Upfronts 2014: TNT, TBS unveil programming slates for 2014-15

TNT is going “boom!”

At a dual upfront presentation with TBS on Wednesday, the cable network unveiled a programming slate for the 2014-15 that will shift to focus on young-skewing, action-packed dramas reminiscent of summer blockbusters.

Noting that the days when “Law & Order” reruns were enough to propel the Turner-owned network to the top spot in cable are over, Michael Wright, president and head of programming for TNT and TBS, said TNT would be expanding its overall original programming and developing action-oriented series that are “younger, a little louder” -- the latter proving to be a popular buzz word during this week’s upfront presentations.

The network’s upcoming slate includes the Michael Bay-produced post-apocalyptic series “The Last Ship,” the 1960s-set police drama “Public Morals,” the Sean Bean thriller “Legends,” the film-to-television adaptation “Transporter The Series,” and the serialized supernatural drama “Proof,” starring Jennifer Beals and produced by network favorite Kyra Sedgwick.

Returning series include “Major Crimes,” “Falling Skies,” “Dallas” and “Rizzoli & Isles.”

Meanwhile sister network TBS announced it was renewing late-night show “Conan” through 2018, with Wright calling host Conan O’Brien “a lighthouse for the network that continues to shine.” In a press release, TBS boasted of the comedian’s young-skewing audience and significant online presence.

As O’Brien noted during what’s become an annual comedic set at the Turner upfront presentation, by the end of his latest deal he will have been a late-night host for 26 years. By then, O’Brien joked, he will look like “Bruce Jenner’s mother.”

Looking ahead, TBS will use the strength of its reruns of “The Big Bang Theory”-- which have been known to outrate broadcast network programming -- to continue to build its in-house comedies. New episodes of Seth MacFarlane’s “American Dad!” will move from Fox to TBS beginning this fall. On the docket for 2015 are the police procedural spoof “Angie Tribeca,” starring Rashida Jones and produced by Steve Carell, and the sitcom “Your Family or Mine,” about a young married couple dealing with difficult in-laws and starring Richard Dreyfuss and Jo Beth Williams.

Returning series include “Cougar Town,” “Ground Floor” and “Sullivan & Son.”

Here are the new and returning series for both networks (all times Eastern and Pacific):

TNT

Returning series

“Major Crimes” — Returning June 9 at 9 p.m.
“Murder in the First” — Returning June 9 at 10 p.m.
“Rizzoli & Isles” — Returning June 17 at 9 p.m.
“Perception” — Returning June 17 at 10 p.m.
“Cold Justice” — Returning June 20 at 9 p.m.
“Falling Skies” — Returning June 22 at 10 p.m.
“Franklin & Bash” — Returning Aug. 13 at 10 p.m.
“Dallas” — Returning Aug. 18 at 9 p.m.

New series

“The Last Ship” — Premieres June 22 at 9 p.m.
“Legends” — Premieres Aug. 13 at 9 p.m.
“On the Menu” — Fall 2014
“Wake Up Call” — Fall 2014
“Transporter The Series” — Fall 2014
“The Librarians” — Winter 2014

TBS

New series

“Funniest Wins” — Premieres June 19 at 10 p.m.
“CeeLo Green’s The Good Life” — Premieres June 23 at 10:30 p.m.
“Angie Tribeca” — 2015
“Buzzy’s” — 2015
“Your Family or Mine” — 2015

Returning series

“Sullivan & Son” — Returning June 24 at 10 p.m.
“American Dad!” — Fall 2014
“Ground Floor” — Winter 2014
“Cougar Town”— Early 2015