Live from the TCA Press Tour: Showtime Orders 2 More Seasons of 'Weeds,' 2 New Comedies

The folks at Showtime had plenty to be excited about as their panels at the TCA began. Yesterday the network finally broke through at the Emmys to score its first ever nomination for Outstanding Drama Series for
Dexter and also saw acting nominations for
Michael C. Hall from
Dexter and
Mary-Louise Parker from
Weeds.
While the past year brought ratings records and plenty of awards, Showtime is looking to the future. The network just ordered two more seasons of
Weeds following the current one, it's picking up two new comedies starring a pair of top-tier actresses and a potential spin-off for
The L Word.
Your Take
hikinggirl70 said:
I am happy Dexter and Weeds are doing well for Showtime.
oscardahl said:
Both great things. I got faith in Diablo.
reeceecup527 said:
I can't wait for the next 2 seasons of Weeds, and the L Word Spin-off. I'm also kind of interested in The U...
The first new comedy premiering in January 2009 is
The United States of Tara. Starring Oscar-nominee Toni Collette, the show is about a suburban housewife with multiple personality disorder. Her children and husband (played by John Corbett) must deal not only with soccer mom Tara, but also a rebellious teenage girl called T and a gun-loving man named Buck, her other personalities.
The second new one Showtime announced at the TCA panel is tentatively titled
Nurse Jackie, about a not-so-perfect New York City nurse starring TV giant Edie Falco. Based on the preview clips shown at TCA (which looked amazing), it would seem to be to nurses what Californication is to writers. The show will begin production in the Fall with an eye towards airing it in the Spring or Summer of 2009.
With
The L Word, the upcoming final season will be open-ended and the storyline will actually continue online with an eye to developing a spin-off that will focus on one of the women. There are also two more seasons of
Secret Diary of a Call Girl already produced from the U.K. that Showtime plans on airing.
The final new show on deck is a reality documentary series that follows the day-to-day operations of a small-town gun store called
Lock 'n' Load. The show will examine the increasingly debated issue of gun control.
Check back with BuddyTV over the next week for more updates and scoops live from the TCA press tour.
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-John Kubicek, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image courtesy of Showtime)