{blackbabes} TNT Renews Southland, Green-Lights Eric McCormack Drama

TNT has renewed gritty cop drama Southland for a 10-episode fourth season, the network announced Tuesday.

"John Wells, Chris Chulack and their teams created a brilliant roller coaster ride this season, with countless riveting scenes and unforgettable character arcs," Michael Wright, executive vice president and head of programming for TNT said in a statement.

The roller coaster metaphor is apt. The series, which stars Michael Cudlitz, Benjamin McKenzie, Regina King and Shawn Hatosy, aired its first season on NBC as a midseason replacement in the spring of 2009. NBC ordered a second season, but canceled the show before the six episodes already filmed ever aired. TNT aired those NBC-produced episodes and eventually renewed the show for a third season, which ended March 8.

The show averaged 2.9 million viewers during its most recent run, a 6 percent improvement over Season 2.

TNT also announced Tuesday that it had ordered a 10-episode season of Perception, a new drama series starring Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) as an eccentric neuroscientist who uses his unique outlook and expertise to help the federal government solve complex criminal cases. From Kenneth Biller (Star Trek: Voyager, Legend of the Seeker) and Mike Sussman (Star Trek: Voyager), the series also stars Rachael Leigh Cook (She's All That), Arjay Smith (The Day After Tomorrow) and Kelly Rowan (The O.C.).

McCormack previously appeared on TNT's short-lived advertising drama, Trust Me, in 2009. Perception is slated to premiere in 2012.

Are you excited to see more of Southland? Will you check out Perception?