Showtime in reload mode

With Showtime getting entered the 20 million barrier in customers the very first time, network entertainment prexy David Nevins stated the mandate would be to keep up with the sensibility without becoming complacent.''There's no replacement for remaining about the leading edge,'' Nevins stated in the Television Experts Assn. press tour Thursday. ''A healthy network is within a continuing condition of renewal and reinvention.''Showtime's audience base increased by two million previously year to achieve 20.5 million. This Year, ''Shameless'' was the network's most-viewed drama premiere in seven years, ''Borgias'' broke that record three several weeks later and hopes exist that approaching Claire Danes starrer ''House of Lies,'' given an March. 2 launch following a sixth-season premiere of lengthy-running hit ''Dexter,'' will itself set a brand new mark.'' 'Shameless' began us inside a new direction,'' Nevins stated. '' 'Shameless' is larger it's more scope into it, (but) I do not think there is radical changes within the sensibility (except) a bit more focus on comedy within the comedies. ''I think we are still looking for the subversive figures, however i think we are busting from a particular formula which has defined quite a few recent shows. I believe we are an accumulation of individuals shows. I do not think we have to be one narrowly defined programming brand apart from being sophisticated and being adult. ... I believe we have many shows, which need to be the favourite someone, however i think heterogeneity is really a positive thing.''Showtime made one new series announcement about the unscripted side: 10-episode, half-hour, one-on-one interview series ''Laughing Stock,'' professional created by Steve Carell and David Steinberg with Vance DeGeneres and Charlie Hartsock of Slide carousel Prods. Steinberg will host interviews having a-list comic personas including Tina Fey, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Ray David, Ellen DeGeneres, Judd Apatow, Jane Lynch, Sarah Silverman, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Don Rickles and Carell.After ''Homeland,'' which co-stars Damian Lewis and Mandy Patinkin, the following high-profile launch for Showtime is going to be black dramedy ''House of Lies'' with Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell, that has been given a Jan. 9 premiere date between your season premieres of ''Shameless'' and ''Californication.''''I like implies that possess some scope, that seem like they've some bigness for them which have relevance around the world we reside in today,'' Nevins stated.Series will stay the bread and butter for Showtime, added Nevins, that has no need to contend with Cinemax varieties about the movies and miniseries front.''For us, it is abut renewable assets,'' Nevins stated. ''You fall deeply in love with something, you remain with this subscription all seasons to be able to return to that demonstrate.''On that note, it had been interesting to listen to Nevins remember the cancelation of ''United States of Tara'' after two seasons.''It would be a large show for all of us,'' Nevins stated, ''Toni Collette won an Emmy, also it got real acclaim. You need to make choices about in which you put your assets. We felt that demonstrate had accomplished what it really would accomplish. ... The time had come to purchase and plant newer and more effective seed products.''On another hands, ''Weeds'' is within its seventh season, but Nevins is ''optimistic'' about its renewal."I believe that show's got real existence inside it,Inch he stated. "Jenji (Kohan) has been doing an excellent job of changing her show and which makes it move."Two other projects remain alive at Showtime but without scheduled airdates: comicbook adaptation "100 Bullets" -- "an essential piece for all of us,Inch Nevins stated -- and Oliver Stone's 10-part "Secret Good reputation for America." Nevins stated the doc involved midway done but was interrupted by Stone's feature film schedule. "It is a labor of affection for him," Nevins stated, "but movies are his regular job and when you are getting movie financing, you are taking it and shoot it." Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com