Showtime, AMC & FX Shows Renewed Ahead of Emmys
Four shows have been given additional seasons during this summer's TV period. The shows that have been renewed have to deal with sex, hard-drives, "fixers" and vampire-like creatures.
It was announced last week that cable networks Showtime, AMC and FX would give their shows an additional season. Showtime has reinvested in two of its hits "Ray Donovan" and "Masters of Sex" by giving them an additional season. FX has given Guillermo Del Toro and Carlton Cuse's "The Strain" another season before the first season was even completed. And AMC gave its low viewed "Halt and Catch Fire" an additional season.
The 66th annual Primetime Emmys are tomorrow night, and Showtime's dramas getting nominated has perhaps given those shows a second chance at coming back. Both "Ray Donovan" and "Masters of Sex" will be returning in 2015 with 12 episodes each, The Hollywood Reporter noted.
"Both Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex are quintessentially Showtime: bold, provocative, premium television with production values at the top of the food chain," David Nevins, the Showtime Networks president, said. "These acclaimed shows are filled with complex and interesting characters and settings that will no doubt give audiences compelling television to invest in for seasons to come."
At this year's Primetime Emmys, "Masters of Sex" has three nominations, out of which Allison Janney won last weekend for Guest Actress. One of the stars, Lizzy Caplan, is nominated for a Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Also nominated is another Showtime hit with "Ray Donovan"; Jon Voight is nominated for a Supporting Actor in a Drama series, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed.
"Ray Donovan" is about a professional "fixer" who helps the rich and famous in LA. Donovan can seemingly make anyone's problems vanish except for his own family problems. "Masters of Sex" deals with the pioneers in the science of human sexuality. It was their research that initiated the birth of the sexual revolution.
What also helps Showtime's reinvestment is it's loved by critics, as well as viewers. "Ray Donovan" aired next to the former "Dexter," and "Masters of Sex" came after "Homeland." "Ray Donovan" has averaged with 5 million viewers, while "Masters of Sex" currently has 4 million viewers, The Hollywood Reporter noted.
Uniquely on FX, "The Strain" was picked up for a second season after only running for six weeks during its first season. The viewership for the show has been promising. This vampire drama from Guillermo del Toro and Carlton Cuse has drawn nearly 5 million viewers on its premiere night. The show reached 2.43 million adults within the 18-49 demographic, Deadline reported.
With its premiere episode, VOD, and digital and electronic purchases, the number of viewers has nearly tripled to 12.7 million for only its first episode. "The Strain" currently ranks No.1 as the new series on cable in 2014, Deadline reported. "The Strain" too will be returning in 2015 with 13 episodes.
"The Strain" is a thriller which tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather. Goodweather is the head of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. It is Goodweather and his team that are called to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak. The outbreak sparks and shows the signs of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. As the strain grows and spreads, Goodweather, his team, and a group of everyday New Yorkers band together to fight for humanity's fate.
Del Toro expressed his enthusiasm about the renewal with cheeky humor. "I am thrilled! Another season to spread the virus!" Del Toro said. He had directed the pilot, as well as co-wrote the best-selling books with Chuck Hogan which the TV series is based on.
"Working with Carlton, Chuck and FX has been immensely rewarding and we have such sights to unveil in the upcoming episodes. The blood hits the fan on this one, mankind becomes an endangered species," Del Toro said, Deadline reported.
While the viewership has been consistently good for the aforementioned shows, AMC's "Halt and Catch Fire" viewership numbers have been low. But AMC gave the show another season. "The Strain" and "Halt and Catch Fire" are both new shows, but "The Strain" has more viewership. However, AMC is investing in the 1980s computer drama that is "Halt and Catch Fire." The show had only 1.2 million viewers, The Verge reported.
But AMC President Charlie Collier says that they have a history of demonstrating patience when it comes to betting on new shows. Collier says that they are choosing talent and "building an audience over time," The Verge reported.
This is perhaps a head-scratcher, with "Halt and Catch Fire" averaging at 1.2 million viewers, last year's AMC show "Low Winter Sun" had 1.8 million viewers. However, "Low Winter Sun" was cancelled after its first season, The Verge reported.
The critics of the show have been kind. "Halt and Catch Fire" has been renewed for a second season. The show is set in the early 1980s, and it showcases and dramatizes the personal computing surge through the eyes of a visionary, an engineer, and a prodigy. It is their ideas and innovations that cause them to directly confront the corporate giants of that time.
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