TNT Renews RIZZOLI & ISLES, MAJOR CRIMES & PERCEPTION

TNT has renewed three of its hit summer series, including the top-ranked Rizzoli & Isles and the Top 10 dramas Major Crimes and Perception. The renewals join the previously announced fourth-season order of TNT's Epic drama Falling Skies, one of the summer's most popular dramas with key demos.

TNT's news comes as all four shows rank among basic cable's Top 10 series with total viewers for the summer-to-date, with Rizzoli & Isles leading the pack at #1 and Major Crimes ranking among the Top 5. In addition, all four series rank among basic cable's Top 10 summer dramas with adults 25-54. And Falling Skies and Rizzoli & Isles are two of basic cable's Top 5 dramas with adults 18-49.

"TNT has had a terrific summer with four big hits that have drawn viewers with great storytelling, engaging characters and outstanding performances," said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). "With the renewals of Rizzoli & Isles, Major Crimes, Falling Skies and Perception, TNT has built an incredibly strong arsenal of scripted series. And it's only going to get stronger with the addition of Mob City and the return of Dallas this winter, not to mention the debuts of The Last Ship and Legends next summer."

TNT has ordered a fifth season of its blockbuster drama Rizzoli & Isles. Ranking as basic cable's #1 series for the summer-to-date, Rizzoli & Isles has averaged 8.4 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery, an increase of +6% over last season. Rizzoli & Isles is drawing 2.9 million adults 25-54 in Live + 7 and 2.3 million adults 18-49, ranking as one of basic cable's Top 5 dramas with both key demos. Rizzoli & Isles will end its summer run on Sept. 10, returning in early 2014 for the second half of its fourth season. TNT has ordered 15 episodes for the fifth season, which is slated to begin in summer 2014.

TNT's Major Crimes will return for a third season. The hit crime-drama, which currently ranks as one of basic cable's Top 5 series, is drawing more than 6.7 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery. The show is also one of basic cable's Top 10 summer dramas among adults 25-54 (2.1 million). Currently airing Mondays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), Major Crimes is set to wrap up its summer run Aug. 19. It will return in November for the second half of the season. TNT has ordered 15 episodes for season three, which is slated to begin in summer 2014.

TNT has ordered a third season of its hit series Perception. In its second season, Perception is averaging 5.6 million viewers in Live+7 delivery, with 2.0 million adults 25-54 and 1.5 million adults 18-49 in Live + 7 delivery. It ranks as one of basic cable's Top 10 summer dramas with total viewers and adults 25-54. Perception is slated to end its summer run on Aug. 27, returning in early 2014 for the rest of its second season. TNT has ordered 15 episodes for season three, which is expected to launch in summer 2014.

After delivering a sizzling summer lineup, TNT is ready to keep the fire burning with new and returning scripted dramas. Heading up the list of new shows is the eagerly anticipated series event Mob City, from executive producer Frank Darabont (The Walking Dead). The powerful drama about the Epic battle between Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker and mobster Mickey Cohen in post-World War II L.A. is slated to premiere Wednesday, Dec. 4. TNT's scripted series lineup for 2013 also includes the continuation of Major Crimes on Monday, Nov. 25. Three scripted series will return in early 2014, including the third season of Dallas and the continued current seasons of Rizzoli & Isles and Perception. Next summer, new seasons of TNT's summer hits will be joined by the action-packed drama The Last Ship, starring Eric Dane (Grey's Anatomy) and executive-produced by Michael Bay (Transformers), and Legends, starring Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings) and executive-produced by Howard Gordon (Homeland, 24).

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