ARCHER and JUSTIFIED renewed by FX

FX has renewed both Archer and Justified. Network president John Landgraf announced a third season renewal for the animated comedy picking up the series for 16-episode's. Three of the episodes are slated to run behind It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia in the fall and the rest airing in early 2012.

The network is also planning to expand its current portfolio of five comedy series. A sixth half-hour series will launch in early 2012, with Townies as a strong candidate. The animated comedy was created by David Hornsby, Scott Marder and Rob Rosell (It's Always Sunny). It centers on "two earnest yet misguided 15-year old best friends who have no parental supervision, they are left to raise themselves through the most awkward years of their lives."

According to TVLine's Matt Mitovich:

On the drama side, where FX suffered recent setbacks with Terriers and Light Out, the network plans to launch a new hourlong series in the fall, "likely" Ryan Murphy-Brad Falchuk's American Horror starring Connie Britton, which is now casting the pilot. Another new drama series will premiere in the winter, with pilots Outlaw Countryand Powers in the running. (The Nashville-set Outlaw Country was delivered some time ago, while Powers, based on the comics, is yet to go into production.) Coincidentally, both pilots are directed by Michael Dinner.

Here is FX's release about Justified from earlier today:

LOS ANGELES, March 29, 2011 – The FX drama series Justified is enjoying one of the most critically acclaimed seasons of any show on television this year and today the network has ordered another season of the hit series, picking up a 13-episode third season.  Six all new episodes remain in season two, with the second season finale airing May 4.

“Justified was a critically acclaimed hit series in its first season, but the show has far surpassed our expectations this season,” said FX president John Landgraf.  “Creatively, the show is on a roll.”

Developed for television by Graham Yost and starring Timothy Olyphant, Justified is based on the popular Elmore Leonard character “Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens” from his short story Fire in the Hole and some of his other novels.

Yost said, “I always say that the best review we've ever received on Justified is the fact that Elmore Leonard gets a kick out of the show.  I must add to that.  Now tied for the best feedback we've ever received is the news that a network as cool and original and supportive as FX is bringing us back for another year.”

“The show's appeal speaks volumes to Graham's fresh approach to storytelling,” said Jamie Erlicht, president of programming and production, Sony Pictures Television.

Through seven weeks, first-run episodes of Justified are averaging 3.9 million viewers (+15% vs. season 1) and 2.0 million Adults 18-49 (+18% vs. season 1).  The weekly multi-run average viewership for the season 2 is 7.2 million total viewers and 3.7 million Adults 18-49, respective gains of +6% in Total Viewers and +6% in Adults 18-49.

Yost wrote the pilot and serves as Executive Producer/Writer on the series. Leonard is an Executive Producer on the series along with Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Michael Dinner, and Olyphant is Producer. Justified is produced by FX Prods. and Sony Pictures Television.