• by Wayne Friedman , November 2, 2009

In picking up the suddenly canceled NBC show "Southland," TNT has decided to run the show against NBC's "Jay Leno Show" at 10 p.m. starting in January.

The deal to move the show to TNT has been in the works for weeks as "Southland" producer Warner Bros. Television started looking for a home for the critically approved drama.

Rumors circulated immediately, soon after the "Southland" demise on NBC, that Warner Bros. was talking with sister company Turner Broadcasting to place the show on its TNT network. TNT has been the place for other rough-content cop shows, including top-rated "The Closer" (a Warner Bros. series) and "Saving Grace."

Since NBC's decision to air "Leno" at 10 p.m., many dramas have been left in the lurch. "Southland," a tough-talking show, got great reviews, but didn't secure stellar ratings. The grittiness of the show also kept some advertisers away, according to media analysis.

"Southland," which will start its second season, is executive-produced by John Wells, who also produced "ER" and "The West Wing." It was thought to be a replacement for NBC's longtime retiring show "ER" on Thursdays at 10 p.m.

"This is a great win for fans of "Southland" and a perfect opportunity to introduce the series to new viewers," stated Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks. "It's also another outstanding example of how TNT has established itself as the go-to place for the best dramas on television."