TCA: FX continues originals push
Like it broadcast sister, FX is banking on some high quality shows (well, some of them are), to increase its audience. The network had its own presentation at the recent TCA Winter Press Tour:
Like other network chiefs, FX Networks President John Landgraf addressed the television violence issue, saying the industry should study it more. Landgraf pointed out the U.S. has ninety times more gun violence than in the U.K., despite consuming the same media – not to mention the easy availability of guns in the U.S. is also a factor.
– Landgraf also mentioned there “would likely” be a tenth season of long-running favorite It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and there would be 45 episodes a year of new Charlie Sheen sitcom Anger Management, which has already been sold in syndication for fall 2014. Landgraf also weighed in on the Walking Dead controversy, where Landgraf proudly pointed out he never had to fire a showrunner (Dead fired its second showrunner in three years.)
– Chris Rock, who is executive producer of Totally Biased W. Kamau Bell also weighed in on the TV violence debate. From Deadline: ….. “The gun lobby also says people need to be able to protect their property, but every mass shooting is done by guys who live with their mother. So I believe you should need to have a mortgage to buy a gun. A mortgage is a real background check. Even if you go to jail for 30 years, you’ve still got to pay your fucking mortgage.” And for Totally Biased, the show returns for a new season January 17 (tonight), with two Star Trek alumnus as guests: George Takei (Original Series) and Whoopi Goldberg (Next Generation). Bell also quipped on why he doesn’t use his first name of Walter: “Totally Biased With Walter Bell sounds like an insurance program”, he said. No wonder: you don’t want the Mayhem Guy from Allstate crashing on to your set – literally – unless they’re willing to be a sponsor…
– There are high hopes for The Americans, FX’s newest drama about two KGB spies (Felicity’s Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys) who poses as an regular American couple in the early 1980’s, based on real-life story. Graham Yost is a co-executive producer of the project (along with series creator Joe Weisberg), and plans to juggle those duties with those of Justified. Americans debuts on January 30.