Nashville returned to CMT at 8 p.m. Thursday for the second half of Season 5. A sixth season has been ordered for early 2018 that will consist of 16 episodes.
That's down from the 22 episodes broadcast networks normally offer, but more than cable outfits usually order.
Many fans worried that the series would suffer following the departure of Connie Britton and the killing off of her Rayna Jaymes character. I think it's gotten better, allowing the series to expand to other characters. And I've seen every episode of the series. It's one of the few I make time to watch just for fun.
CMT adopted Nashville after ABC canceled the drama at the end of Season 4. The ratings on CMT have been solid for a cable channel, averaging 2.1 million when you tally live plus seven-day DVR viewing. That makes it the most-watched show in CMT history.
The series has added Jeff Nordling (Big Little Lies, Desperate Housewives) as a recurring character. He plays Brad Maitland, the owner of the No. 1 record label in town. In addition to being successful and charming, he's egotistical and narcissistic. He should fit right in.
Nordling joins other cast additions Rachel Bilson (Hart of Dixie) and Kaitlin Doubleday (Empire).
Series regulars include Hayden Panettiere as Juliette Barnes, Clare Bowen as Scarlett O'Connor, Chris Carmack as Will Lexington, Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne, Jonathan Jackson as Avery Barkley and Sam Palladio as Gunnar Scott.
Two of my favorites, sisters Maisy and Lennon Stella, star as Daphne and Maddie Conrad.
Hulu will continue to stream Nashville episodes the day after they premiere on CMT.
Meanwhile, I've been getting emails from readers asking when their favorite summer shows are set to return, especially Game of Thrones. The series is usually on the air by now, but since winter is no longer coming, but is here, production began later to take advantage of filming in colder climes, especially Iceland.
GoT fans were all abuzz recently when HBO released a new trailer for Season 7. The minute and 48 seconds were dissected, discussed, parsed and microscopically examined for every clue imaginable.
The most impressive thing I found was that Drogon, Daenerys' battle dragon, is now the size of a 747. And there appears to be lots of epic fight scenes ahead.
Game of Thrones' shortened penultimate season of seven episodes premieres at 8 p.m. July 16.
What else is at hand? Here are a few shows waiting in the wings.
Today: Dice, 8:30 p.m. Showtime.
Thursday: Queen of the South, 9 p.m. USA.
Friday: Orange Is the New Black, Netflix; Dark Matter, 7 p.m. SyFy; Wynonna Earp, 9 p.m. SyFy.
Saturday: Orphan Black, 9 p.m. BBC America.
Sunday: American Grit, 8 p.m. Fox; Steve Harvey's Funderdome, 8 p.m. ABC.
Monday: So You Think You Can Dance, 7 p.m. Fox; Superhuman, 8 p.m. Fox.
June 13: Face Off, 8 p.m. SyFy.
June 16: The Ranch, Netflix.
June 18: Grantchester on Masterpiece, 8 p.m. PBS.
June 20: Wrecked, 9 p.m. TBS.
June 22: The Mist, 9 p.m. Spike; The Night Shift, 9 p.m. NBC.
June 23: GLOW, Netflix; Playing House, 10 p.m. USA.
June 25: Preacher, 8 p.m. AMC; Prime Suspect: Tennison, 9 p.m. PBS.
June 28: Younger, 9 p.m. TV Land.
June 29: Big Brother, 8 p.m. CBS; Zoo, 9 p.m. CBS.
July 9: Candy Crush, 8 p.m. CBS.
July 10: Will, 8 p.m. TNT.
July 11: Still the King, 9 p.m. CMT.
July 12: Salvation, 8 p.m. CBS; Suits, 8 p.m. USA.
July 16: The Strain, 9 p.m. FX.
July 18: Shooter, 9 p.m. USA.
Aug. 5: Sharknado 5, 7 p.m. SyFy. Yes. SyFy is still milking this cow and it's at least two 'nados too many.
Aug. 6: Ray Donovan, 8 p.m. Showtime.
Aug. 10: Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update, 8 p.m. NBC.
Aug. 18: Marvel's The Defenders, Netflix.
• The Last Ship. TNT's compelling adventure series returns with a two-hour Season 4 premiere Aug. 20.
The series follows the adventures of the Navy destroyer USS Nathan James at the center of the search for and distribution of the cure to the Red Flu that has decimated the world's population.
The series stars Eric Dane (Grey's Anatomy) as naval hero Tom Chandler and Adam Baldwin (Firefly, Chuck) as the captain of the Nathan James.
The new season will find the virus has infected crops, bringing the earth to the brink of global famine.
• Ink Master. Finally, if you're into tats, Ink Master returns for Season 9 at 9 p.m. today on Spike. This season it's teams battling it out for the $200,000 top prize.
The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:
mstorey@arkansasonline.com
Style on 06/06/2017