Over the last few years, Showtime’s veteran programs, including Weeds and Dexter, have slowly finished their runs on the network. The good news is that the network has created a new programming lineup capable of filling the shoes of the old staples. This week, Showtime announced that a couple of its more recent programs have been renewed for another season at the subscription cable channel. Fans of Masters of Sex and Ray Donovan should be pleased to hear both shows will be returning for a third season in 2015.
Despite a basic dramatic appeal, Masters of Sex and Ray Donovan are very different programs. One show is about relationships and about pushing forward with sex knowledge and education in the buttoned up 1950s. The other show is a present-day drama about a fixer and his criminal father and the shenanigans they get up to on a daily basis. I would never have thought to air both shows opposite one another on Sunday nights, but that’s exactly what Showtime did, and the ratings have been pretty good for the programming block.
Showtime’s also a big fan of renewing its programming before a season has finished airing, which is why it’s not a big deal that the network made the announcement today, even though both of the shows are only halfway finished with airing their second seasons. Between Showtime’s love of early renewals, the fact that both shows are performing considerably well, and the fact that Masters of Sex and Ray Donovan both scored Emmy nominations, it’s pretty clear why Showtime would sign on for brand new seasons of both shows. Showtime may be a poor man’s HBO, but the network will take the critical acclaim where it can get it.
In a press release this morning, the subscription cable programmer noted that both shows have earned 12-episode season orders for Season 3. I’m not sure where Showtime concocted the number “12” for its programming, but it’s a standard at the network that both Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex adhere to, as do Homeland, Californication and the recently retired Dexter. Production for Season 3 of both Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex is expected to begin in early 2015.
Season 3 renewals aren’t the only thing Showtime has going for it right now. The network is also gearing up to launch the brand new series The Affair, yet another drama with provocative subject matter and a 12 episode order. The Affair is expected to hit the schedule on October 19. In the meantime, you can catch new episodes of Ray Donovan on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET and new episodes of Masters of Sex that same evening, at 10 p.m. ET.
