TCA: Showtime Calls Up Pro Baseball Series

‘Californication' renewed for fifth season; premiere dates announced

By Andrea Domanick -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/14/2011 4:20:45 PM

Showtime Networks has teamed up with Major League Baseball Productions and the San Francisco Giants for a new original series chronicling the world of professional baseball. The untitled series, announced Friday at the TCA winter press tour, is slated to air a preview episode timed to the opening of the 2011 MLB season with regular episodes airing in the second half of the baseball season.

Showtime Entertainment President David Nevins also revealed that the network has picked up its comedy Californication for a fifth season, following the show's fourth season premiere-its most-watched premiere to date-Jan. 9. Twelve new episodes of the series are slated to go into production this spring.

In addition, Showtime announced the premiere dates of several returning series: The third season of Nurse Jackie will debut Mar. 28 at 10 p.m., followed by the third season premiere of United States of Tara at 10:30. Freshman drama The Borgias will bow Apr. 3 with a two-hour premiere at 9 p.m. It will begin airing at its regular one-hour 10 p.m. timeslot on Apr. 10.