via press release:
NEW SERIES HIGHLIGHT SUMMER ON SHOWTIME
LOS ANGELES, CA (March 17, 2010) – This summer, SHOWTIME is premiering an exciting slate of new and returning programming, including three series debuts: The Big C, THE REAL L WORD and THE GREEN ROOM WITH PAUL PROVENZA, and the premiere of WEEDS (season 6) and PENN & TELLER: BULLSHIT! (season 8).
The centerpiece of the summer will be a big-ticket premiere night on Monday, August 16th beginning with the return of hit comedy WEEDS at 10pm PT/ET picking up after the shocking cliffhanger at the end of last season, followed by the debut of highly-anticipated new dark comedy series The Big C at 10:30pm, starring three-time Emmy® winner Laura Linney as a wife, mother and teacher who upends her life after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis. Emmy® nominee Oliver Platt (Huff, Frost/Nixon) stars as her immature, yet well-meaning husband, and Oscar® nominee Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) plays her precocious student. WEEDS viewers, still stunned by the last year’s season finale, will finally learn what will become of the Botwins after Shane (Alexander Gould) clubbed Pilar (Kate del Castillo) to death.
The summer heats up earlier in June with the series premiere of THE REAL L WORD on Sunday, June 20th at 10pm, a new reality show inspired by the famed, long-running SHOWTIME series. Produced by the original producer of THE L WORD, Ilene Chaiken, and Magical Elves (Project Runway, Top Chef), this show will follow a group of real-life, hot and happening lesbians in their daily lives at work and play in Los Angeles. Sometimes real life is even more compelling than fiction.
For a dose of humor comes the debut of an unprecedented new comedy series – THE GREEN ROOM WITH PAUL PROVENZA Thursday, June 10th at 10:30p) – featuring comedian/actor/producer Paul Provenza and the world’s greatest comedians in a roundtable setting, speaking off-the-cuff and uncensored before a studio audience. Panelists include Roseanne Barr, Sandra Bernhard, Eddie Izzard, Paul Mooney, Bob Saget, and Jonathan Winters, among other notable and legendary talents. And at 10pm on Thursday, June 10th comes the return of PENN & TELLER: BULLSHIT! featuring America’s favorite muckrakers back on track for an amazing 8th season of skewering beloved topics, including “Cheerleaders,” "Vaccinations," and “Teen Sex.”
Schedule is as follows:
Thursday, June 10th
PENN & TELLER: BULLSHIT! – 10 pm
THE GREEN ROOM WITH PAUL PROVENZA – 10:30 pm
Sunday, June 20th
THE REAL L WORD – 10 pm
Monday, August 16th
WEEDS – 10 pm
The Big C – 10:30 pm
All times Eastern/Pacific
A lousy summer of programing on Showtime. Not even trying to challenge HBO and True Blood? So if Weeds and The Big C start in August does this mean Dexter and Californication get pushed back to October or November? Think I will cancel my subscription after The Tudors until then.
I'd look for Dexter to premiere as it always has in late September or early October. Other than its first season when it debuted mid August, Californication has had late Sept premieres.
Sounds awful. It sounds like HBO is starting to replace Showtime again.
Dexter and Californacation have usually premiered at the end of September. Normally Weeds starts in June though. I'm assuming Weeds has a 12 episode schedule and The Big C at least a 10 episode schedule. They could start Dexter at 9 at anytime but they usually pair it with Californication at 10. They would be unable to do this if The Big C ran until what I project is the third week in October. That may be when Dex and Cal start this year which has them finishing in early January. They can do this but they usually don't.
I'd also like to know when Episodes will start and that Oliver Stone doccumentary.
Theothertony: Dexter and Californication have always aired on Sunday.
Weeds and The Big C are on Monday so no conflict in pairing Dexter/Californication on Sundays.
Will Dexter even be back this year with Hall being sick?
So if Weeds is paired with The Big C, where does Nurse Jackie go? Debut sometime around September, with US of Tara?
Based on info out of Paleyfest earlier this month production was set to begin in April or May. Hall's treatment was going well and, knock on wood was scheduled to be completed well ahead the start of production.
CucumberJones, Tara and Nurse Jackie return for their second seasons THIS month on March 22
Green Room sounds like its worth checking out.
I was a big fan of Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and this seems similar.
I'm eagerly waiting for the new season of Weeds.
I will check out The Big C because Showtime has a good track record of making good shows.
Robert is I Can't Believe I'm Still Single coming back? Wasn't that a summer show?
Goodness! I'm so far out of the loop when I'm not subscribed. Hopefully Weeds and Jackie re-runs come on when I schedule my annual re-up for Dexter and Californication.
With the stuff HBO has coming down the pike, Showtime really does need to step it up a notch.
“CucumberJones, Tara and Nurse Jackie return for their second seasons THIS month on March 22″
And if anyone's interested… the first two episodes of Nurse Jackie were leaked to torrent sites earlier today. This is more proof of the theory that Showtime is responsible for these leaks as they always happen to shows that need the buzz.
As for people complaining about a drop in the quality of Showtime's lineup.. where exactly is the quality drop? What have they cancelled and replaced that was so much better than The Big C?Laura Linney is an incredible actress and Gabourey Sidibe was brilliant in precious… Oh right… maybe they need a few more sexy period soaps :/
I am always to excited to see what the networks are working on for summer. I do love most of the shows on Showtime.
Bah. Now they've leaked the first two episodes of Tara. Evil Showtime.
Weeds has turned into a train wreck. Watching this show, thinking about Nancy has completely screwed up both her kids, depresses me to no end. Andy's antics are the only reason I keep watching.
Bah. Now they've leaked the first two episodes of Tara. Evil Showtime.
Weeds has turned into a train wreck. Watching this show, thinking about Nancy has completely screwed up both her kids, depresses me to no end. Andy's antics are the only reason I keep watching.