The critically-acclaimed TV series was abruptly dropped by NBC last October — but TNT has given it a new chance to prove its viewership potential.

Audio Interview: Listen now

Southland, by all accounts, got a raw deal from NBC when that network canceled the second season premiere only a couple weeks before it was scheduled to air. Blame risk aversion — blame Dateline — blame Leno — but mostly blame the major networks’ sudden disinterest in adding (or even keeping) unestablished drama series in their prime-time lineup.

Enter TNT, who saw the potential for the edgy, gritty, darker-than-usual network cop drama, and determined to give it a shot in their programming lineup.

The episode that was set to premiere on NBC on October 23 will now be aired — in altered (enhanced?) version — on TNT next Tuesday, January 12, at 9 p.m. Central.

Austin native Ben McKenzie — who many will remember from his portrayal of Ryan Atwood in The O.C. — stopped by the W Hotel in Dallas this Wednesday to promote the show. Here’s a sample of what he talks about in the audio interview:

* How he gets along — on screen and off — with co-star Michael Cudlitz.
* His hair-raising experiences riding around with undercover L.A. gang units.
* “I couldn’t do it for a living. I get enough adrenaline boost just riding around with them occasionally.”
* Whether he’s seen (or even wants to see) Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.
* What he misses most about living in Texas — and what he doesn’t miss at all.
* Changes in the show resulting from the move to TNT.

While we North Texans are shivering in our long handles, Ben will be enjoying himself in the shirtsleeves weather at tonight’s big Rose Bowl matchup between the University of Texas Longhorns and that other team. (Something about a Crimson Tide?)

Three guesses who he’ll be rooting for — and the first two don’t count.

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