TNT explodes with diverse programming, TBS comedy to highlight Pittsburghers

May 21, 9:24 PMPittsburgh TV ExaminerSean Farren

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TNT stars Sedgwick, Pinkett Smith

Familiar faces in new places.

It seems that TNT and TBS have the right idea. Take beloved actors from popular shows in the past...and put them in something new and interesting!

TNT (and FX for that matter) has a penchant for creating innovative, award winning programming that both critics and audiences seem to enjoy. The cable network continues to provide better outlets and well written shows for actors who enjoy good material.

So the latest unveiling of their upcoming programming shouldn't surprise anyone.

But it surprised me as there are several shows which I can't wait to see.

Coming this summer on TNT is the fifth season of The Closer (with Kyra Sedgwick), the third for Holly Hunter's Saving Grace, and the second seasons for both Raising The Bar and Leverage. Joining those will be new medical drama Hawthorne with Jada Pinkett Smith, police drama Dark Blue (with Dylan McDermott and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer) and Wedding Day, a reality show from Survivor producer Mark Burnett that focuses on giving deserving people their perfect nuptials.

In December, TNT offers what looks to be an interesting new series about what it means to be a guy in mid life entitled Men Of A Certain Age. The drama will star old TV stalwarts Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond), Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap, Enterprise) and the woefully underused Andre Braugher (Homicide) as three friends struggling to cope with growing older.

In addition, TNT announced plans for the following:

• An alien invasion project from Steven Spielberg and Robert Rodat (Oscar nominated for Saving Private Ryan)
• Class Action, a Steven Bocho produced drama about...you guessed it...lawyers
• Zapata, Texas which focuses on a newly elected sheriff of a small town on the U.S. Mexico border
• A family drama from Roseanne creator Matt Williams
• A noir drama about a PI in 1954 LA struggling to work against America's changing times
• Pastor Jazz with the great Charles S Dutton (Roc) as a minister with a passion for jazz and people
• Proof, about an eccentric neuroscientist who helps the government solve complex cases (aka House meets Bones)

TBS offers some entertaining programming as well.

Joining returning series Meet The Browns, The Bill Engvall Show and House Of Payne will be: a new George Lopez talk show (not so interesting); Neighbors From Hell, an animated sitcom which is pretty self explanatory from Dreamworks and writers from South Park; a sketch comedy series entitled Wee Hours; and Big Tow (about a towing company).

Hmmm...I did say entertaining, didn't I?

Well, there is that small show called The Game Of Life which revolves around four recently reunited thirtysomething Pittsburghers who have discovered that life didn't turn out the way they planned (hopefully I can do many guest shots as I'm more than vaguely familiar with that subject matter).

The upside? It's about Pittsburgh which has more diverse characters than most people think so it should be replete with terrific stories.

The downside? It's produced by the same people who gave us this...