FX 'Damages' Saved By New DirecTV Deal

DirecTV has become the patron saint of lost TV causes, saving yet another high-quality series from untimely death. Following its deal with NBC Universal for Friday Night Lights, DirecTV has inked a pact with Sony Pictures TV for the Emmy nominated Damages taking over the ratings-challenged legal drama with an order for 20 new episodes to run over two consecutive seasons, the show's fourth and fifth, in 2011 and 2012. But unlike the deal for FNL, in which the original network, NBC, got a second window on the series, Damages' new episodes will only air on DirecTV. DirecTV has also acquired the rights to Damages' first 3 seasons, which ran on FX. Here is the official release on the deal, which had been in the works for the past several months with Sony as the driving force:



CULVER CITY AND EL SEGUNDO, CALIF., July 19, 2010 – DIRECTV and Sony Pictures Television will team up to bring the award-winning DAMAGES, starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne, back with brand new episodes to be produced early next year and debuting exclusively on DIRECTV. Emmy winner Glenn Close, Emmy nominee Rose Byrne and other principal cast members will return for the new episodes.

Unlike DIRECTV’s current deal for Friday Night Lights, whereby the show airs first on DIRECTV and then on NBC, the new episodes of DAMAGES will air only on DIRECTV. Additionally, DIRECTV will have the rights to air previously produced seasons 1through 3.

“We’re excited to partner with Sony Pictures Television as we breathe new life into this outstanding drama,” said Patty Ishimoto, general manager of The 101 Network and vice president of entertainment for DIRECTV. “It’s a win for our customers because only they will be able to see these new episodes and another great step forward for DIRECTV as we continue to build our growing portfolio of exclusive, award winning programming.”

“DAMAGES is simply one of the best shows on television, and we’re grateful to DIRECTV for the opportunity to produce more episodes of this groundbreaking show," said Jamie Erlicht, president, programming and production, Sony Pictures Television. Added Zack Van Amburg, president, programming and production, Sony Pictures Television, "We're thrilled to have a new home for the show and our team of award-winning writers, producers and actors will not only maintain that standard of excellence, but deliver our best seasons yet,"

“FX was very proud to have developed one of the best scripted series on television, but, in order to have a future, the show needed DIRECTV and we are thrilled they stepped in,” said John Landgraf, President & General Manager, FX Networks, who also heads FX Productions. "Sony Pictures Television is a great production partner and we at FX Productions are excited for these next two seasons.”

Over its first three seasons on television, DAMAGES has featured what is arguably the most impressive cast and guest stars of any series on television – Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, Tate Donovan, Ted Danson, Željko Ivanek, Anastasia Griffith, Noah Bean, Tom Aldrege, Philip Bosco, Nichael Nouri, Peter Facinelli, Peter Reigert, Mario Van Peebles, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Timothy Olyphant, John Doman, Clarke Peters, Kevin Corrigan, Paige Turco, Tom Noonan, Garret Dillahunt, Campbell Scott, Martin Short, Lily Tomlin, Keith Carradine, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Michael Gaston, Darren Goldstein, Sarah Wynter and Reiko Aylesworth.

DAMAGES recently received five Emmy Award nominations for its critically acclaimed third season, Glenn Close for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Rose Byrne for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Željko Ivanek for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, Ted Danson for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series and Lily Tomlin for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.



The series earned seven Emmy Award nominations in each of its first two seasons and Close became the first actress from a basic cable series to win the Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama; Željko Ivanek became the first actor from a basic cable series to win the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor for a Drama Series, and DAMAGES was the first basic cable series to take home the Emmy for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series. DAMAGES and AMC’s Mad Men were the first basic cable series to be nominated in for Outstanding Drama Series. In its first season, DAMAGES earned the most Golden Globes nominations of any series in television with Glenn Close winning for Best Actress in a TV Series – Drama.

The show was created and is executive produced by Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman. DAMAGES is produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with FX Productions.