Atlanta-based TNT renewed cop drama “Southland” for a fourth season, asking for 10 more episodes.

The show, with a slightly pared down cast, drew 2.9 million viewers a week for first-run episodes, counting DVR usage, which upped its viewership significantly. The DVR probably saved the show, which overall, was up slightly from the previous season, when TNT aired leftover episodes NBC had abandoned. (”Southland” originated in the spring of 2009 on NBC for a brief run, was canceled during the Jay Leno 10 p.m. debacle in the fall and saved by TNT soon after.)

And TNT is giving Eric McCormack (”Will & Grace”) a second chance. But this time it’s a crime drama called “Perception,” where he plays a very perceptive neuroscientist who helps the feds solve complex crimes. That doesn’t sound very original, but we’ll have to see when it comes out if it works or not. His last TNT drama in 2009 was “Trust Me,” which was a character study in an ad agency that did not do well with viewers and lasted just one season.

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By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog