lisa Gardner’s book, Carla Gugino plays Boston Police Detective D.D. Warren, who is called to the grounds of an abandoned mental hospital where a buried chamber is discovered. Inside are the mummified remains of six young women, who have all been missing for years. The case leads D.D. to Annabelle, a young woman who spent her childhood moving from city to city, from identity to identity, hiding from someone or something totally unknown to her. D.D. uses clues from Annabelle’s secret past to unravel the mystery behind her twisted family history. Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Kevin Alejandro also star. Hide is written by Janet Brownell (Eloise at the Plaza), directed by John Gray (Ghost Whisperer, Helter Skelter) and executive-produced by Stephanie Germain (The Day After Tomorrow).

Silent Witness – Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)
This legal drama based on Richard North Patterson’s novel stars Dermot Mulroney as prominent defense attorney Tony Lord, who returns to his hometown to defend an old friend, played by Michael Cudlitz. The friend is a teacher accused of murdering one of his students, and the case re-opens the heartache from Tony’s own high school days, when he was a student falsely accused of murdering his first love. Lizzie Friedman and Greg Little, the team behind One Lucky Elephant, Whiz Kids and Sex and Death 101, serve as executive producers along with Howard Braunstein (The Informant!). Peter Markle (Bat*21, Flight 93) is set to direct from a script by Thomas Michael Donnelly (Our Fathers).

Good Morning, Killer – Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)
Adapted by April Smith from her own novel, this thriller stars Catherine Bell as FBI Special Agent Ana Gray, an undercover operative tracking down a serial kidnapper. As Ana develops a rapport with the kidnapper’s latest victim, the suspect suddenly changes his pattern. Now Ana must race to find him before he strikes again. Cole Hauser (Chase, K-Ville) co-stars as Detective Andrew Berringer. In addition to writing the screenplay, Smith is set to executive-produce Good Morning, Killer with Frank von Zerneck (We Were the Mulvaneys, Miracle on Ice). Maggie Greenwald (Songcatcher, The Ballad of Little Jo) will direct.

Deck the Halls – Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)
Based on the first book in Mary Higgins Clark and daughter Carol Higgins Clark’s series of holiday mystery novels, this warm-hearted story brings together two of the authors’ most popular characters: Cleaning-woman-turned-private-eye Alvirah Meegan (Kathy Najimy) and Detective Regan Reilly (Scottie Thompson). The women investigate the kidnapping of Regan’s father and a young female driver just before the holidays. The race is on to rescue the pair and get them home in time for Christmas. Two-time Emmy® winner Jane Alexander plays Regan’s mother, famed mystery writer Nora Regan Reilly. Ron Underwood (Tremors, City Slickers) will direct from a script by Howard Burkons (John Q, TNT’s The Ron Clark Story), who also serves as executive producer with Brenda Friend (Joan of Arc, TNT’s The Ron Clark Story) and Frank von Zerneck (We Were the Mulvaneys, Miracle on Ice).

TNT Specials

Christmas in Washington – Annual special airing Friday, Dec. 16, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT)
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2011, this holiday concert is a star-studded musical celebration benefiting the Children’s National Medical Center. Annually attended by the President and First Lady and other Washington VIPs, the spectacular concert takes place at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. This marks TNT’s 13th year presenting Christmas in Washington.

18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® – Live simulcast with TBS on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT)
One of the industry’s most respected award presentations, this prestigious industry event honors performances in five film categories and eight television categories, including the unique Ensemble Award and an award for stunt performers.