TNT Announces Series Renewals and the Last Season of 'Falling Skies'

Courtesy TNT

It looks like "Falling Skies" is coming back for its fifth season but it will be its last. The TNT drama was renewed along with "The Last Ship," which premiered on June 22.  The announcement came today via a press release that revealed that the network "...has ordered 13 episodes of "The Last Ship," an increase over its first-season order of 10 episodes. The network is also ordering 15 episodes for season four of "Major Crimes." And "Falling Skies" will mark its fifth and final season with 10 episodes."

Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) was quoted as saying, "TNT's refreshed and recharged drama brand is soaring this summer, and that is due in large part to these three enormously popular dramas. 'The Last Ship' has become this summer's top drama among key adult demos with its epic scale and visceral storytelling. 'Major Crimes' continues to be one of the most enduring and popular crime-drama franchises on television. And 'Falling Skies' has begun an ambitious and thrilling story arc this summer as it sets the stage for next year's climactic final season."

Have you been watching "The Last Ship?" Let us know if you're happy about the series getting a second season. Of course we want to hear what you think about TNT announcing the fifth and final season of "Falling Skies." "The Last Ship" airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET with "Falling Skies" following at 10 p.m.

Below are the series' descriptions:

TNT's Summer Programs 'Falling Skies,' 'Legends' and 'The Last Ship' Coming to WonderCon Anaheim

Photos Courtesy TNT

Get ready Anaheim! TNT is bringing three of its action-packed summer series to WonderCon Anaheim on Saturday, April 19.

"Falling Skies" is returning to WonderCon for the second time, and the panel is set to include Moon Bloodgood ("Terminator Salvation"), Sarah Carter ("Final Destination 2"), Seychelle Gabriel ("The Last Airbender"), Doug Jones ("Pan's Labyrinth") and the show's executive producer/director Greg Beeman (Smallville, Heroes). The season premiere of "Falling Skies" is Sunday, June 22, at 10 p.m. ET.

The panel for TNT's upcoming new series "Legends" will include such huge names as Sean Bean
("Game of Thrones," "The Lord of the Rings"), Ali Larter ("Heroes"), Morris Chestnut ("American Horror Story," "Nurse Jackie") and Tina Majorino ("Grey's Anatomy," "True Blood"), along with executive producer/showrunner David Wilcox ("Fringe"). "Legends" premieres on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 9 p.m. ET.

TNT's new action-adventure series from executive producer Michael Bay, "The Last Ship," will conclude the day with stars Adam Baldwin ("Firefly") and Travis Van Winkle ("Heart of Dixie"), along with showrunners Hank Steinberg (creator of "Without a Trace," "The Nine") and Steven Kane ("The Closer"). "The Last Ship" premieres Sunday, June 22, at 9 p.m. ET.

-Larissa Mrykalo

TNT Reveals Premiere Dates and Trailers For 'Falling Skies,' 'The Last Ship' and 'Legends'

On Thursday, we reported on today's three SXSW panels featuring the TNT shows "Falling Skies," "Legends" and "The Last Ship" and now prior to the panels, the release dates and first look trailers have been revealed.

From Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM), "For the past three summers, TNT has had great creative and commercial success with 'Falling Skies,' which has inspired us to continue to program for fans of sci-fi and action. This year, we're going to launch 'The Last Ship' and 'Legends,' two expertly crafted shows that bring the storytelling scope and thrill-ride excitement of our favorite summer movies to series television. With their great writing, expansive casts and outstanding production quality, these are really fun, smart and addictive shows."

The press release provided the news that "The Last Ship" will kick off TNT's summer action series  on Sunday, June 22, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). Executive produced by Michael Bay ("Transformers"), the new series is about a Navy vessel that may be humanity's last hope in the wake of a worldwide catastrophe and stars Eric Dane ("Grey's Anatomy") and Rhona Mitra ("Strike Back").

The fourth season premiere of "Falling Skies," from Amblin Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg, will follow "The Last Ship" at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).

TNT's new drama, "Legends" premieres in August, and comes from Homeland executive producers Howard Gordon and Alexander Cary and Fringe co-executive producer David Wilcox. It is scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, August 20, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) and stars Sean Bean ("Game of Thrones") as a deep-undercover FBI agent who may be losing his grip on reality.

The release provided detailed descriptions and trailers for the three shows:

TNT and TBS Bring 'Falling Skies,' 'The Last Ship,' 'Legends' and 'The Pete Holmes Show' to SXSW

SXSW will be featuring panels from TNT and TBS favs this Monday, March 10. A press release reveals that the networks are bringing with them stars and producers of such series as TNT's "Falling Skies" and new dramas "The Last Ship" and "Legends," and TBS's late-night series "The Pete Holmes Show." 

From the release:
On Monday, March 10, the networks will stage two panels during the annual music, film and interactive conference and festival held in Austin, Texas. That night, TNT will hold a special First Look Watch Party for "The Last Ship," giving SXSW attendees the opportunity to catch the entire first episode of the action-packed series from executive producer Michael Bay ("Transformers"). Eric Dane ("Grey's Anatomy"), Rhona Mitra ("Strike Back") and Adam Baldwin ("Chuck," "Firefly") are scheduled to appear at the Watch Party.

TBS begins the panel presentations with "The Pete Holmes Show Makes It Weird" at 3:30 p.m. where host Pete Holmes will be joined by producers Nick Bernstein and Oren Brimer and head writer Karen Kilgariff for a panel discussion on what it takes to create a late-night series. Following at 5 p.m., TNT will present "The New Golden Age of Drama on TV," a discussion about the resurgence in quality television dramas, with executive producers behind the network's hit series Falling Skies and the upcoming series "The Last Ship" and "Legends." Both panels will feature extensive video clips from the shows.

Below are the details on TBS and TNT's Monday events during SXSW.

TNT to launch apocalyptic series 'The Last Ship'

Cover of Brinkley's novel

TNT clearly knows what viewers have a craving for these days: The apocalypse. Starring Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy's McSteamy) and executive-produced by Michael Bay (Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-2014), TNT’s newest drama venture, The Last Ship is based on the 1988 William Brinkley novel of the same name.

Due to launch in the summer of 2014, TNT has ordered 10 episodes of the action-packed series that opens with a global catastrophe that wipes out much of the Earth’s population. The fortunate (or unfortunate) position of the naval destroyer, U.S.S. Nathan James, leaves its crew to deal with the fact that the world as they know it, has ended.

According to a press release, Captain Tom Chandler (Dane) is a “career Navy man who is authoritative and decisive, but also fair and courageous. A born leader and a loving father and husband, Chandler is respected and loved by the men and women under his command.”