Tuesday was a good day for being bad, especially if you do so in the context of cable-TV comedy or drama. Showtime said that it had ordered new seasons of its dark comedies “Shameless†(about a Chicago family gone to seed); “Californication†(about an author struggling â€" and sometimes not struggling â€" with his sex life); and “House of Lies,†about a group of unscrupulous management consultants. All three series have seen their viewership grow over previous seasons, Showtime said, and will resume production later this year in Los Angeles to begin new seasons in 2014. Don Cheadle, a star of “House of Lies,†was a surprise winner of the Golden Globe for lead actor in a comedy or musical series earlier this month.
Separately, Cinemax announced that it was ordering a second season of “Banshee,†its action thriller about an ex-con masquerading as he new sheriff of a Pennsylvania town. The new season of “Banshee†will be shown in 2014, Cinemax said.
Additionally, BBC America said it had renewed “Ripper Street,†its crime drama set in late 19th-century London. The series, which is a coproduction with the BBC, will have its second season shown in 2014 as well.
