TV Bits: Netflix May Revive ‘Reno 911!’, NBC Cancels ‘Free Agents’, CW Cancels ‘H8R’, Adult Swim Renews ‘NTSF:SD:SUV’, Cinemax Renews ‘Strike Back’
Let’s call this the “life or death” edition of TV Bits, as it’s all about renewals, cancellations, and even one possible renewal of a previously cancelled series. After the jump, more on:
Shamberg,Reno 911!colleagueStacy Sherand Netflix CCOTed Sarandoshatched the idea during a meeting earlier this year in which the three were discussing opportunities to work together. When they realizedReno 911!was consistently a popular title on Netflix, Sarandos suggested doing more episodes of the show.Reno 911!originally ran for six seasons (a total of 88 episodes) on Comedy Central before it was cancelled in 2009.
As with the possibleArrested Developmentreturn, the potential resurrection ofReno 911!marks a movement by services like Hulu and Netflix toward more exclusive programming as a way of setting themselves apart from competitors. If that means more shows I like will get brought back from the dead, I’m all for it. Now, who do I talk to about getting additional episodes ofTerriersandBetter Off Ted? [Vulture]
WhileReno 911!is working on coming back to life, two more freshman shows have bitten the dust. The CW has cancelled theMario Lopez-hosted “celebrities are people too” seriesH8R, while NBC has given the axe to theHank Azaria/Kathryn HahnsitcomFree Agents.
I haven’t seen either show, but the overall response I’ve been seeing toH8R’s demise has been along the lines of “good fucking riddance.” The show saw D-list celebrities like Snooki and Jake fromThe Bachelorconfronting ordinary people who’d criticized them on the Internet. In its stead, the CW will be showing repeat episodes of the Sarah Michelle Gellar dramaRingeron Wednesday nights.
Popular opinion seems to be more sympathetic about the end ofFree Agents, which received generally positive reviews but dismal ratings. The series starred Hahn and Azaria — both reliably excellent comedy actors — as two co-workers from a PR firm who begin sleeping together. NBC will air repeats ofWhitneyin the Wednesday 8:30 PM slot vacated byFree Agents. [Deadline,Entertainment Weekly]
On a happier note, this week also brought renewals for Cinemax’sStrike Backand Adult Swim’sNTSF:SD:SUV. The former is the first primetime drama by the network, and revolves around a former U.S. Delta Force operative (Sullivan Stapleton) who joins a top-secret counter-terrorism intelligence agency. The first season of the action series premiered in August and will end October 21. The ten-episode second season is scheduled to begin shooting early 2012 in South Africa.
The similarly themed but tonally disparateNTSF:SD:SUV, a procedural/action parody created byPaul Scheer, will also begin filming early next year for a 2012 second season debut. Its well-rated first season ended earlier this week. In case you’re wondering, the letter stand forNational Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle. [Deadline,Vulture]
