FX renews 'The Americans' for Season 2

Keri Russell/Matthew Rhys drama gets 13 more episodes

By Daniel Fienberg Thursday, Feb 21, 2013 5:26 PM

"The Americans"

Credit: FX

Buoyed by strong audience and critical response, rather than somewhat lackluster ratings, FX has renewed "The Americans" for a second season.

FX announced on Thursday (February 21) that it has picked up a 13-episode second season for "The Americans," a renewal that comes only four episodes into the period drama's first season.

Set in 1981, "The Americans" stars Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell as a pair of KBG agents deep undercover in the United States. Noah Emmerich plays the FBI agent who just happens to live across the street.

"'The Americans has quickly established itself as a key part FX’s acclaimed drama line-up," blurbs FX President John Landgraf. "Executive Producers Joe Weisberg, Joel Fields and Graham Yost and their collaborators are telling riveting and deeply emotional stories and the performances of Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Noah Emmerich and the entire cast are simply outstanding. The show is truly worthy of its widespread critical acclaim and we are confident that its quality will continue to yield a robust and passionate audience."

Adds series creator Weisberg, "We’re very grateful to John Landgraf, Nick Grad, Eric Schrier and everyone at FX for their unwavering support of our show. We’re thrilled to be able to continue writing stories for such an incredibly talented cast led by Keri, Matthew and Noah. This has been an amazing experience for me and it couldn’t have happened without the tireless efforts of our cast and crew. We appreciate the support of the audience and we believe they have a lot to look forward to the rest of this season."

"The Americans" premiered last month with FX's must-watched series debut, with 5.11 million total viewers in Live+7 figures. After a steep decline in its second week and another drop in its third airing, the show's fourth episode had a small rebound. FX notes that the first three episodes have added 44 percent, 58 percent and 63 percent in time-shifted viewing so that "The Americans" has averaged 3.63 million viewers, including 1.87 million in the key 18-49 demographic, on a Live+3 basis for those three episodes.

FX will marathon the first five "Americans" episodes on Friday, March 1. The first season finale is set for May 1.

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.

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Jeff G

Fantastic. Hope it gains momentum like Homeland did as I think the writing is better in a lot of ways.
February 21, 2013 at 6:35PM EST Reply to Comment
- Dave I I think the writing is better than Homeland. Period. Homeland has great moments and an absolutely stunning cast. Unfortunately, the writers use contrivances and do not seem to find that at all problematic even when the audience does.
  
  I think there is room for The Americans to grow, however it has a LOT of great things going on without the regular injections of stupidity I find Homeland does.
  
  So I hope this show gains momentum. It's great, and I've already suffered through cancellations of Terriers, Awake, and Last Resort. I could use something great actually finding an audience and being allowed to grow organically and hopefully ending on its own terms.
  
  -Cheers
  February 21, 2013 at 8:49PM EST
JC

Great news. Easily my favorite show of the season.
February 21, 2013 at 7:14PM EST Reply to Comment
- Chesterfield Maybe it takes a while to properly "sink in", because I "only" liked the first two eps. I liked them a lot, but still, I wasn't in awe. But after seeing #3 and #4, I am completely hooked on this show. I am pretty convinced it's the best new show of the 12/13 season (still waiting for Hannibal, that might still sneak in as #1, you never really know with Bryan Fuller).
  The renewal is great news.
  February 25, 2013 at 11:03AM EST
Sean

Dan, do you think this is the "best" new series of 2013 so far? (I realize the field is not very competitive yet.)
February 21, 2013 at 7:55PM EST Reply to Comment
- dan Sean - I've still only watched three episodes of "House of Cards" and, obviously, four of this. I'd want to finish "House of Cards" and see where this goes, but as of now, I'd give "The Americans" the advantage. But, like you say, the field isn't especially competitive yet...
  
  -Daniel
  February 21, 2013 at 8:00PM EST
- velocityknown I know I'm not Dan, but I think that it's going to remain the strongest new show no matter what comes out in the fall.
  February 21, 2013 at 8:05PM EST
shanemd

Any hope for Legit? Know the ratings are in the toilet but it's quite great and hope it could do what a lot of FX shows do by having word of mouth get a lot more people giving it a look next year
February 21, 2013 at 10:16PM EST Reply to Comment
- Eric Robinson The ratings have slowly been improving, so there is some hope for it.
  February 22, 2013 at 10:54AM EST
Joel

Dan, do we know if all of the first 13 episodes have already been finished before the renewal? Again in comparison to Homeland, I'm curious if the renewal will change the direction at all of the first 13, or if those have already been completed.
February 25, 2013 at 10:27AM EST Reply to Comment
Dick Polman

Best news of the day. This brilliant show will storm the Emmys this year, deservedly so.
February 25, 2013 at 1:54PM EST Reply to Comment
- wilhelmina alford Americans fx is the best drama show on tv it is filled with action,I will not miss an episode
  February 28, 2013 at 1:08AM EST
Jack Foral

The Americans is a great show. Will it be coming out on DVD soon?
Jack Foral Omaha Nebraska
May 8, 2013 at 6:49PM EST Reply to Comment

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FX renews 'The Americans' for Season 2

Keri Russell/Matthew Rhys drama gets 13 more episodes

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Direct link: http://tinyurl.com/arv8n9f

FX renews 'The Americans' for Season 2

Comments

Jeff G

Fantastic. Hope it gains momentum like Homeland did as I think the writing is better in a lot of ways.

JC

Great news. Easily my favorite show of the season.

Sean

Dan, do you think this is the "best" new series of 2013 so far? (I realize the field is not very competitive yet.)

dan Sean - I've still only watched three episodes of "House of Cards" and, obviously, four of this. I'd want to finish "House of Cards" and see where this goes, but as of now, I'd give "The Americans" the advantage. But, like you say, the field isn't especially competitive yet...

-Daniel

velocityknown I know I'm not Dan, but I think that it's going to remain the strongest new show no matter what comes out in the fall.

shanemd

Any hope for Legit? Know the ratings are in the toilet but it's quite great and hope it could do what a lot of FX shows do by having word of mouth get a lot more people giving it a look next year

Eric Robinson The ratings have slowly been improving, so there is some hope for it.

Joel

Dan, do we know if all of the first 13 episodes have already been finished before the renewal? Again in comparison to Homeland, I'm curious if the renewal will change the direction at all of the first 13, or if those have already been completed.

Dick Polman

Best news of the day. This brilliant show will storm the Emmys this year, deservedly so.

wilhelmina alford Americans fx is the best drama show on tv it is filled with action,I will not miss an episode