TVSquad

I remember watching Boomtown for the first time. I remember where I was, and at what point in our lives it was on the air. Now, I watch a lot of television and have seen and forgotten more shows than most people would ever even want to be aware of. But Boomtown had that much of an impact on me.

Oh, I'm a sucker for a unique premise or take on familiar territory. I first tuned in to 24 because it took place in "real time," and I just had to see how that would work. I tuned into Boomtown because it promised me a look at crime from every possible perspective. How, I wondered, is that possible? And yet it brilliantly, beautifully and all too briefly was.

Brian Dennehy has played a variety of roles over the years, everything from Cocoon to voicing a part in the kids' movie Ratatouille. But I tend to think of his tough-guy roles, like he played in Assault on Precinct 13 and Righteous Kill, released in theaters in September.

Now he's got another tough-guy role in the works. He's been tapped to co-star opposite Donnie Wahlberg on TNT's drama pilot Bunker Hill.

The pilot, directed by Jon Avnet, explores crime, corruption and deceit in the Bunker Hill section of Boston. Wahlberg plays Mike Moriarty, a cop who returns to Boston to protect the streets he grew up on, and Dennehy plays Martin Kelsey, a flower shop owner who was a former mob boss.

Sounds similar to The Departed, doesn't it, with the Boston setting and another Wahlberg on board? With Dennehy, Wahlberg, and Avnet involved, I'll look forward to hearing more about this project. Avnet was the producer and director of the aforementioned Righteous Kill, and I've appreciated his work dating back to 1983's Risky Business, where he served as producer.

Among many announcements from TNT at upfront week was the stated goal to dramatically increase original content. The network aims to eventually reach 80% original content, with plans for three original nights a week by 2010. How are they going to reach those goals? With cops. Lots and lots of cops.

We've already heard about the new Donnie Wahlberg DEA series, Morse Code. Three other cop shows are in development at the network, including Delta Blues, from executive producer George Clooney, which follows the story of a Memphis cop who does a little Elvis impersonating on the side. 24 co-creator Joel Surnow is also joining the TNT family with an as yet untitled series built around an ATF agent. Finishing off the law enforcement party is Angel City. Written by L.A. cop Will Beall and Barry Schindel, Angel City is being compared to Adam-12. Read on past the jump for the less cuff-heavy goings on over at TNT.

Former New Kid on the Block singer/actor Donnie Wahlberg is heading back to series television. Wahlberg will team with and director/producer Jon Avnet for a new TNT series called Morse Code. The title may change, but the set up is Donnie as a war hero who becomes an officer for the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). His beat is Boston, Donnie's hometown. The show is being scripted by Walon Green (Law & Order) and Avent will direct the pilot.

Wahlberg starred in the 2002 NBC drama, Boomtown, a highly touted series that never lived up to the network's expectations. That was the first time Donnie worked with Jon Avnet. More recently, in 2006, he was the star of Runaway for The CW. He received good notices for Spike's FX's The Kill Point in 2007, co-starring John Leguizamo.

I know, I know: 69% of you are saying, "what the heck is The Kill Point?" (50% of you might even be saying, "what the heck is Spike?" I call those people "women.")

Spike has canceled the Donnie Wahlberg drama after only one season. The show actually got decent ratings, especially among guys of a certain age, but the network has decided to go crazy on reality shows instead of investing in original, scripted programming. A spokesman for the network gave this quote: "We are out of the serialized one-hour business. We need programming that we can repeat." Oh, I'm sure TV fans are gritting their teeth over that one.

Friday's TCA, which continued cable TV presentations, felt like three days rolled into one.

Just how jam-packed and eclectic are the programs and announcements that were made?

Here's a sample: Dynasty diva Joan Collins is checking into BBC America's Hotel Babylon, Richard Dreyfus (Jaws) is not afraid to get back into the water as host of The Discovery Channel's Ocean of Fear: The Worst Shark Attack Ever and Jonny Fairplay (Survivor) of CMT's Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull-Riding Challenge sadly announced that his beloved grandmother passed away two weeks ago.

Donnie Wahlberg is back on television after the abrupt cancellation of his short-lived show, Runaway, last fall. Wahlberg and his former Boomtown co-star, Jason Gedric, are starring in an original movie on A&E called Kings of South Beach. Gedric plays Chris Troiano, founder of South Beach's most famous night clubs frequented by celebrities. But trouble begins when Chris and his new buddy, Andy Burnett (Wahlberg), open a new nightclub together. Both man have seedy pasts that catch up with them, getting them in trouble with money and mobsters.

Kings of South Beach airs Monday, March 12 at 9 pm on A&E.

The CW is jumping on this internet bandwagon thing by offering up some of its season premieres online. Veronica Mars, Everybody Hates Chris and newcomer Runaway will be available on MSN.com for one week before they premiere on the network. Online (and commercial-free) premiere dates are: Runaway on Sept. 18, Everybody Hates Chris on Sept. 24, and Veronica Mars on Sept. 26.

Runaway, by the way, is an hour-long drama about an all-American family that moves to Iowa because they're on the run from the law. The father of the family (Donnie Wahlberg) was convicted of a crime he didn't commit and the family is trying to track down the real killer. It was created by Sex and the City creator, Darren Star. (See a preview here)