Fox renews Lie to Me, picks up Human Target and Sons of Tucson

Posted on May 13, 2009

Fox has picked up its 2009 procedural Lie to Me for a second season and Shawn Ryan has been tapped as an executive producer where he’ll work alongside Brian Grazer, David Nevins and creator Sam Baum next season. Ryan, who’s also an executive producer of The Unit, is still awaiting the fate of the CBS drama.

“Lie to Me came out strong, built a solid audience throughout its run and promises to be one of our big assets next season and beyond,” said Kevin Reilly, President, Entertainment for Fox Broadcasting Company. “We’re incredibly excited to have Shawn on board to infuse Lie to Me with even more creative energy next season.”

The season finale, “Sacrifice,” airs this evening at 8PM/7PMc. The synopsis says: “In the explosive season finale episode airing Wednesday, May 13 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), a terrorist bombing outside of Washington, DC causes FBI Agent Ben Reynolds (guest star Mekhi Phifer) to call on The Lightman Group to help identify those responsible and prevent more attacks. The case takes a personal turn for one member of the team and begs the question of whether honesty is indeed the best policy. Zoe (guest star Jennifer Beals) helps her ex-husband Lightman with the investigation, and both are concerned about their daughter’s safety.”

Fox has also ordered two pilots to series, Human Target and Sons of Tucson.

Human Target is is a drama based on the DC Comics character of the same name about a troubled bodyguard/private investigator (Mark Valley) who takes on dangerous assignments. Chi McBride and Jackie Earle Haley also star in the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, which Simon West directed from a script by Jon Steinberg. Wonderland Sound and Vision’s Peter Johnson and McG also serve as executive producers, as does Brad Kern (Charmed).

Sons of Tucson is a single-camera comedy about a charming but misguided hustler (Tyler Labine) hired by three brothers (Davis Cleveland, Frank Dolce and Troy Gentile) to act as their rich “father” while their real one serves time for a white-collar crime. Greg Bratman and Tommy Dewey co-created the half-hour, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television. Natalie Martinez also stars while Todd Holland directed the pilot. Harvey Myman, Jason Felts and Justin Berfield of J2TV are the executive producers with Bratman and Dewey serving as supervising producers.