FX PICKS UP DIRT AND THE RICHES
Network Locks 2007-2008 Programming Schedule for
Basic Cable's Deepest Roster of Original Series
The Shield, Nip/Tuck, Rescue Me, Dirt, The Riches,
Damages, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, 30 Days
Rescue Me Moves to Wednesdays at 10PM Beginning June 13
New Drama Damages Premieres on Tuesday, July 24 at 10PM
LOS ANGELES, May 8, 2007 � FX has placed orders for second seasons of the drama series Dirt, starring Courteney Cox, and The Riches, starring Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver, announced John Landgraf, President and General Manager of FX Networks. With the pickups of those two dramas, the network has locked down its original programming schedule for 2007-2008, including the highly anticipated new drama series Damages, starring Glenn Close.
"We're very proud to have managed, in the toughest possible competitive environment, to launch Dirt and The Riches� two highly original series that have resonated with our audience as strongly as The Shield and Rescue Me," said Landgraf. "FX now has six original dramas, more than any network in the history of cable television, cementing the network's status as a leader in quality original series. We congratulate all the wonderfully talented actors, writers, directors and producers who worked so hard on these shows."
The ratings for Dirt and The Riches are comparable to those of Rescue Me and The Shield in weekly delivery of Adults 18-49. FX sells it series to advertisers on the metric of multiple weekly telecasts. The weekly cume delivery for Dirt in its first season 3.66 million Adults 18-49 and 5.2 million total viewers. Through seven weeks of its first season, The Riches is averaging a weekly cume audience of 3.9 million Adults 18-49 and 5.9 million total viewers. By comparison, the third season of Rescue Me posted a weekly cume audience of 3.64 million Adults 18-49 and 5.66 million total viewers. The Shield's fifth season delivered 3.65 million Adults 18-49 and 5.65 million total viewers. FX's Nip/Tuck is basic cable's #1 show in delivery of Adults 18-49, posting a weekly cume audience of 5.1 million Adults 18-49 and 7.2 million total viewers.
Dirt was created by Matthew Carnahan, who also is executive producer along with Cox, David Arquette and Joel Fields. It is produced by ABC Studios and FX Productions.
The Riches was created by Dmitry Lipkin who is also Executive Producer along with Dawn Prestwich, Nicole Yorkin, Peter O'Fallon, Eddie Izzard, Guy Oseary, Mark Morgan and Michael Rosenberg. It is produced by Fox Television Studios and FX Productions.
Listed below is the programming schedule of FX original series for the remainder of 2007:
RESCUE ME
The critically acclaimed drama series Rescue Me, starring Emmy� and Golden Globe� nominee Denis Leary, moves to Wednesdays at 10PM ET/PT beginning June 13. FX will run the 13 episodes over 14 weeks (no new episode on the night of July 4th). All series regulars return this season and guest stars include Larenz Tate (at least 4 episodes), Jerry Adler (at least 3 episodes), Jennifer Esposito (4 episodes), and Susan Sarandon (2 episodes). When FX launched Rescue Me in 2004, it occupied the Wednesday night slot.
DAMAGES
FX's new original drama series Damages premieres on Tuesday, July 24 at 10PM ET/PT. FX has ordered 13 episodes for the first season. A legal thriller set in the world of New York City high-stakes litigation, Damages follows the turbulent lives of Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) the nation's most revered and reviled high-stakes litigator and her bright, ambitious young prot�g� Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne). After Patty handpicks Ellen to be a first-year Associate at the high- profile law firm, "Hewes & Associates", life will never be the same for either one of them. Ellen, newly-engaged to her boyfriend David Connor (Noah Bean), is thrilled to join the ranks and be trained under Patty and Patty's trusted Senior Associate, Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan). But Ellen soon realizes that the price of success may be much higher than what she's willing to pay. Currently, the focus of "Hewes & Associates'" attention is a class action lawsuit targeting the allegedly corrupt Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson), one of the country's wealthiest CEOs. Patty, on behalf of her clients, is attempting to bankrupt and personally destroy Frobisher. As Patty battles with Frobisher and his attorney Ray Fiske (�eljko Ivanek) Ellen Parsons will be front and center witnessing just what it takes to win at all costs.
IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA
FX's original comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia returns for its third season in early September, with Danny DeVito returning for all 15 episodes. Sunny stars Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson and DeVito as owners of Paddy's Pub in Philadelphia, where their constant scheming to get ahead by not-so-redeemable methods usually lands them in a world of hurt.
NIP/TUCK
The Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning drama series Nip/Tuck will return for its fifth season in the fall. The cultural phenomenon that is Nip/Tuck reveals the lives of Dr. Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) and Dr. Christian Troy (Julian McMahon), two plastic surgeons, best friends and business partners who run recently relocated their thriving practice to Los Angeles.
30 DAYS
The critically acclaimed reality program 30 Days is scheduled to return to FX in late-2007 with six one-hour installments for its third season. Hosted by Morgan Spurlock, the show places and individual in a situation that challenges their beliefs, taking on subjects such as religion, immigration and labor issues to name a few.
THE SHIELD
The series that launched FX in the business of scripted drama, returns for is seventh and final season of 13 episodes in 2008. Currently in its sixth season (runs Tuesdays at 10PM through June 5), the Emmy and Golden Globe award winning series begins production of its final season next month.
DIRT
Dirt, starring Courteney Cox, returns for a 13-episode second season in 2008. Cox plays "Lucy Spiller," the ruthless, powerful editor-in-chief of the celebrity tabloid magazines DirtNow. A genius at the art of manipulation, Lucy possesses a maniacal dedication to exposing the truth about Hollywood's luminaries. As steadfast photographer Don Konkey (Ian Hart) constantly provides exclusive, shocking pictures of the rich and famous for Lucy's magazines, the glossy, perfect veneer created by Hollywood is shattered � and available on newsstands every week. Dirt exposes the truth behind the fa�ade of show business image making, and reveals the lives of those determined to do so, despite often tragic results.
THE RICHES
The first season of FX's critically acclaimed drama starring Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver airs Mondays at 10PM through June 4. The 13 episode second season is slated for 2008. In The Riches, Izzard and Driver play "Wayne and Dahlia Malloy," Irish Travellers from rural Louisiana. The Malloy's, along with their three children, go on the run after stealing money from the extended family bank. An unfortunate accident provides a great opportunity when they obtain the identity of a well-to-do "normal family," becoming "H. Douglas and Cherien Rich." Seduced by the idea of a bigger life for themselves, and armed with the keys to a new house in a posh neighborhood, they soon find that suburban life is more twisted and challenging than any of their previous stings.
FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from the Fox Networks Group. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 91 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning original series; an established film library with box-office hits from 20th Century Fox and other studios; and an impressive roster of acquired hit series. For more information about FX, visit our web site at www.FXnetworks.com.
|