TNT Announces Return Dates for Four Series, Launches Original Movie Lineup

TNT"Southland" TNT has announced return dates for four of its series, including the premiere of Southland. Southland returns for its fourth season beginning Jan. 17, 2012 at 10 p.m. to begin its 10-episode run. Starring Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Ben McKenzie and Regina King, the police drama will welcome Lucy Liu, who will play a member of the Los Angeles Police Department. The Closer is back for its second half of its seventh season on Monday, Nov. 28 at 9 p.m. for five episodes, but that won't be the end of the series. The Closer will return next summer for six episodes as Kyra Sedgwick prepares to exit, followed by the debut of spinoff Major Crimes, starring Mary McDonnell as Capt. Sharon Raydor. Following The Closer will be Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander, which returns for five episodes at 10 p.m. Leverage returns for the second half of its fourth season on Sunday, Nov. 27 for eight episodes. The Timothy Hutton series is currently averaging 4.8 million viewers. Additionally, TNT will broadcast this year's Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. Christmas in Washington holiday concert special will air Friday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. The network also announced the launch of TNT Mystery Movie Night, which features six original telepics beginning Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 9 p.m. with Scott Turow's Innocent, starring Bill Pulman, Marcia Gay Harden and Alfred Molina. Ricochet, based on the book by Sandra Brown, stars John Corbett, Gary Cole and Julie Benz and debuts Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 9 p.m. Carla Gugino, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Kevin Alejandro star in Hide, airing Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. and based on the book by Lisa Gardner. Silent Witness airs Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 9 p.m. with Dermot Mulroney as a prominent defense attorney Tony Lord who defends an old friend (Cudlitz). Good Morning, Killer, adapted from April Smith's novel, is led by Catherine Bell and Cole Hauser and airs Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 9 p.m. Deck the Halls, starring Kathy Najimy and Scottie Thompson in the holiday mystery telepic, is based on the first book by Mary and Carol Higgins Clark's book series; it airs Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 9 p.m. RELATED: TNT Orders 1880s Western 'Gateway' to Pilot Carla Gugino to Star in TNT Movie 'Hide' TNT Renews 'Rizzoli & Isles' for Season 3 Angie Harmon Ben McKenzie Kyra Sedgwick TNT Southland Michael Cudlitz The Closer Rizzoli & Isles

Germany's Fine, But Where Should Woody Allen Film Next?

Following the recent success of Midnight in Paris and the filming of Bop Decameron in Rome, Woody Allen is apparently planning to set his next film in Germany. Exciting! And maybe a little predictable, but I’m enjoying the minor Zelig flashback this news conjures. Do you have visions for locales in the next leg of Allen’s film career? There’s one hope I refuse to let go… I’m craving a Midwestern Woody Allen movie. Yes, Allen’s muses are urbanity, grand romance, city-dwellers, and metropolitan madness (here are 15 European stops Movieline suggested back when Bop Decameron was announced), but ever since the Coen Brothers’ Allenesque A Serious Man came out in ‘09, I’ve waited for him to address the corn belt in film. The overseas locales can get a little misty and precious. You can’t really do the Midnight in Paris thing too often, otherwise the cloying, golden-lit vistas start to seem compulsory. I’m hoping for a down-and-dirty lady-led drama between the coasts. Something between Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean. No one in the past 40 years has crafted as many fabulous female roles as Allen, and it might be nice to see one who isn’t living it up in a Starry Night wonderland for awhile. I’m rooting for Julie Bowen for the lead, personally. As always. Where do you think Allen should venture next? Should he stay in Europe or return stateside? Germany next stop on Woody Allen’s European Tour? [THR]

Love Flynn Makes New First-Look Creating Deal At New Line

EXCLUSIVE: After separating with Contrafilm partner Tripp Vinson in June carrying out a decade-lengthy partnership, Love Flynn has created a brand new company, Flynn Picture Co. He has not strayed not even close to home. Flynn makes a 2 year non-exclusive start looking creating cope with Toby Emmerich and New Line Cinema, that was the place to find Contrafilm for more than seven years. Flynn is incorporated in the procedure for staffing up and it has taken new work place in Hollywood. One of the pictures he's creating: Journey 2: The Mysterious Island with Dwayne Manley, Josh Hutcherson and Michael Caine for brand new Line and Warner Bros Hansel and Gretel: Witch Predators with Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton for Vital and also the Anna Faris-Chris Evans-starrer What's Your Number, the Fox/New Regency comedy that'll be launched September 30. He's also got the lengthy gestating Chris Hemsworth-starrer Red-colored Beginning that was produced by MGM but that is closing on the new distribution deal.

Edie Wasserman, Wife of Lew Wasserman, Dies at 95

Edie Wasserman,the wife of the late, legendary Hollywood mogulLew Wasserman,died Thursday of natural causes in Beverly Hills, a family spokesman said Thursday. She was 95.Related Topics•Obituaries A philanthropist, patron of education and the arts and for decades the "first lady" of Hollywood, Wasserman, along with her husband, founded the charitable Wasserman Foundation in 1952. She also demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the Motion Picture & Television Fund, serving for years on its board of directors. Co-chairing a committee that raised $35 million in the early '90s for the expansion of the Fund's Motion Picture Country Home for retired industry workers, she said, "The best thing I've done is to work for the Motion Picture Country Home. It's a marvelous place, and I love the work that is done there." Her husband, who died at age 89 of complications from a stroke in 2002,arranged for her to have a birthday celebration each year at the Home. The couple was married fornearly 66 years. The daughter of a man who was the attorney forMoe Dalitz, head of the Jewish mob in Cleveland, she was born Edith Beckerman on Nov. 4, 1915, in Cleveland. She married Lew Wasserman in 1936 when he was a young agent at the MCA talent agency. She assisted him in his rise to power, first at MCA and then at Universal Pictures, which MCA took over in 1962, and where Lew Wasserman reigned as chairman from 1969-98. In Hollywood, she became the classic woman behind the man, working outside the spotlight. She formed the first so-called Hollywood Wives Club with such friends asJanet Leigh,Polly BergenandRosemary Clooney. And she played hostess to everyone from movie stars to U.S. presidents. Lew claimed he didn't make a major move without consulting his "Madame." Chris Dodd, CEO and chairman of the MPAA, called Edie and Lew friends who helped him during his years as a U.S. senator and great supporters of the MPAA and his predecessor, Jack Valenti. "Edie will be especially remembered as a great philanthropist and patron of the arts and education whose generosity was legendary," Dodd said, "especially when it came to the Motion Picture & Television Fund's home for retired industry workers. Her commitment and dedication to these causes knew no bounds and serves as a model to us all." Survivors include daughter Lynne Wasserman; grandson Casey Wasserman, the head of Wasserman Media Group and the president and CEO of the Wasserman Foundation; granddaughter Carol Leif; and great-grandchildren Emmet and Stella Wasserman and Jake Parker. E-mail: Mike.Barnes@THR.com Related Topics Obituaries

Phone Hacker Sues Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Over Legal Fees

NEW YORK - Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator who is a key figure in the News Corp. phone hacking scandal, has filed a lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch's entertainment conglomerate, the Wall Street Journal reported. In the suit, Mulcaire, who was on the shuttered News of the World tabloid's payroll, claims the company's U.K. newspaper unit breached a contract when it recently decided to stop paying his legal fees, according to the paper. Filed in U.K. High Court, the Mulcaire lawsuit says that News Corp. agreed in June 2010 to protect him against legal costs and damages, but last month terminated that guarantee. Mulcaire got a six-month prison sentence in 2007 for phone hacking and currently faces a related criminal probe and civil lawsuits. A spokesman for News Corp., which also owns the Journal, could not immediately be reached for comment. The Journal cited a representative of its U.K. newspaper unit News International as saying that Mulcaire's claim would be "vigorously contested." The Mulcaire lawsuit makes the investigator the latest former News Corp. employee or ally to have had a falling-out with the media conglomerate. Former legal advisers and a former News of the World editor criticized News Corp. in evidence published earlier in the week by a parliamentary committee that is looking into the phone hacking allegations. Meanwhile, Bloomberg News reported that News Corp. president, COO and deputy chairman Chase Carey and CFO David DeVoe are holding conversations with institutional investors, such as the California State Teachers' Retirement System, about corporate governance, succession, family control and other concerns of Wall Street people and critics. "Calstrs is involved in the engagement process, which includes sending letters, holding conference calls and meetings, with News Corp. management," a spokesman for the California teachers retirement system told Bloomberg. Related Topics Rupert Murdoch News Corp. Chase Carey Phone Hacking Scandal

Guy Ritchie Talks Sherlock Holmes 2

Stephen Fry to get naked! There was a treat for the crowd at Empire Presents... Big Screen this morning. Guy Ritchie popped down to The 02 to share some nuggets on Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows. "We're close to finishing," he told the crowd. "I'm mopping up a few details at the moment. We completely wrap in a couple of weeks, but on every film I've ever done I always leave at least a week for reshoots. "Big Screen was also treated to a world-first look at the new sizzle reel for the Sherlock sequel. Moriarty (Jared Harris) and Holmes (Robert Downey Jr. ) face off across a chess board. There's a mysterious hankie embroidered with an 'A' deposited on it by a gloved Moriarty. But what does the 'A' stand for? Anarchy? Arson? Arsene? All will be concealed. Judging from this snippet, Harris seems to have mastered the sinister smarts than make the criminal mastermind one of the great literary villains. "Moriarty is the most infamous villain in literature," stressed Ritchie, "I hope we've succeeded in presenting that, and I hope you can't see him coming too conspiciously. "Ritchie also expanded on what drew him about the sequel. "I wanted to make another one for all sorts of reason, but in no small part [it was] because of the chemistry between these two lads (Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law). That's the engine that drives the narrative. Plus, it's fun watching them. And what of the expanded scale of the sequel? You have to pinch yourself when you're involved with these movies: to have a Hollywood budget and a really English movie... it's such a privilege to stay here and make movies on this scale. "There was a brief but brilliant sight, too, of Stephen Fry as Mycroft, Sherlock's quip-ready brother. "Everyone likes Fry no matter what he does," laughed Ritchie. "He takes his clothes off in this film, and people seem to like that too. " Sherlock Holmes: Game Of Shadows is out in the UK on December 16.

HBO Renews 'True Blood' for Season 5

HBO Fangtastic news, Truebies! HBO has renewed its hit vampire series, True Blood, for Season 5. The network announced Thursday that it has ordered 12 episodes from the Alan Ball-created and executive produced series. Season 5 will go into production later this year and air in 2012. To date, the current Season 4 has averaged 12.6 million viewers per episode. PHOTOS: True Blood's Dark, Sexy New Style "I am thrilled that True Blood continues to enjoy a phenomenal reception from both subscribers and critics," says HBO Programming President Michael Lombardo. "Alan Ball and his gifted team have devised the greatest thrill ride on TV." Ball adds, "I remain amazed and delighted by the enthusiasm of our viewers. I can't imagine having more fun than this." Season 4 has found the supernatural world of Bon Temps flipped upside down as human-vampire relations have taken a turn for the worst after last season's televised display of bloodthirst by Russell Edgington (Denis O'Hare). And just as the new king, vampire Bill (Stephen Moyer) is appointed to help with the PR crisis, a new threat has showed her face. A powerful and vengeful witch named Antonia has taken over the body of local medium, Marnie (Fiona Shaw). Antonia's power over the dead, referred to as necromancy, may be the biggest threat the vampires have faced in centuries. And in the last episode, Antonia/Marnie drove the vampires underground to bound themselves in silver chains as they awaited her spell forcing them to walk into the daylight and their death. We have also seen the unraveling of the much-anticipated amnesia storyline for vampire Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), which has led to a heated romance with heroine, Sookie (Anna Paquin). True Blood is based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. Joining Ball on the series are executive producer Gregg Fienberg, co-executive producers, Brian Buckner, Mark Hudis, Nancy Oliver, Raelle Tucker, Alexander Woo, and co-producer Christina Jokanovich. Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro RELATED 'True Blood's' Denis O'Hare on Russell Edgington's Return: 'Never Give Up Hope' 'True Blood': Alan Ball Inks New Deal, Talks Season 5 All 'True Blood' Coverage on THR True Blood HBO

Whisker Wars: TV Review

"You cannot grow a beard in a moment of passion," British author G.K. Chesterton once famously quipped. But on Whisker Wars, IFC's new series about competitive facial-hair growing, there's no shortage of passion for beards.our editor recommendsIFC Developing 8 New Series "The Olympic team has people who ski-jump for America or throw shotputs for America. Beard Team USA grows beards for America," captain Phil Olsen explains during the show's lead-in. Selecting a squad from more than 80 beard-growing clubs nationwide, Olsen assembles a roster of furry-faced men he believes will give the vaunted German team a run for its money at the 2011 World Beard and Moustache Championships in Norway. But he soon finds that putting a team together is not nearly as easy as sitting back and letting whiskers grow. Keeping peace between the team's star - two-time defending world champion Jack Passion - and members of Texas' upstart Austin Facial Hair Club proves a serious challenge, and a good portion of Whisker Wars involves trash-talking and squabbling at a series of competitions leading up to the world championships. In need of constant praise for the bountiful blanket of red hair attached to his face, Passion irks the Austin crew - you quickly understand why - but whether any of the challengers deserves his hirsute title seems arbitrary. And when an Austin competition that ends in a tie is decided by a roll of the dice, you wonder whether beard-growing will, as Passion hopes, become the next Olympic sport. Executive producers Thom Beers (Deadliest Catch, Storage Wars), Philip D. Segal (Ice Road Truckers) and Jeff Conroy (After the Catch) long ago mastered the art of mining subcultures and odd professions for reality television fodder. To be sure, Whisker Wars has no shortage of quirkiness. "There's this weird, tense vibe in the air," says the girlfriend of a Brooklyn-based competitor as her hairy beau primps in front of a mirror, "and you see the strange, catty side of these jolly, hearty men to being these kind of prissy, delicate flowers." No, these aren't your ordinary sitcom characters. But as you watch the first few minutes of the premiere, you can't help but wonder if you're watching something real or a faux documentary along the lines of Best in Show. Still, even for champion beard-growers like Passion, there's not a lot of fame or monetary reward to be had on the competitive circuit. So why do these men obsess over beards that make them look like long-lost Confederate generals? Guest judge and ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons has an answer: "March forward knowing that you'll be separated from the millions," he tells the camera, "with a certain personality and a statement of style." Although that dictum doesn't fill Whisker Wars with Deadliest Catch levels of dramatic tension, this detour into the world of competitive bearding is worth a gander or two. IFC