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‘Full Frontal’ renewal guarantees another year of Samantha Bee’s righteous fury

Samantha Bee
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)
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One of the few women in late-night television will be back for another year as TBS announced the second-season renewal of “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” on Wednesday.

The decision was a no-brainer for the network.

“Of course we’re picking up the show,” Thom Hinkle, senior vice president of original programming for TBS, said in a statement. “In less than a year, Sam has become one of the most talked-about personalities in all of television and ‘Full Frontal’’s audience continues to grow.”

The show debuted in February to critical acclaim and now attracts 3.3 million viewers per episode across multiple platforms.

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Bee and the series have been unrelenting in their coverage of the 2016 election, of politicians and the media alike, expressing an anger that served as a pressure valve for a country confounded by government turmoil.

Like many late-night shows, “Full Frontal” saved the bulk of its scorn for President-elect Donald Trump, an attitude reflected in Bee’s thoughts on the renewal.

“I am only sorry that this renewal leaves me unavailable for a cabinet position in the new administration,” Bee’s statement quipped. “I will, however, be available to host the White House Correspondents Dinner, seeing as I already bought the dress.”

In the nine months since its premiere, “Full Frontal” has tackled issues including untested rape kits, abortion rights and mass shootings, even sending Bee on location for segments from Jordan, Germany and Russia. Two weeks ago, the series scored an interview with President Obama.

The show will switch from its current Monday night time slot to Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 11. That’ll be just nine days before the presidential inauguration, giving Bee plenty of ammunition, no doubt.

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libby.hill@latimes.com

Twitter: @midwestspitfire

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