Midseason TV Preview: TNT Premiere Schedule and Trailers
by Andy Neuenschwander
In between their airings of movies and basketball games (which they will soon have back on their schedule), TNT has carved out a nice set of hour-long dramas and dramedies that are perfect for the fan of character-driven shows.
Granted, they don't have a "Mad Men" quality show yet, but those that want something in between the network procedurals and the character dramas of AMC have a home at TNT.
The network has been leaning heavily on the summer schedule of late: perhaps because "Falling Skies" was such a success for TNT last summer, the series premiere of the reboot of "Dallas" will air in the summer as well (along with the season two premiere of "Falling Skies," of course).
However, there's still some stuff to watch in TNT's midseason schedule. Read on for air dates and times, plus trailers for the upcoming seasons.
New Shows:
"TNT Mystery Movie Night" - Tuesdays/Wednesdays in December at 9pm
It's technically not a series (and technically not premiering either), but TNT will be offering new original mystery movies all throughout the month of December. This is a continuation of their mystery movie series that began back in November, offering a new movie on a Tuesday or a Wednesday (alternating each week) through the end of the year.
With two movies remaining in the series, you can catch "Good Morning, Killer" on December 13 at 9pm, and "Deck the Halls" on Tuesday, December 20 at 9pm.
Below are synopsis of the two remaining films in the series from TNT:
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 (JAG, Army Wives) 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. Good Morning, Killer co-stars Cole Hauser (Chase, K-Ville) as Detective Andrew Berringer; William Devane (Knots Landing, 24) as Everett Morgan "Poppy" Grey, Ana's grandfather; Titus Welliver (The Good Wife, Lost) as FBI Special Agent Mike Donnato, Ana's partner; and Suleka Mathew (TNT's HawthoRNe) as FBI Agent Barbara Sullivan, Ana's best friend at the bureau."
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-
Returning Shows:
"Southland" - Tuesday, January 17th at 10pm
Back for a 10-episode fourth season, "Southland" marches on despite having originally aired on NBC and having been dropped after just one season. TNT was quick to pick up the Los Angeles-set police drama, which was mostly a hit with critics despite lackluster viewership.
The show gets much grittier than most cop dramas do, especially those that originated on network television. As a result, "Southland" is a little more set in the reality of the day-to-day life of a police officer in LA. "Southland" also landed Lucy Liu as a new recurring cast member for season four.