TCA: Showtime topper talks up new skeins

Showtime leader David Nevins crowed about the prosperity of newcomer series "Homeland" and also the healthy begin to comedy "House of Lies" in the net's Television Experts Assn. panel Thursday. Nevins, who required over for Bob Greenblatt because the mind from the network within the summer time of 2010, added the approaching season would probably be the final for Mary Louise Parker series "Weeds" but he does not anticipate an finish date for "Nurse Jackie," which hit some rankings problem areas this past year. Also, Nevins stated he does not anticipate greenlighting any new aircraft pilots soon, adhering using the two already given a greenlight. Having a strong original series selection under his belt, Nevins is going to be pushing the pay cabler's docu division moving forward. Approaching is a take a look at former v . p . Dick Cheney, to become directed by R.J. Cutler, in addition to profiles of Suge Dark night from helmer Antoine Fuqua as well as Richard Pryor. Nevins also sees an upside with "Episodes," by which former "Buddies" star Matt Le Blanc plays themself. Thinking the show has "real potential," Nevins has upped the episode order from seven to nine for that approaching season and stated the skein will receive a major marketing and publicity push. For aircraft pilots already purchased, Nevins told Variety that although Paul Bettany backed out among the leads in Sony's "Masters of Sex," that didn't deter him in the project concerning the lives of sex scientists William Masters and Virginia Manley. Climax not official, Lizzie Caplan continues to be spoken about for that role of Manley. "His role was very desired, and that i anticipate it uniting pretty easily, by having an a great deal larger actor," Nevins stated. The moment "Masters" is cast, Showtime will shoot both that pilot and drama "Ray Donovan," starring Liev Schreiber. For "Homeland," the show averaged 4.4 million audiences per episode when mixing original telecasts, repeats, Digital recording device usage and video-on-demand. It had been probably the most-viewed rookie skein in network background and presently ranks second on Showtime behind "Dexter," which Nevins confirmed will probably only have two seasons left. "'Homeland' would be a reveal that clearly resonated with individuals. It had been viewed by about 4.5 million people each week, nevertheless its influence went way beyond that," Nevins described. "This can be a show that's viewed within the greatest places in Washington. The leader stated he watches the show, and also the Whitened House asks us for added copies." Nevins stated them arranged well for that terrorist drama. Working again with professional producers Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa -- the trio became a member of forces on "24" when Nevins would be a producer because the mind of production shingle Imagine -- Nevins stated he got the script as he first showed up at Showtime and felt "Homeland" will be a good fit being an accompaniment to "Dexter" and situated well within the zeitgiest using the 10-year anniversary from the Sept. 11 attacks. "It had been a scenario in which the strategy arranged using the execution," Nevins stated, who added that the majority of the cast could be back for season two (set to premiere within the fall again), although he could not absolutely make sure Mandy Pantinkin was signed for any second season. For docu "The Planet Based on Dick Cheney," Nevins was unclear regarding just how much the previous Vice president would participate with Cutler. For other programming news, the brand new seasons of "Nurse Jackie," "The Large C" and "The Borgias" will premiere April 8. Also, the status of comedy reality series "The Eco-friendly Room" -- by which comics talk about standup -- is unclear, even though internet is starting "Inside Comedy" later this season. In "Inside Comedy," host David Steinberg chats with comics about the process of being funny. In sports programming, Showtime brings back another season of baseball docuseries "The Franchise" (Variety, Jan. 10) and also the internet just signed an offer with radio host Jim Rome, who'll work with CBS. When talking by what Showtime does in comparison to pay for cabler Cinemax, Nevins stated he wouldn't trade places together with his network rival. "Cinemax does their factor and, frequently, when things go well for Cinemax, they're going well for all of us. Sometimes our companies operate in tandem," he stated. "I am confident with the overall game we are playing." Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com