or


[12/09/09 - 02:38 PM]
FX Comedy the League Goes Through Expansion
The new season will feature an expanded 13-episode order.
[via press release from FX]

FX COMEDY THE LEAGUE GOES THROUGH EXPANSION

Network Orders 13 Episodes for Season Two

The League's Season One Finale Tomorrow Night at 10:30 PM E/P Follows Season Five Finale of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia at 10:00 PM E/P

LOS ANGELES, December 9, 2009 � FX's freshman comedy The League has been picked up for a second season with an expanded order of 13 episodes from FX Productions, announced Nick Grad, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, FX Networks.

Season two is scheduled to return in late summer of 2010. The first season finale of The League airs tomorrow (Thursday, Dec. 10) at 10:30 PM ET/PT, immediately following the season five finale of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia at 10:00 PM.

"We've been very pleased with the creative and ratings trajectory of The League and believe it's an excellent fit with our comedy brand," said Grad. "Jackie and Jeff Schaffer are incredibly talented producers and the ensemble cast is fantastic. The performance of the show this season is reminiscent of Sunny in its first season."

Set against the backdrop of a fantasy football league, The League is about friendship, marriage, parenting, and growing up�or refusing to grow up. It was created by the husband-and-wife team of Jeff Schaffer (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld) and Jackie Marcus Schaffer (Disturbia, EuroTrip) who serve as executive producers. The ensemble features Mark Duplass, Stephen Rannazzisi, Nick Kroll, Paul Scheer, Katie Aselton and Jon Lajoie. The series is produced by FX Productions.

"This has been a wonderful experience for me and Jeff," said Jackie Marcus Schaffer. "Our cast � Mark, Steve, Nick, Paul, Katie and Jon � is made up of some of the most talented young actor-comedians in the business. So much of the credit goes to them."

Jeff Schaffer added, "FX has been like the coolest girlfriend you could ever have. They get us, laugh at our jokes, and love hearing us talk about football. It's a perfect relationship - and we look forward to going steady with them for a long time."

Episode five of The League (12/3) was the second highest-rated of the season, ahead of the premiere and behind episode two. Through five episodes, the series is averaging 1.06 million viewers and 863,000 Adults 18-49. Compared to year ago time period, The League has grown +44% among Adults 18-49, +65% in Adults 18-34, and +107% in Men 18-34. The delivery of Adults 18-34 (680,000) are +61% higher than the first season of Sunny (419,000), and +16% more in Adults 18-49 (Sunny season one, 747,000).

In tomorrow's season finale of The League (10:30 PM), "The Shiva Bowl," perennial league champion Pete (Duplass) battles it out with perennial loser Andre (Paul Scheer) in the fantasy league title game. The guys try to hide the Shiva Trophy from their high school classmate - the actual Shiva. Taco (Jon Lajoie) finally gets a "real person job." The episode was written by Jeff Schaffer & Jackie Marcus Schaffer and directed by Jeff Schaffer.

Leading into The League finale tomorrow at 10:00 PM is the fifth season finale of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In "The Gang Reignites The Rivalry," the Paddy's team is once again eligible to compete in Flipadelphia � a city wide flip cup tournament � following their ten-year ban. Now all they have to do is instigate their old rivals, who have since grown up, to enter to competition. The episode was written by Dave Chernin & Charlie Day and directed by Randall Einhorn.

FX is raising the stakes in comedy. In addition It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League, the network will debut the new animated series Archer on Thursday, January 14 at 10:00 PM ET/PT, and Louie, starring stand-up comedian/actor Louis C.K. in the spring. FX has ordered ten episodes of Archer and 13 of Louie. FX previously ordered seasons six and seven of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, with season six scheduled to launch next summer.

FX Productions co-produces the Emmy� and Golden Globe� award-winning Damages (with Sony Pictures Television), the critically acclaimed hit drama Sons of Anarchy (with Fox 21.), the upcoming drama series Justified (with Sony Pictures Television) starring Timothy Olyphant scheduled for March premiere, and recently ordered drama Lights Out (with Fox Television Studios) starring Holt McCallany. FX Productions is the sole production entity of FX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Archer and Louie.

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from the Fox Networks Group. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 96 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning original series; an established film library with box-office hits from 20th Century Fox and other studios; and an impressive roster of acquired hit series. For more information about FX, visit our web site at www.FXnetworks.com.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Live+Same Day (000s)





  [december 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA (FXX)
· LEAGUE, THE (FXX)




[02/27/26 - 01:28 PM]
Paramount to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery to Form Next-Generation Global Media and Entertainment Company
The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and is expected to close in Q3 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory clearances and approval by WBD shareholders, with a vote expected in the early spring of 2026.
[02/27/26 - 12:30 PM]
The Jaw-Dropping Fifth and Final Season of Starz's Hit Drama Series, "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" Set to Premiere June 12
To date, the series has accumulated over 21 billion minutes viewed across all episodes and remains one of Starz's top-performing series.
[02/27/26 - 09:12 AM]
Team USA Hockey Olympic Gold Medalists Hilary Knight, Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes to Appear Together on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Monday, March 2
The episode will also feature guests Nicole Kidman, Luke Thompson and a cooking demo by Chef Mario Carbone.

[02/27/26 - 08:12 AM]
Paul Wesley Joins Season Three of Hit Apple TV Series "The Buccaneers"
Wesley will play the role as Frank, a mysterious but charming stranger who arrives into Nan and Mrs. St. George's world, turning it upside down.

[02/27/26 - 07:31 AM]
Peacock to Exclusively Stream Focus Features' "Hamnet" Beginning March 6
Directed by two-time Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao, the film tells the untold story behind one of Shakespeare's most memorable works and celebrates the power of imagination and the creative spirit.

[02/27/26 - 07:01 AM]
Prime Video Debuts First-Look Image of Ryan Hurst as Kratos and Callum Vinson as Atreus On Set of New Series "God of War"
The series is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios in association with PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions, and has received a two-season order.
[02/27/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Netflix and Apple TV Join Forces to Stream Formula 1 Thrills
The entire new season of "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" is now on Netflix globally and Apple TV in the U.S.
[02/26/26 - 08:46 PM]
"Dandelion": Netflix Adapts "Gintama" Creator Hideaki Sorachi's Debut Work into New Anime Series
Set within the Send-Off Department of the Japanese Angel Federation, Dandelion follows "Angels" Tetsuo Tanba and Misaki Kurogane as they scramble to track down Earthbound spirits - souls unable to move on and find peace - and gently guide them to pass on.
[02/26/26 - 06:01 PM]
Video: "Still Shining" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After falling in love as teens, two young adults drift apart - only to reunite 10 years later and confront their heartbreak, growth and new challenges.
[02/26/26 - 02:46 PM]
Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.
"The transaction we negotiated would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval. However, we've always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid," said co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters.
[02/26/26 - 02:19 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Soars to Season High with Best Audience in Over a Year
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 157 consecutive weeks across all key measures.
[02/26/26 - 02:08 PM]
Britbox Unveils Spring Slate with "The Lady" Starring Mia McKenna-Bruce; Premieres March 18
Other highlights include the return of "Hope Street" and the debut of "Mudtown."
[02/26/26 - 01:36 PM]
Paramount Comments on Warner Bros. Discovery Board's Determination of Paramount's Proposal as Superior
David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, said: "We are pleased WBD's Board has unanimously affirmed the superior value of our offer, which delivers to WBD shareholders superior value, certainty and speed to closing."
[02/26/26 - 01:16 PM]
Warner Bros. Discovery Board of Directors Determines Revised Proposal from Paramount Skydance Constitutes a "Company Superior Proposal"
Under the terms of the Netflix merger agreement, this notice triggers a four business day period during which Netflix has the right to propose revisions to the Netflix merger agreement so that the PSKY proposal would cease to constitute a "Company Superior Proposal."
[02/26/26 - 01:00 PM]
FOX Television Network Renews Hit Joel McHale Series "Animal Control" for Season Five
In addition, the first three seasons of the series are currently streaming on Netflix, and the show has been sold in territories around the world.