FX has renewed The Americans for a third season of 13 episodes. About half of the second season has aired thus far and the drama is down by 22% in viewership when compared to last year.

Here’s the press release from FX:

FX ORDERS THIRD SEASON OF “THE AMERICANS”

Critically-Acclaimed Drama Starring Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys and Noah Emmerich Earns 13-Episode Pick-up for Season Three

Six All-New Episodes Remain This Season, Airing Wednesdays at 10:00 PM ET/PT With the Season Two Finale Scheduled for May 21

NEW YORK, April 16, 2014 – FX has picked up its hit drama The Americans for a 13-episode third season, it was announced today by Nick Grad and Eric Schrier, Presidents of Original Programming for FX Networks and FX Productions. One of television’s most critically-acclaimed series, The Americans has fast become a signature show for FX. Six episodes remain in the current season, including tonight’s broadcast. The series airs Wednesdays at 10:00 PM E/P.

In its first season, The Americans was the most critically-acclaimed new program of 2013, winning the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding New Program. The critical acclaim for season 2 has surpassed that of its remarkable first season.

“The Americans continues be one of the best shows on television,” said Schrier. “Executive Producers Joe Weisberg, Joel Fields and Graham Yost have done a wonderful job delivering two seasons, and the performances from Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys and Noah Emmerich are stellar. Fans will be blown away by the rest of this season, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with next year.”

The Americans was honored by the American Film Institute (AFI) as one of the Programs of the Year for 2013 and earned two Emmy nominations, four Broadcast Television Journalist Association (BTJA) award nominations, a record seven Television Critics Association (TCA) Award nominations, and a Writers Guild Award nomination for New Series. The show recently wrapped production on its second season.

“We are so delighted and grateful to continue telling the stories of these characters,” said Fields. “John Landgraf, Eric Schrier, Nick Grad, and the entire team at FX have been remarkable supporters and creative partners for the show – and we are blessed to have Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Noah Emmerich, and an awesome ensemble who bring it all so brilliantly to life.”

“We’re also truly excited to continue our collaboration with our lead studio, FTVS, led by David Madden,” added Weisberg. “And we’re so grateful to our incredible production team led by Dan Sackheim and Mary Rae Thewlis, our producing partners Graham Yost, and Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey at Amblin TV. Seriously, if the Soviet Union had this level of support from its allies, the Cold War might have turned out differently.”

Widely praised as one of the best dramas on television, following is a small sampling of recent press raves:

· “nothing else on TV can match The Americans for the dizzying highs of its suspense or the unsettling depths of its emotion…the best show on television” – Andy Greenwald, Grantland.com (February 26, 2014)

· “Watch The Americans… there are certain TV series that bring out the evangelist in any writer, and, in a world of hype for ‘prestige cable dramas’ – the Internet’s favorite topic to obsess about – FX’s smart thriller The Americans came in way too far under the radar last year… sharp dialogue… oh, my God, the wigs – so many, so varied, so eighties… The Americans can be wrenchingly emotional, and it’s terrifically well paced… I’d recommend skipping work, ignoring your family, going directly to iTunes, and watching the first season, binge-style, while drinking vodka. Tell the Jenningses I sent you” – Emily Nussbaum, The New Yorker (February 24, 2014)

· “Holy Mother Russia, you need to be watching The Americans. Very few shows are able to combine pleasurable episodic storytelling so deftly with solid character building and delicious suspense… What more could you possibly want from a television program?” – Maureen Ryan, The Huffington Post (February 25, 2014)

· “One of television’s finest dramas… Not only does The Americans get better – a nifty trick given how impressive season one was – but it deepens along the way and confidently asserts the narrative abilities of creator, writer and executive producer Joe Weisberg and executive producer and writer Joel Fields” – Tim Goodman, HollywoodReporter.com (February 26, 2014)

· “Brilliantly conceived spy thriller… The Americans redefines domestic espionage with its multiple layers of emotionally charged suspense” – Matt Roush, TVGuide.com (February 26, 2014)

· “fabulously played by Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys… excellent series” – Robert Bianco, USA Today (February 26, 2014)

· “gripping… Everything I praised about the series when it debuted a year ago holds true… I’m still at a loss to explain why The Americans or its cast wasn’t up for an Emmy last year… I hope that The Americans’ time has arrived” – Hank Stuever, The Washington Post (February 26, 2014)

On a Live+7 basis, season 2 of The Americans is averaging 3.08 million Total Viewers and 1.47 million Adults 18-49, respective declines of just -9% and -14%, due in part to the lofty performance of the series’ premiere episode. Time-shifted viewing has increased significantly with season 2 averaging respective gains of +130% in Adults 18-49 and +109% in Total Viewers (Live+Same Day to Live+7, compared to +93% and +83% respectively for season 1.

Set in 1981 just after Ronald Reagan is elected president, The Americans, starring Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys and Noah Emmerich, is a drama series about the complex marriage of two KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington D.C. The series was created by and is executive produced by Joe Weisberg (Falling Skies), a former CIA agent who went on to become an accomplished author. Joel Fields and Graham Yost are also executive producers, along with Amblin Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank. The Americans is produced by Fox Television Studios and FX Productions.

In tonight’s all-new episode, “New Car” – (Airs April 16, 10:00 PM – 11:11 PM E/P), Philip and Elizabeth both find themselves faced with painful turns in their various missions. Stan fights to gain access to an American military program that could give him the upper hand in his battle of wills with Oleg. Written by Peter Ackerman; directed by John Dahl.

About Fox Television Studios

Fox Television Studios produces scripted and unscripted programming for US broadcast and cable networks, and international broadcasters. Series include The Americans, starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, and The Comedians, executive-produced by and starring Billy Crystal, alongside Josh Gad, for FX; White Collar, Graceland, Sirens and the upcoming Complications, all for USA; The Killing, whose fourth season will be available in 2014 exclusively on Netflix; and the half-hour comedy, Maron, for IFC, in its second season. The studio also is in production on pilots Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll, created by and starring Denis Leary, for FX; and Blanco for Cinemax, from writer Mark Rosner and starring Shiloh Fernandez.

About FX Productions

FX Productions (FXP) produces the critically acclaimed hit comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer, Wilfred, Legit, Chozen, and upcoming comedies Married (June 2014), You’re the Worst (June 2014, and The Untitled Tracy Morgan Project (January 2015), and the drama series The Strain (July 2014). FXP co-produces the award-winning hit dramas Sons of Anarchy, Justified, and The Americans, the acclaimed drama series The Bridge, and the upcoming drama Tyrant (June 2014). FXP is also co-producing the limited series Fargo starring Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman, which debuted on April 15th.

About FX

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable channel of FX Networks, a business unit of Fox Networks Group. FX Networks is comprised of FX, FXM and FXX, its newest channel, which debuted on September 2, 2013. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 97 million homes. The diverse schedule features a growing roster of critically-acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas series, including Sons of Anarchy, Justified, The Americans and The Bridge; the upcoming dramas Tyrant (June 2014) and The Strain (July 2014); the miniseries American Horror Story and Fargo; the acclaimed hit comedy series Louie (May 5, 2014) and Archer; the new animated comedy Chozen; and scripted comedies Married and You’re The Worst, both launching in summer of 2014. The network’s library of acquired box-office hit movies is unmatched by any ad-supported television network. FX’s roster of acquired hit series includes Two and a Half Men, Anger Management and, coming in 2014, Mike & Molly.

What do you think? Have you been watching this show? How long do you think it should continue?