Diablo Cody Showtime Series Debuts Jan. 18, Paired With L Word Final Bow & Secret Diary Series Two

Roger Catlin at the Hartford Courant:

Showtime announced a start date for one of its most interesting new series. "United States of Tara" starring Toni Collette as a mother with multiple personalities, starts Jan. 18.

Among the executive producers are Steven Spielberg and Diablo Cody, the Oscar winner for "Juno." John Corbett, Nathan Corddry and Rob Moran also star. 

That Sunday night will also be marked by the second season start for "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" starring Billie Piper, and for the beginning of the sixth and final season of "The L Word."

I was not aware of the Nathan Corddry casting (image right). You saw Rob's brother in the only season of Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip.

Secret Diary of a Call Girl debuts this week on ITV in the UK. I'm sure many of you will be filling me in on how they shot around Billie's belly.

Nicola Mostyn at Manchester Confidential has more on the new season and says:

It’s the second series of Secret Diary of a Call Girl and it’s as seductive as ever. Though clearly, like any job, being an escort is not without its niggles. In the first episode, Belle met the wrong Alex in a hotel bar and was back in his room before she realised that this one was not a paying customer, but just a very surprised and excited anaesthetist. “I am fucking moving to London,” he said, unable to believe his luck, before Belle got the call that the real Alex – a much older, less attractive, portly fellow – was waiting in his hotel room and had to skedaddle.

Now, about that L Word spinoff that we keep hearing about, progress is being made. Leisha Hailey will come front and center as Alice Pieszecki on the series that's being developed by Ilene Chaiken.

Also, note that Digital Spy is reporting that Lucy Lawless is upcoming in this the final season of the landmark Showtime drama.