FX Renews Nip/Tuck

FX said Thursday that it has renewed popular skein Nip/Tuck for a
second season, nearly halfway through the show’s freshman campaign.

FX will commission 17 episodes of the often-gory series about two plastic
surgeons, which will most likely premiere in spring or early summer 2004,
network executives said.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but sources said the network will pay
around $1 million per episode.

Through Aug. 31, Nip/Tuck was averaging a 3.0 rating through its first
five episodes, tied with USA Network’s Peacemakers as the top-rated new
scripted series thus far in 2003. The show ranks first, however, among viewers
18-49 and 25-54, FX said.

The network has seven remaining episodes in the first season, which it will
continue to run Tuesdays through Oct. 21.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.