As summer draws to a close, we’ve made it to my favorite time of the year: new fall programming is upon us. But before we dive into the Big Network’s schedules (that’s coming later this week), let’s take a quick look at some of cable’s anticipated offerings premiering this September. Jump after the break for the rundown. Continue reading TV reminder: 5 series to look out for in September
It’s the beginning of the end for The League. The fantasy football comedy that’s really not about fantasy football at all has been renewed for a seventh and final season by FX. The upcoming batch of 13 episodes, set to premiere in fall 2015 on FXX, will see Pete, Kevin, Ruxin, Andre, Taco, and Jenny vie for the Shiva one last time. Even after six seasons, The League is still a great go-to comedy for consistent laughs and total absurdity (is a Rafi/Dirty Randy spinoff on anyone else’s mind?). Though it’ll be sad to see the show conclude, I’d say they’re certainly going out on top and not overstaying their welcome. Read quotes from the husband-and-wife team behind the series below:
“We are incredibly excited to work with our amazing cast for another season, especially because I can now announce that I finally won the fantasy football league that we play in with them,” said Jeff Schaffer.
“Whatever, I’ve won it twice,” Jackie Schaffer said. “Most players in the NFL don’t make it seven seasons, and most TV shows even less so. We want to thank FX Networks and all our Eskimo Brothers and Sisters – NFL teams would be lucky to have fans as diehard as ours.”
“Spoiler alert – We already know how it will all end – with credits and the theme song,” added Jeff Schaffer.
Click here to learn about how the series got started.
We’re fast approaching the new fall TV season, but first there are a couple premieres you can’t skip. First up is The Story of Frozen: Making an Animated Classic. It is exactly what it sounds like: a brand new special that goes behind the scenes of the making of Disney’s hit animated film Frozen. In it you’ll hear from directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, producer Peter Del Vecho, songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Disney/Pixar head John Lasseter, and of course stars Kristen Bell and Adele Dazeem Idina Menzel as well as other creatives behind the movie. Viewers will get a rare look inside Walt Disney Animation Studios and journey to the Norwegian villages and landscapes that inspired the look of Arendelle. Additionally, the special will discuss “the future of the Frozen franchise” (perhaps an official sequel announcement?!) as well as tease the upcoming Frozen-inspired story-arc coming to Once Upon a Time this fall. The Story of Frozen premieres tonight (Tuesday, 9/2) at 8PM on ABC.
The fantasy football obsessed The League, with Pete, Kevin, Ruxin, Andre, Taco, and Jenny all vying for the Shiva once again, returns for its sixth season tomorrow, Wednesday, September 3 at 10PM on FXX.
Update: The Frozen special did not spill sequel news, however an exciting announcement about the future of Frozen was indeed made at the end of the hour. Walt Disney Animation Studios is currently working on Frozen Fever, a short film featuring all your favorite Frozen characters (including Olaf!), which will debut in spring 2015 in front of an unspecified Disney film.
It’s Anna’s birthday and Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever, but Elsa’s icy powers may put more than just the party at risk.
The short is directed by Frozen helmers Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck and it will include a brand new original song by “Let It Go” songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez.
It’s raining penalty flags; I call COLLUSION!
Pete, Kevin, Andre, Taco, Jenny, and Rodney Ruxin return to vie for the Shiva once again. And if we’re lucky, Rafi–aka Brolo el Cuñado–will make an appearance along with a handful of more special guests. Season 5 of The League premieres tonight, September 4, on FX’s comedy-oriented spinoff network FXX at 10:30PM. (If you’re not sure where to find FXX on your TV, click here.) Watch a promo after the break. The fantasy football comedy migrates to the new network along with another FX staple It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. Continue reading TV reminder: ‘The League’ returns tonight (9/4) at 10:30PM on FXX
Holy Chalupa Batman, Batman! On the very day of the Shiva Bowl, FX has renewed The League for a fifth season of play. Pete, Kevin, Rodney (people call him Ruxin), Andre, Taco, and Jenny will return for 13 more episodes next fall featuring all the wacky antics that spawn from their fantasy football league competition. And the good news doesn’t stop there; a statement released by the network says that FX envisions the show sticking on their schedule beyond season five.
FX EVP of Original Programming Nick Grad: “The League is flat-out one of the funniest shows on television. Co-creators Jeff and Jackie Schaffer have such a perfect take on the material and the show has an amazingly talented ensemble cast of stars. Another season was an easy decision and we hope to have it on our schedule for many more years to come.” (!)
Series co-creator Jackie Schaffer also commented on the pickup: “It’s a dream job — we get to make a show we love with a brilliant cast on a fearless network. If the Mayans and Dirty Randy are right and the world ends tomorrow, at least we can say we made it to Season 5.”
Some stats: The current season averages 1.63 million total viewers and 1.45 million in the adults 18-49 demo. On a multi-run total basis, the season is delivering 2.43 million total viewers and 2.09 million adults 18-49 per week.
FX airs The League‘s season four finale tonight which is comprised of two back-to-back episodes, “A Krampus Carol” and “The Curse of Shiva.” Guest stars include Andre’s fiancé Trixie (Jayma Mays), Pete’s not-girlfriend Gina Gibiatti (Brooklyn Decker), Ruxin’s dad (Jeff Goldblum), and Bob Odenkirk (Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad) joins the roster as an adversary for Rodney. The one hour event starts at 10:30PM.