TNT’s new legal dramedy Franklin & Bash premiered with 2.7 million viewers last night, 1.1 million of them in the 18-49 demographic. That is a tad higher than the premiere of Season 2 (and first on TNT) of critical darling Southland (2.5 million) but lower than the debuts of other recent TNT series, including the now-canceled Dark Blue (3.5 million) and last year’s Rizzoli & Isles (7.6 million) and Memphis Beat (4.3 million). However, all those had lead-ins, while Franklin & Bash, which did well with younger male demographics, was a self-starter in the 9 PM spot. It was used to launch the third season of dramedy Men of a Certain Age (1.8 million, 591,000), which dropped alarmingly from its lead-in and was far older-skewing. It was also down 33% from the Season 2 premiere in December.
CMT has renewed country singing competition CMT’s Next Superstar for a second season to launch in late 2011/early 2012. Nigel Lythgoe and his son Simon are executive producing.
Trainer Dolvett Quince, whose clients have included Justin Bieber, has been added as a third trainer on the upcoming 12th season of NBC’s The Biggest Loser alongside veteran Bob Harper and fellow new addition Anna Kournikova.
