After being dumped by NBC a couple years ago, who would have thought that one day we’d be talking about Southland’s fourth season? Well, we are and the cast and crew are now back in production. TNT has just released some teasers about what viewers can expect to see when the cop drama returns on January 17th.

Here’s the press release:

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 its raw, 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(R)-winning producer John Wells (ER, The West Wing). Created by Emmy(R) winner Ann Biderman (NYPD Blue, Public Enemies), the series is executive-produced by Emmy(R) 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.

About Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) is one of the entertainment industry’s most respected providers of original content, producing award-winning drama and comedy series for both broadcast network television and cable. For the 2011-12 television season, WBTV is currently producing nearly 30 primetime series, with at least three shows on each of the five broadcast networks, in addition to cable’s TNT, Showtime and Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. WBTV’s continuing network series include Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly and The Mentalist for CBS; The Middle for ABC; Fringe for FOX; Chuck and Harry’s Law for NBC; and Gossip Girl, Nikita, One Tree Hill, Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries for The CW. WBTV’s new network shows include 2 Broke Girls and Person of Interest for CBS; Alcatraz and I Hate My Teenage Daughter for FOX; Suburgatory and Work It for ABC; Are You There, Chelsea? for NBC; and Hart of Dixie and The Secret Circle for The CW, among others. WBTV’s cable series include The Closer, Southland and the upcoming Major Crimes for TNT, Shameless for Showtime and Childrens Hospital for Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim.

About TNT
TNT, one of cable’s top-rated networks, is television’s destination for drama. Seen in 100.5 million households, the network is home to such original series as The Closer, starring Emmy(R) winner Kyra Sedgwick; Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander; Falling Skies, starring Noah Wyle; Franklin & Bash, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; and Southland, from Emmy-winning producer John Wells, as well as the upcoming series Major Crimes, Dallas and Perception. TNT also presents compelling original movies, including a slate of thrillers set to premiere this fall in The TNT Mystery Movie Night showcase. TNT is the cable home to powerful dramas like The Mentalist, Bones, Supernatural, Las Vegas, Law & Order, CSI: NY, Cold Case and, starting next year, Castle; primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards(R); blockbuster movies; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR, the NBA and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. TNT is available in high-definition.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

What do you think? Are you looking forward to season four of Southland? How long do you think this TV should reasonably continue?

Image courtesy TNT.