ABC and Canada's Global Television have renewed drama Rookie Blue for a fourth season. The cop series has gained a loyal following during its summer airings since debuting in June 2010. Like last season's pickup, the news comes just a few episodes into the show's current season.

Although the number of episodes is not known at this time, expect Season 4 of Rookie Blue to be its typical 13, which has been the standard for all three seasons so far. A Summer 2013 return is also expected.

(Source: TV Guide)

Showtime announced today that Nurse Jackie has been renewed for a fifth season. Along with the news was word that a new showrunner has been named. Clyde Phillips, who was an executive producer on the first four seasons of Dexter, will run the show for Season 5 in place of departing Liz Brixius and Linda Wallem.

Production on the show's next season will begin in late 2012. There is no announced return date at this time.

(Source: TV by the Numbers)

CBS announced today that long-running comedy Two and a Half Men has been renewed for a tenth season. After extended negotiations with Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer, and Angus T. Jones, all three will be returning in 2012-2013.

The show will be airing its ninth season finale this Monday, capping its first full season after dealing with the controversial departure of Charlie Sheen in early 2011. The incident caused Season 8 to be abruptly cut short and called into question the future of the series. Ashton Kutcher was brought on to replace Sheen, and ratings-wise, the show continues to be one of the network's highest ranked comedies.

Two and a Half Men joins four other comedies already renewed by CBS for next season. How I Met Your Mother, 2 Broke Girls, Mike & Molly, and The Big Bang Theory will all be returning.

(Source: CBS)

The CW has renewed sophomore spy series Nikita for a third season. The show began airing in 2010, where it spent its first season on Thursday nights. After earning a second-season renewal, it was moved to Fridays at 8:00pm, paired with Supernatural, where it has found moderate success.

This season's finale airs next week on May 18, 2012. The CW has ordered 22 episodes for Season 3 of Nikita, which will likely keep its Friday night time slot. No premiere date has been announced at this time, but a September return should be expected.

(Source: TV by the Numbers)

ABC has announced that Body of Proof has been renewed for a third season. The medical procedural starring Dana Delany aired its season finale last month, capping a 20-episode second season.

Word is that 13 episodes have been ordered Season 3. No return date has been announced as of yet.

(Source: ABC)

The CW has renewed Hart of Dixie for a second season. Fans of the show should breathe a sigh of relief, as it has long been considered a toss-up for renewal or cancellation. The network did not have good news for some of its other shows today. The Secret Circle and Ringer were both cancelled.

(Source: Twitter)

NBC has renewed Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for a fourteenth season. On the air since 1999, SVU has remained a solid performer and key franchise for the beleaguered network. Even with declining viewership after long-time co-star Christopher Meloni left the show, its ratings have stayed strong enough to easily warrant another season.

(Source: TV by the Numbers)

Lifetime announced today that The Client List has been renewed for a second season. The drama, which stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, has had an impressive start for the network, averaging 2.7 million total viewers per week since its premiere on April 8, 2012.

"The Client List represents everything we want to be -- fresh, exciting and original with attitude," said Nancy Dubuc, President and GM of Lifetime Networks. "We love Jennifer and this series, and are equally thrilled that they have connected with our audience, especially as we express our new brand, ‘Your Life. Your Time.’"

Season 2 of The Client List is scheduled to premiere in 2013 with 15 new episodes. An exact return date has not yet been announced.

The CW has announced that The Vampire Diaries has received an early renewal for a fourth season. The undead drama has been one of the network's top series since hitting the airwaves in 2009.

Also getting early pick-ups today were 90210 and Supernatural. The three pick-ups leave a number of other shows' fates unknown until The CW's upfront presentation later this month on May 17. Fans of shows like The Secret Circle, Nikita, Ringer, Hart of Dixie, and Gossip Girl will have to wait a little longer to find out which of those series will return for the 2012-2013 season.

The CW has announced that Supernatural has been renewed for an eighth season. On the air since 2005, the long-running series will be back in 2012-2013 and possibly even longer. There was no word in the network's press release about Season 8 being the show's last.

Also renewed by The CW today were The Vampire Diaries and 90210. The trio of pick-ups leaves the fates of a number of other shows up in the air for now, including The Secret Circle, Nikita, Ringer, Hart of Dixie, and Gossip Girl. While not all the preceding shows will be canceled, it is certain that some will be dropped. News on other renewals is expected later this month at the network's upfront presentation that will take place on May 17, 2012.

Fox has announced that Fringe has been renewed for next season, which will see the series conclude with 13 final episodes. Amidst falling ratings and time slot changes over the years, Fringe has persevered, bolstered by its legion of loyal fans. The final, shortened season of Fringe is a smart way for the network to provide those fans a satisfying end to the series, rather than have the show pulled abruptly from the schedule mid-storyline.

Season 4 of Fringe is currently winding down, with three episodes remaining until the finale on Friday, May 11, 2012. The fifth season is scheduled for the 2012-2013 season, but no premiere date has been announced.

Fox has announced that Raising Hope has been renewed for a third season. The offbeat comedy has gained a loyal following over its first two seasons, leading to solid overall ratings in the coveted 18-49 demographic.

Before it breaks for the summer, Raising Hope will air a two-part season finale, starting with part one tomorrow night - April 10 - and concluding next week on Tuesday, April 17, 2012.

NBC has reportedly given Grimm a second season renewal. That is good news for fans of the freshman fantasy drama, given as how other new dramas on the network have not fared as well this season. Shows like The Playboy Club and Prime Suspect have already fallen by the wayside.

Grimm, however, has been pulling in solid enough ratings on Friday nights for NBC to give it a shot at another season. Its numbers have also remained rather steady over the course of its run rather than suffering from the ratings decline that many shows see as the season wears on. Grimm's average is hovering around a 1.6 in the adults 18-49 demographic, which isn't bad for a Friday night series.

(Source: TV Line)

CBS has picked up The Mentalist for a fifth season. The announcement came as the network renewed eight other dramas including The Good Wife, Criminal Minds, Person of Interest, CSI, Hawaii Five-0, Blue Bloods, and both installments of NCIS.

(Source: TV by the Numbers)

It looks like the networks’ dry spell on renewals of scripted shows this season will finally end today. I hear that CBS is prepping early pickups of a slew of existing series, with word of the first one, a third-season renewal of Blue Bloods, already out this morning. The network is not confirming.

The list will likely also include the two NCIS series, freshmen 2 Broke Girls and Person Of Interest as well as Mike & Molly, The Mentalist, veterans Criminal Minds and CSI and possibly Hawaii Five-0, whose star Alex O’Loughlin is getting treatment, critically praised but softly rated The Good Wife and Two And A Half Men, ahead of closing a deal with star Ashton Kutcher. (The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother are in the midst of multi-year pickups)

FX has ordered 13 episodes for season four of its Emmy^® Award-winning hit drama series Justified, announced Nick Grad, FX Executive Vice President of Original Programming. Six all new episodes remain in season three, airing Tuesdays at 10 PM ET/PT, with the third season finale airing April 10.

“Justified is one of television’s best series and this season has reinforced that excellence,” said Grad. “Graham Yost and his writing team continue to deliver compelling material and richly drawn characters brought to life by the brilliance of Timothy Olyphant and our terrific ensemble cast. Their work is validated by universal acclaim, awards, and ratings that have grown every year. We look forward to many more seasons to come.”

Developed for television by Graham Yost and starring Timothy Olyphant, Justified (TV-MA) is based on the popular Elmore Leonard character “Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens” from his short story Fire in the Hole and some of his other novels.

"There are many reasons all of us on Justified are grateful to get a chance to do another season,” said Yost. “We get to do more work with amazing actors, writers, producers, directors, musicians, editors and a jaw-droppingly talented crew. We get to keep doing a show that appeals to a wide demographic: people in Harlan, retired US Marshals, criminals (we honestly did hear that), and, most happily, our guide, our muse, Elmore Leonard. Best of all, we get to keep doing a show on FX (and while that may sound like craven ass-kissing, when you look at their roster, you can't help but feel grateful to be on that list)."

“Graham’s modern day take on the western and masterful storytelling have helped bring the genre to the forefront,” said John Westphal, Senior Vice President, US. current programming, Sony Pictures Television. “The storytelling and performances brought to life by Tim Olyphant, Walton Goggins and the rest of the cast, continue to elevate the series season after season.”

Through seven weeks, first-run episodes of season 3 of Justified are averaging 4.3 million viewers (+8% vs. season 2) and 2.1 million Adults 18-49 (+8% vs. season 2). The weekly multi-run average viewership for the season 3 is 7.0 million total viewers and 3.4 million Adults 18-49.

Justified airs its eighth episode tonight, titled “Watching the Detectives” (10 PM ET/PT). A shocking murder forces Raylan to confront his past mistakes. Boyd grapples with Harlan's corrupt sheriff.

The series co-stars Walton Goggins as Raylan’s old nemesis/friend “Boyd Crowder,” Nick Searcy as Givens longtime friend and boss “Chief Deputy Art Mullen,” Jacob Pitts as “Deputy Marshal Tim Gutterson,” Erica Tazel as “Deputy Marshal Rachel Brooks,” Joelle Carter as “Ava Crowder,” and Natalie Zea as Raylan’s ex-wife “Winona Hawkins.” After Margo Martindale won an Emmy Award for her guest-starring role in season two as the evil matriarch “Mags Bennett,” this season brings Neal McDonough as Detroit businessman “Robert Quarles” and Mykelti Williamson as the mysterious “Limehouse” to Face Off against Raylan Givens.

Yost wrote the pilot and serves as Executive Producer/Writer on the series. Leonard is an Executive Producer on the series along with Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, Michael Dinner and Fred Golan, and Olyphant is a Producer. Justified is produced by FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television.

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 98 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas series including Sons Of Anarchy, Justified and American Horror Story, and acclaimed hit comedy series It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer and Wilfred. Its library of acquired box-office hit movies is unmatched by any ad-supported television network. The network's other offerings include the acquired hit series Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother,and live sports with college football and the UFC.

SOURCE: The Nielsen Company, NHI (Live+7)

The cable channel has picked up its freshman drama series "Hell on Wheels" for a second season. There's no official word yet, but Deadline reports a deal is done. Word from AMC is likely to come next week.

The series, centered around the building of the transcontinental railroad in the years after the Civil War, had a big opening in November, scoring 4.4 million viewers for its premiere. That was the second-biggest premiere for an original series in AMC's history, behind only "The Walking Dead."

Its ratings have fallen some since then, but it typically draws better than 2 million viewers per week, which is a pretty good number for AMC.

"Hell on Wheels" stars Anson Mount, Common, Colm Meaney and Dominique McElligott. Joe and Tony Gayton created it. The series has Christmas off but will return Jan. 1 to finish out its inaugural season.

According to today’s announcement by David Nevins, Showtime’s President of Entertainment, production will begin on season seven in 2012 in Los Angeles. Seasons seven and eight will each consist of 12 episodes.

Season six of DEXTER is executive produced by John Goldwyn, Sara Colleton, Scott Buck, Manny Coto and Michael C. Hall. The series also stars Jennifer Carpenter, Desmond Harrington, C.S. Lee, Lauren Vélez, David Zayas, and James Remar. DEXTER opened its sixth season in October and continues to earn impressive ratings, most recently delivering its fifth consecutive week of growth. Season-to-date, the series is averaging 5.12 million weekly viewers on all platforms (including On Demand, replays and DVR), making it the highest rated season yet.

David Nevins said, “DEXTER’s enormous success is a real tribute to the great achievements of its cast, producers, and the powerhouse performance of Michael C. Hall,”. He went on to say “The series is bigger than it’s ever been in its sixth season, both in terms of audience and its impact on the cultural landscape. Together with Michael, the creative team on the show has a very clear sense of where they intend to take the show over the next two seasons and, as a huge fan, I’m excited to watch the story of Dexter Morgan play out.”

Michael C. Hall added, “On behalf of the entire DEXTER family, we relish the invitation to delve ever deeper into Dexter’s world.”

South Park, cable’s longest-running animated series up-to-date, is headed for the 20-season mark. Matt Stone and Trey Parker , the creators of this comedy, have closed a new deal with Comedy Central for three more seasons. The deal will keep the series on running through 2016, extending its run to 20 seasons.

“The collective genius of Matt and Trey knows no bounds,” Comedy Central’s president Michele Ganeless said. “Week after week and season after season they continue to surprise and delight South Park fans, and that includes all of us here at Comedy Central. We’re thrilled that the adventures of Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman will continue through 2016.”

The Showtime drama starring Michael C. Hall​ as a serial killer who targets other serial killers has officially been renewed for a sixth season.

It's no surprise really considering the show is on pace to post its highest ratings ever with its upcoming finale. The Nov. 28 episode "In the Beginning" drew the second-highest number of viewers in the series' ratings history, just shy of the Season 4 finale. The steady growth could mean big things for the most recent episode, "Hop a Freighter," and the Dec. 12 finale.

"'Dexter' is the best suspense drama on television," says David Nevins, Showtime's President of Entertainment. "To grow its audience so significantly in its fifth season is an enormous accomplishment by this amazing cast and crew. This is the easiest decision I've made since I got to Showtime."

You're welcome. Anything to make your life easier, especially if it's watching "Dexter."

"Dexter" enjoyed a stellar fourth season, which rightfully earned John Lithgow a guest actor Emmy for playing that season's villain, the Trinity Killer. Many had doubts about how the subsequent season could top the Trinity storyline, but new executive producer/writer Chip Johannessen ("24") and the full writing crew approached storytelling from a different angle in Season 5 -- having Dexter hunt down and dispatch multiple killers.