USA Network’s Necessary Roughness typically airs during the summer, but there is no better time to toss out news about a football-themed show than during the NFL playoff season, and especially if the show is prepared to deliver a few winter episodes. At least that’s how USA seems to think. Network Presidents Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel announced today that Necessary Roughness has been renewed for a third season, to air this summer.
Necessary Roughness follows divorcee-turned-football therapist Dani, her romantic life at the office, and her dealings with her most troubled patient, T.K. who is always getting himself into and out of wild trouble. Last summer’s Season 2 premiere managed to pull in 4.6 million total viewers. Additionally, the network also paired the show with Royal Pains, and the two did well when airing together in a Wednesday night block during the summer, although ratings in Season 2 have been down from Season 1.
Despite airing throughout the summer, Necessary Roughness still has a few Season 2 episodes up its sleeve. The show will return to USA on January 23 to finish airing its 16-episode second season. Currently, the drama has been picked up for a shorter 10-episode third season--I’m assuming due to ratings not being quite so high during the longer season. Still, if you are a fan, I wouldn’t really be sweating about the fewer episodes just yet. If the network decides on winter episodes, again, that order could be extended.
With the pick-up of Necessary Roughness, USA’s summer slate is all set and will include Burn Notice, Covert Affairs, Royal Pains, Suits, and White Collar.
