Will and Grace Star Returns in Second TNT Drama

Mar 22, 2011
Sean Kernan

TNT Turner Network Television - News.Turner.com

Eric McCormack is getting another chance from TNT, starring in the series Perception. Meanwhile the net sets returns and premieres for summer dramas.

TNT is going back to the well with former Will & Grace Star Eric McCormack. The cable network has given a 10-episode green light to drama Perception, in which McCormack will star as oddball neuroscientist Dr. Geoffrey Pierce, who uses his unique deductive powers and mastery of human nature to solve seemingly unsolvable crimes for the FBI.

TNT "trusts" McCormack

This series pick up comes less than two years after McCormack starred in the charming but low rated ad-man dramedy Trust Me for the network. Trust Me was a can’t miss premise that missed, co-starring McCormack and former Ed star Tom Cavanagh as best friends who go all in on their own ad company.

Cook is "all that"

Perception will co-star Rachel Leigh Cook, returning to the spotlight after a stint on the short lived Las Vegas and a recurring role on USA’s Psych. Cook, however, is best remembered for the nerdy pretty girl who stole Freddie Prinze Jr’s heart in the teen comedy She’s All That back in 1999. Cook plays an FBI Agent and former student of McCormack’s neuroscientist.

A series rookie and a veteran in supporting roles

Rounding out the cast is Arjay Smith as Max, Dr. Pierce’s teaching assistant who has been in college for nine years. Smith’s highest profile role to date was a three episode run on the recently cancelled TNT drama Saving Grace. Finally, Kelly Rowan, best remembered as Seth’s mom on Fox’s The O.C, will play Dr. Pierce’s best friend and intellectual rival Natalie.

TNT has picked up 10 episodes of Perception, which is currently in production with no air date as of yet. TNT also announced today that the cop show Southland, starring Regina King and Ben Mackenzie, was being picked up for 10 more episodes. This will be the third cycle for Southland after the show was cancelled by NBC and rescued by TNT in 2010.

Falling Skies debut date set

TNT also set the premiere dates for returning hits and the start date for the much talked about Noah Wylie sci fi series Falling Skies. Falling Skies is produced by Steven Speilberg and made a splash by debuting a trailer last summer at comic-con international. New York Magazine said at the time that Falling Skies had all of the hallmarks of Steven Speilberg production.

TNT coming strong with summer line up

While network TV preps cast off dramas and reality series for the summer, TNT is expanding to four nights a week of original television beginning June 1st with yet another new drama/comedy Franklin & Bash. A legal drama about small time lawyers played by Saved By the Bell legend Mark Paul Gosselaar and popular comic character actor Breckin Meyer, debuting alongside the returning hit Men of A Certain Age starring Ray Romano.

Here is TNT’s new summer schedule