via press release:
A message from Michael Wright, president and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM):
TNT’s Southland will return.
I’m proud today to announce that TNT has ordered 10 episodes for a fifth season of Southland, scheduled to begin in February 2013.
Season after season, critics and fans alike have championed TNT’s Southland as one of television’s best dramas. This year, the show has not only solidified its impassioned fan base, but also picked up some new young-adult devotees along the way.
In its fourth season, Southland centered its focus on four primary characters played by four outstanding actors:
• Michael Cudlitz as Officer John Cooper, who bounced back from surgery and an addiction to painkillers only to be put under the microscope of a new partner.
• Shawn Hatosy as Officer Sammy Bryant, who chose to give up being a detective and return to the streets as a uniformed patrolman.
• Regina King as Detective Lydia Adams, who faces probably the biggest challenge of her life, becoming a mother.
• Ben McKenzie as Officer Ben Sherman, who became a full-fledged officer only to risk his career and the life of his new partner.
And speaking of new partners, this year’s Southland featured terrific performances by Lucy Liu and Dorian Missick. Lucy Liu’s Officer Jessica Tang gave Cooper a run for his money when it comes to personal baggage. And Dorian Missick’s Detective Ruben Robinson provided exactly the kind of experienced parental insight Lydia needed as she prepares to embark on her new life as a mother. We also enjoyed great guest performances by Lou Diamond Phillips, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Marla Gibbs, Carl Lumbly, Tracey Walter and, as the unforgettable Officer Dewey Dudek, C. Thomas Howell.
TNT’s Southland found new ways this year to get under our skin with scenes and events that electrify us emotionally:
• Ben lashing out with a venomous rage we’ve never seen before when he attacks a pimp and has to be dragged off by Sammy.
• Lydia finally coming to terms with her pregnancy after being attacked and stabbed by a gang member.
• Tang hiding a toy gun’s safety tip in order to cover up a horrible mistake.
• John using his own personal story as a gay man to prevent a teen from committing suicide.
• Sammy lying slumped over and bleeding in his patrol car after he and Ben are slammed in a collision.
• John and Tang discovering a body in the wheel well of a minivan (a macabre image I’m sure few of us will ever forget).
We are very proud of Southland and grateful to everyone involved in the series, including executive producers John Wells, Chris Chulack and Jonathan Lisco; creator Ann Biderman; and our partners at Warner Bros. Television. We look forward to going deeper into the lives of Southland‘s extraordinary characters and the streets they struggle to keep safe next year.
YES. This is wonderful news!
Great news. Last week Fringe and now Southland. Im delighted.
Great news, wish it was for more episodes though
Superb news ! But, I wanted more episodes (at least 13) too.
@ William & SmG
The studio and producers tried to get 13. I guess TNT wouldn’t budge.
Despite that, Still Happy about the renewal though. This is right now IMO the best Cop drama on TV.
Yes!! Great news! Now if we could just get a season 3 DVD release.
That took a long time. Renewal news for shows that are done with their season should happen soon. (Renew Parenthood, NBC!)
This is one of the shows that defeated the odds. Good for the cast, crew and prodcuers. Who would have thought they would get 5 seasons?
Awesome news!!
Now I just need The Borgias, The Big C and The Killing and then all my shows will be renewed for another season.
What kind of ratings was the show getting on TNT?
Already 5 seasons? It feels like just yesterday it was canceled…
I just hope this final season is better that the last one.
Southaland, the little show that could. This has to be the longest running zombie drama on tv right now.
@SarahL
Noone said that season 5 was the final season
@DonJ1973
Fine. It might not be the last season. Regardless, I hope this coming season is much better than the last season. These writers need to know their characters and stop going for shock value. Ben hitting that girl was completely unbelievable and out of character, IMO.
@SarahL
That was the point of the episode. People do things out of character all the time when they are under stress and pressure. For me last season was top notch. And the show actually added viewers from the previous season if I remember correctly.
Good news. I love Southland!
@Colonel
How many times have we seen Ben under stress? Tons. All of the sudden, he lashes out and at a woman? With his past? Total gimmick. It made Southland can wait a few days after tv for me. I stuck with Justified which I now absolutely love and find “disarming.”
Not that it matters, but Southland’s demo decreased last season.
Wasn’t The Borgias already renewed?
Great news. Now we’ll find out if Sherman shot the pimp in cold blood. Plus, who owned the gun that Ferguson picked up? What will happen to the Ben and Sammy bromance? Will there be a love triangle between Ben, Sammy and Cooper? Can Lydia successfully balance career and motherhood? Will Chickie return?
And speaking of Ben Mckenzie the actor, TV has been very good to him. This is his second successful series. He’s 2 for 2.