Winter TCA: ‘Dexter,’ ‘Homeland’ to launch new Showtime series

Showtime’s “Dexter” two years ago served as a lead-in for the launch of “Homeland,” the premium channel’s Emmy-winning drama. Now both shows are being used to help launch two new Showtime shows.

“Our plan is to harness the strength of these two shows to launch the next generation of new dramas on Showtime,” said David Nevins, president of entertainment for Showtime.

“Dexter,” about a police forensics expert who moonlights as a serial killer, will return to prime time earlier than usual on June 30 as a lead-in to “Ray Donovan,” a new drama starring Liev Schreiber. The show centers on a professional “fixer” for the rich and famous.

The third season of “Homeland” will return Sept. 29 as a lead-in for “Masters of Sex,” starring Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan as Masters and Johnson, real-life pioneers in the science of human sexuality.

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