A no-nonsense cop drama, Southland revolves around a group of LAPD officers. Armed with their experience and firearms, they take on all manners of problems on the streets of Los Angeles. The series stars an ensemble of both new and familiar faces like Benjamin McKenzie, Kevin Alejandro, Arija Bareikis, Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King, Michael McGrady, Tom Everett Scott, Emily Bergl, Patrick Fischler, Lex Medlin, C. Thomas Howell, Emily Swallow, Carla Jeffery, Lori Alan, and Roxana Brusso.

As fans of the show know all too well, NBC cancelled Southland before its second season even began airing. Production was shut down after only six episodes of year two were produced. Thankfully, TNT picked it up and agreed to air season two and re-air season one. If they performed well enough, TNT would consider a third season.

The ratings haven’t been terrible but they haven’t been outstanding either. That put Southland’s future into question.

That question was answered today and TNT has agreed to produce a third season of 10 episodes of Southland. That’s not exactly a big order but it’s better than nothing! THey’ll start airing in January 2011. Here’s the official announcement.

TNT Renews Acclaimed Series SOUTHLAND for Third Season

TNT has booked a third season of its critically acclaimed drama SOUTHLAND, from Warner Bros. Television and Emmy(r)-winning producer John Wells (ER, The West Wing). The network has ordered 10 episodes for the third season, which is slated to begin airing in January 2011.

“SOUTHLAND is a challenging, visceral show that engages viewers with its immersive style, provocative storylines and complex characters,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming, for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “These qualities have made SOUTHLAND a favorite among critics and appointment viewing for an extremely loyal audience.”

Created by Emmy(r) winner Ann Biderman (NYPD Blue, Public Enemies), SOUTHLAND takes a raw, authentic look at police work in Los Angeles. The series focuses on officers, detectives and members of a gang unit as they endure the triumphs and tragedies that populate their lives both on and off the job. The series is shot on location in the streets and neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

SOUTHLAND’s ensemble cast includes Kevin Alejandro (Drive, Ugly Betty); Arija Bareikis (Crossing Jordan); Clifton Collins Jr. (Capote, Star Trek); Michael Cudlitz (Band of Brothers, A River Runs Through It); Shawn Hatosy (Alpha Dog); Regina King (Ray, Jerry Maguire); Michael McGrady (The Thin Red Line, Day Break); Ben McKenzie (The O.C.); and Tom Everett Scott (Boiler Room, That Thing You Do). SOUTHLAND is executive-produced by Wells, Biderman and Emmy(r) winner Christopher Chulack (ER, Third Watch), who also serves as a primary director of the series.

TNT picked up SOUTHLAND after the series was dropped by NBC prior to the launch of its second season. TNT presented an encore of the seven-episode first season beginning in January 2010, followed by a premiere run of the six-episode second season beginning in March 2010.

For its second season on TNT, SOUTHLAND has averaged 2.7 million viewers, with 1.4 million adults 18-49 and adults 25-54. The show enjoys great loyalty among viewers, as shown by the use of time-shifted viewing. According to the most recent Live + 7 deliveries, the second season of SOUTHLAND has grown its total audience by 50% compared to Live viewing (26% compared to Live + Same Day). Among adults 18-49, the boost is 68% vs. Live (32% vs. Live + Same Day). Among adults 25-54, the bump is 62% vs. Live (33% vs. Live + Same Day). The show’s median age (47) is the lowest of any TNT original series.

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. WBTV is currently producing 20 primetime series, with at least one show on each of the five broadcast networks. New programs include the one-hour drama The Vampire Diaries, the #1 show on The CW; the half-hour comedy The Middle and the hour-long V for ABC; the one-hour action-drama Human Target for Fox; Miami Medical, from Jerry Bruckheimer Television, for CBS; and the upcoming Shameless, from John Wells Productions, for Showtime. Continuing programs include TV’s #1 comedy among Adults 18-49 in The Big Bang Theory, TV’s #1 comedy among Households and Total Viewers in Two and a Half Men, the #1 new program of 2008-2009 among Households and Total Viewers in The Mentalist, the Julia Louis-Dreyfus-starring comedy The New Adventures of Old Christine and veteran drama Cold Case for CBS; the #1 new program of 2008-2009 among Adults 18-49 in Fringe for Fox; Chuck for NBC; and Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville and Supernatural for The CW. WBTV also produces The Closer for TNT.

TNT, one of cable’s top-rated networks, is television’s destination for drama and home to such original series as the acclaimed and highly popular detective drama The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick; Men of a Certain Age, with Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula; Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter; HawthoRNe, with Jada Pinkett Smith; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; and Dark Blue, starring Dylan McDermott; the upcoming Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander; Memphis Beat, with Jason Lee; and Southland, from Emmy(r)-winning producer John Wells (ER). TNT also presents such powerful dramas as Bones, Supernatural, Las Vegas, Law & Order, CSI: NY, Cold Case and Numb3rs; broadcast premiere movies; compelling primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards(r); and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. TNT is available in high-definition.

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

Image courtesy TNT.