USA Network Orders Second Season of Gabriel Chavarria’s “The Purge” Series

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Gabriel Chavarria is still purging…

USA Network has picked up its series The Purge, starring the 29-year-old Latino actor, for a second season.

The news came ahead of the show’s Season 1 finale.

Based on the popular movie franchise, the series is a co-production with Blumhouse Television and Universal Cable Productions. It is currently the network’s No. 1 drama, averaging 2.3 million viewers in Live+7 ratings and 1.2 million in the key 18-49 demo.

“USA Network is so proud to be the television home for the iconic franchise The Purge,” said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, in a release announcing the news. “The partnership and creative trust of Jason Blum and everyone at Blumhouse Television and Universal Pictures ensured The Purge’s successful transition from film to TV – and, along with Universal Cable Productions, we look forward to digging even deeper into the mythology in Season 2.”

The series revolves around a 12-hour period when all crime, including murder, is legal. Set in an altered America ruled by a totalitarian political party, Season 1 follows several seemingly unrelated characters living in a small city. As the clock winds down, they are forced to reckon with their past as they discover how far they will go to survive the night.

Film franchise creator James DeMonaco is executive producer of the series.

In addition to Chavarria, who portrays Miguel Guerrero, the series also stars Jessica Garza.

USA Network Renews Torres’ “Suits” for a Sixth Season

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Torres will be suiting up for another season…

A week into Suits’ fifth season, USA Network has renewed its flagship drama for a 16-episode sixth season.

The news comes after the Season 5 premiere of the legal drama, starring the 46-year-old Cuban American actress, logged 3.4 million viewers and 1.3 adults 18-49 in Live+3.

In Live+same day ratings, Suits was down slightly from the Season 4 opener (2.13 million vs. 2.50 million) but remains USA’s top drama.

The series, created/executive produced by Aaron Korsh and set at a fast-paced Manhattan corporate law firm, is also a reliable utility player

It was just used to launch USA’s new hacker drama series Mr. Robot, which was given a second season renewal last Wednesday.

Also working for Suits is the fact that the series is owned by USA, coming from Universal Cable Prods.

“Suits has set the bar high in every way and continues to be a strong performer and marquee property for USA,” said USA president Chris McCumber. Added UCP president Jeff Wachtel, “Aaron Korsh has some great surprises for the audience at the end of Season 5 that should really set future seasons on an exciting new course.”

Along with Torres, Suits also stars Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Meghan Markle, Sarah Rafferty and Rick Hoffman.

USA Network Orders Braga’s “Queen Of The South” to Series

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Alice Braga is ready to rule the USA Network…

The network has picked up its drama pilot Queen Of The South, starring the 32-year-old Brazilian actress, to series with a 13-episode order for a 2016 premiere.

The pilot was developed and produced by Fox 21 Television Studios (then Fox Television Studios), which will now co-produce with Universal Cable Productions.

Based on best-selling book La Reina Del Sur by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Queen Of The South tells the story of Teresa Mendoza (Braga).

When her drug-dealing boyfriend is unexpectedly murdered in Mexico, Teresa is forced to go on the run and seek refuge in America, where she teams with an unlikely figure from her past to bring down the leader of the very drug trafficking ring that has her on the run. In the process, she learns the tools of the trade and strategically positions herself to become the leader of the Cartel.

M.A. Fortin and Joshua John Miller wrote the pilot. Charlotte Sieling directed the pilot.

“From script to inception, Queen Of The South had us hooked,” said USA Network president Chris McCumber. “Alice Braga does an outstanding job playing Teresa Mendoza, a determined woman who defies all odds, to not only survive, but to thrive in an unfamiliar world.”

This is not La Reina Del Sur‘s first television adaptation in the U.S. Telemundo aired a popular telenovela, which ran in 2011 to big ratings.

USA Network Renews Torres’ Legal Drama “Suits” for a Fifth Season

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Torres will be suitin’ up for another season…

USA Network has renewed its legal drama Suits, starring the 45-year-old Cuban American actress, for a fifth season.

Torres portrays Jessica Lourdes Pearson, the co-founding and managing partner of Pearson Hardman, who was mentored by Daniel Hardman when she was an associate fresh out of Harvard Law School.

The network’s order is for 16 episodes, matching the current fourth season, whose midseason finale airs next week.

Suits averages nearly 4 million viewers and 1.6 million adults 18-49.

“Suits continues to fire on all cylinders, delivering provocative storytelling and complex characters that viewers can’t get enough of,” said USA President Chris McCumber.

In addition to Torres, the series also stars Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Meghan Markle, Rick Hoffman and Sarah Rafferty.

Last Episode of Roday’s “Psych” to Air March 26, Followed by a Special Live After-Show

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’ll be a memorable last hurrah for James Roday and his Psych cast mates…

USA Network has formally announced that the current eighth season of the 37-year-old Mexican American actor’s cult favorite series will be its last, which the last episode airing on March 26.

Roday and his Psych co-star Dule Hill made the official announcement today via video posted on YouTube.

“Psych has made an indelible imprint on the television landscape, with a unique brand of comedy,” said Chris McCumber, president of USA Network. “The final season celebrates the iconic characters that have made this show so beloved, and will be an exclamation point on the series’ incredible run.”

“Psych is one of those rare projects that broke into the cultural mainstream,” added Jeff Wachtel, President and Chief Content Officer, NBCU Cable Entertainment. “Its wild energy, fearless fun and engaging characters delivered an unrivaled series that will continue to be loved by fans for as long as there are ways to watch TV.”

But Psych fans will get an extra-special goodbye via Psych After Show, a one-hour live show in front of a studio audience that will feature a Q&A with Roday and the cast, as well as show creator Steve Franks.

Produced by Wilshire Studios, the after-show will feature favorite clips, audience Q&A and never-before-seen footage.

The final five episodes of the current season will beg airing February 26, right after the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Montana’s “Graceland” Series Renewed for a Second Season

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Manny Montana will be spending another year at Graceland…

Two days before Graceland‘s first-season finale, the USA Network has given the drama, starring the Latino actor as Joe ‘Johnny’ Tuturro, a 13-episode second-season renewal.

Graceland got off to a decent start in June with 3.3 million total viewers and 1 million adults 18-49 against Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

With high double-digit Live+7 bumps, Graceland has averaged 4 million total viewers (+74%) and 1.8 million adults 18-49 (+90%) in its most current ratings, ranking as the No. 1 new cable scripted series of the summer in 18-49.

“[Show creator] Jeff Eastin has once again delivered for USA Network,” said USA President Chris McCumber. “We’re proud to be the home of one of the summer’s top new cable dramas and anticipate Graceland will be a long-term player for the network.”

In Graceland, from Fox Television Studios, rookie FBI Agent Mike Warren (Aaron Tveit) is unexpectedly shipped off to a Southern California beachfront property-turned-safehouse for undercover agents, dubbed “Graceland,” and assigned to investigate his would-be mentor — the enigmatic and legendary FBI Agent Paul Briggs (Daniel Sunjata).

Montana’s “Graceland” Headed to Series at USA

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Manny Montana will be going undercover in the near future…

The USA Network has picked up the one-hour drama Graceland, which stars the Latino actor.

From White Collar creator Jeff Eastin, the ensemble series centers on a diverse group of agents from the FBI, DEA and U.S. Customs who are forced to live together in an undercover beach house in Southern California.

In addition to Montana—who most recently wrapped production of Cybergeddon, which stars Olivier Martinez—Graceland stars Rescue Me‘s Daniel Sunjata as the house’s senior FBI agent Paul Briggs, “who has a legendary past but traded in his suit and tie for a more zen existence.”

Montana’s other co-stars include Aaron Tveit, Vanessa Ferlito and Brandon Jay McLaren.

“There aren’t many people we’d trust to run two shows on our air, but Jeff Eastin is one of them,” said USA Co-Presidents Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel. “He wrote a brilliant script… Daniel and Aaron anchor an incredible ensemble cast.”

No word on yet on when Graceland will begin airing.

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