FX picks up 'Terriers,' 'Lights Out'

Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James of 'Terriers'

Credit: FX

FX capped a statistically perfect development season on Wednesday (Sept. 30), handing out 13-episode series orders to "Terriers" and "Lights Out."

Created by Ted Griffin ("Ocean's Eleven") and Shawn Ryan ("The Shield"), "Terriers" is expected to premiere on FX next summer, while "Lights Out," from the Justin Zackham ("The Bucket List") and Warren Leight ("In Treatment") will premiere in late 2010. 

"Terriers" stars Donal Logue ("Life") as an ex-cop who joins forces with his best friend, played by Michael Raymond-James ("True Blood"), on an unlicensed private investigation business. FX describes the show, pilot directed by Craig Brewer ("Black Snake Moan"), as a comedic drama.

"Lights Out" stars familiar character actor Holt McCallany as a former heavyweight champion struggling to find his identity outside of the ring.

"The series orders for 'Terriers' and 'Lights Out' cap off an unprecedented year of program development for FX," says FX President John Landgraf.  "It's great to be back in business with Shawn Ryan, who ignited the network’s successful run of original programming seven years ago with the launch of 'The Shield.'

Of the shows, Landgraf adds, "With 'Terriers,' Ted Griffin and Shawn have come up with a very entertaining comedic drama that's a bit of a departure in tone of an FX series, but lives up to the quality of the network. In 'Lights Out,' Warren Leight and Justin Zackham have delivered a very compelling character in Patrick 'Lights' Leary, and we were just blown away by the performance of Holt McCallany in the lead role."

Landgraf is referring to a development season in which FX ordered six pilots and sent all six to series. That includes "Lawman," which will premiere in March, plus three comedies, "The League," "Archer" and "Louie."

An interesting contrast might be Showtime's development season last year, in which all four of the premium cable's pilots, including high profile offerings starring Josh Lucas and Matthew Perry, were eventually rejected.