Denis Leary returns to FX this summer in the new comedy “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll,” the lone new series the network has on its slate.
Leary created and produces the half-hour comedy. He also stars as Johnny Rock, an aging rocker whose band, The Heathens, imploded just as they were getting successful back in the 1990s. He gets a second shot at fame in the form of a singer named Gigi (Elizabeth Gillies), but she wants to front the reformed Heathens herself.
Louis C.K.’s latest standup special, “Louis C.K.: Live from the Comedy Store,” will premiere May 28, and new seasons of “The Strain,” “Tyrant” and “Married” also are on the FX slate.
FX summer premieres dates
(All times are Central.)
Thursday, May 28
9 p.m. “Louie” (season 5 finale)
10 p.m. “Louis C.K.: Live from the Comedy Store” (special)
Tuesday, June 16
9 p.m. “Tyrant” (season 2 premiere)
Thursday, July 16
9 p.m. “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll” (series premiere)
9:30 p.m. “Married” (season 2 premiere)
Date to come
“The Strain” (season 2 premiere)
FX summer premieres and highlights
LOUIS C.K.: LIVE FROM THE COMEDY STORE
The hour-long standup comedy special features the Emmy-winning comic at the World Famous Comedy Store in Los Angeles. C.K. wrote and directed the special and served as an executive producer along with M. Blair Breard. The special is produced by C.K.’s production company, Pig Newton. “Louis C.K.: Live at the Comedy Store” is C.K.’s sixth hour-long standup comedy special and the second to air on FX.
TYRANT
The tense political and familial drama “Tyrant” is the story of an unassuming American family drawn into the inner workings of a turbulent Middle Eastern nation. Bassam “Barry” Al-Fayeed (Adam Rayner), the youngest son of a war-torn country’s controversial dictator, returns to his homeland after a self-imposed 20-year exile in America, only to be forced back into the treacherous familial and national politics of his youth. When his brother, Jamal (Ashraf Barhom), assumes the presidency, Barry becomes a powerful force within the government, fueled by visions of bringing humanitarian freedoms to his homeland. Upon realizing that Jamal lacks any sense of justice or morality, Barry colluded with members of the U.S. government on a failed attempt at overthrowing his tyrannical reign and was arrested on charges of treason. Having been betrayed by the West, Jamal now sets his sights on the East, developing an alliance with China that he hopes will make Abbudin a global power. But Barry continues to be a thorn in Jamal’s side, becoming a symbol of freedom for the increasingly vocal insurgency. Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning Howard Gordon serves as executive producer/showunner, along with executive producers Glenn Gordon Caron, Chris Kyser, Gideon Raff, Avi Nir and Hugh Fitzpatrick. “Tyrant” is produced by FX Productions and Fox 21 Television Studios.
Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll
“Rescue Me” creator Denis Leary also created and executive produces “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll.” Leary stars as Johnny Rock, lead singer of a legendary early 90s New York band called The Heathens. Known for living up to
their name, the band partied so long and so hard that even Keith Richards thought they needed to slow things down. The Heathens were on the brink of becoming famous for their kickass live shows and the release of their highly anticipated first album. Until they broke up. The same day the album dropped. Because lead guitarist Flash (John Corbett) found Johnny in bed with his wife. So the band became legendary for all the wrong reasons—like self-destructing sooner than any group in rock ‘n’ roll history. 25 years later the only thing bigger than Johnny’s ego is his prostate. The drugs he really needs now aren’t cocaine and marijuana—they’re Crestor, Cymbalta and Cialis. He’s out of work, out of money and out of show business options. That’s when a massively talented young singer named Gigi (Elizabeth Gillies) shows up—with a burning desire to be famous, a throwback appreciation for The Heathens only album, and a stack of cash big enough to bring the whole band back into the studio. Only this time, she’s the lead singer and Johnny’s just a behind the scenes songwriter. John Ales, Bobby Kelly and Elaine Hendrix round out the rest of this dysfunctional rock and roll family. The race is on to see who gets famous first—and for what reason. Leary serves as executive producer along with Jim Serpico. “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll” is produced by FX Productions and Fox 21 Television Studios.
MARRIED
“Married” is a half hour comedy about a couple who are happy they have each other to blame. Russ (Nat Faxon) and Lina Bowman (Judy Greer) have changed almost everything about themselves in order to be responsible parents, but once in a while they find time to remind each other of who they used to be. The show also features Russ and Lina’s circle of friends who include: the divorced AJ (Brett Gelman), who is trying to chart his next move after a lost year of addiction; the May/December couple of Jess (Jenny Slate) and Shep (Paul Reiser), who are finding that age isn’t the greatest challenge in their relationship; single mother Abby (Sarah Burns) whose desperate need for approval keeps getting her in trouble; and the enabling Bernie (John Hodgman) who’s always willing to go along for the ride. “Married” was created by Andrew Gurland, who serves as executive producer/showrunner/director, alongside executive producers Peter Principato and Paul Young. “Married” is produced by FX Productions.
THE STRAIN
The transformation has begun in the award-winning thriller from Guillermo del Toro and Carlton Cuse. It can no longer be denied—New York City is rapidly falling to an evil epidemic, and no one is coming to its rescue. Its citizens must fight or die. Dr. Ephraim Goodweather and his unlikely allies tried to take down the embodiment of this evil—the Master—and failed. Now Eph and Dr. Nora Martinez concentrate on creating a biological weapon to wipe out the creatures, while Abraham Setrakian searches for an ancient book he hopes will reveal the strigoi’s entire history … and possibly a way to kill them. Meanwhile, the Master is out for revenge, sending new and even more terrifying breeds of bloodthirsty creatures after our team. They need to find a way to defeat him before the transformation has become widespread, irreparable … Before they become monsters themselves. Del Toro and Chuck Hogan serve as co-creators/executive producers/writers and Cuse as showrunner/executive producer/writer of “The Strain,” along with executive producers Gary Ungar, J. Miles Dale, Bradley Thompson, David Weddle and Regina Corrado. “The Strain” is produced by FX Productions.