Executive director John Wells, of "ER" fame shopped "Southland" to other networks. To the rescue: Cable network TNT, who said it will bring the cop drama back next year, with plans to air all six episodes that were shot by NBC, as well as the seven episodes from the first season. "Southland" is scheduled to air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. beginning Jan. 12.

On "Southland," Hatosy plays Detective Sammy Bryant, assigned to the Los Angeles Police Department's gang activity division.

"I was very proud of the (season two first) episode," Hatosy said when he learned NBC dropped it. "(The show) is what they told us it was going to be -- an authentic LA cop show. The show was balanced. Every department was at their best."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, NBC pulled the show citing its content was "too dark and gritty for broadcast TV, especially for 9 p.m." The 10 p.m. weeknight slot is filled by "The Jay Leno Show."

Hatosy said being a regular on "Southland" was "like no other creative experience that I can remember."

Also a seasoned film actor, the 33-year-old Hatosy has an impressive resume that includes more than 30 films. His two most recent are "Public Enemies," released summer 2009 and starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale; and the remake of the 1992 cult classic "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," in which Hatosy portrays Nicholas Cage's partner, Armand Benoit. The movie also stars Val Kilmer and Eva Mendes.

"The director (Werner Herzog) calls it a re-envisioning of the original," Hatosy said in a phone interview from his home in LA. Cage plays a "compulsive character who will do whatever's put in front of him," Hatosy said. "If he's the bad lieutenant, I'm the good lieutenant."

The film was shot in New Orleans. The movie opened in limited release last week.

In addition to roles in TV and film, Hatosy continues to do live theater, something he's done since he was a sixth-grader at New Market Middle School. His first on-stage performance was in a Linganore High School production, where he had a bit part. "So at the end of school at New Market , I would go to Linganore to practice," he recalled.

In his most recent stage credit, Hatosy landed the role opposite Al Pacino in Lyle Kessler's "Orphans" at the Gateway Court Theatre in LA.

Hatosy said that while film, TV and theater are similar in that "everything comes from the same seed, which is to bring truth and reality to these characters."

Recently wrapping up 30 performances over six weeks in theater, plus 10 weeks of pre-show rehearsals, Hatosy said that it "can be very taxing physically and emotionally. You have to pace yourself. It's the same with film but because it's done in pieces you can kind of work as you go. The prep and research are still intense but you don't have to memorize it all at once."

Hatosy was also featured in the 2007 Justin Timberlake music video "What Goes Around Comes Around." The two met as co-stars in the movie "Alpha Dog," with Bruce Willis.

Hatosy's first big feature role came in the Baltimore-based TV show "Homicide: Life on the Street," which caught the attention of a manager in New York. After graduating from Linganore High School in 1994, he headed to New York where he landed a small role as the "counter boy" in "Home for the Holidays," directed by Jodie Foster.

"Having those credits didn't hurt. I pretty much transitioned very smoothly as a working actor," Hatosy said. "The level of training I was given by my drama teacher at Linganore , whom I look to even to this day as an influence, the kind of stuff he was teaching was useful."

He still stays in touch with that teacher, Carl Freundel (who is no longer at the high school), when he comes back to visit Frederick . Hatosy's sister still lives here; their parents now reside in South Carolina.

No place like home

"I miss this time of year (in Frederick ), the In The Street festival. I think about that stuff," Hatosy said. "I'm working on a screenplay that deals with where I came from ... fishing in the Monocacy, skating at Skatehaven, the bathtub races in Baker Park.

"I'm trying to capture that kind of mentality for this screenplay," Hatosy said. "The best-case scenario would to be use Frederick as a backdrop. It could be a character itself."

He now lives in LA, but Frederick "will always be home to me, at least my second home. I consider myself lucky to have grown up there," said Hatosy, who has a 3-year-old son, Jordan Cassius Hatosy. "We look a lot alike."

He can't pinpoint what drew him to acting but said, "As I found success, it seemed like something that came naturally to me."

Hatosy has portrayed many diverse and different characters in film genres ranging from drama to sci-fi. "I enjoy good directors and good scripts. I don't think there's any genre I would gravitate toward," he said.

"I'll take it any way I can get it. I really do love my job," said Hatosy, who sees himself one day in the director/producer's seat of a film.

"I see it as a very real possibility."

A few of Shawn Hatosy film credits:

2009 -- "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," "Public Enemies," "Southland" (TV)

2008 -- "Nobel Son," "Familiar Strangers"

2007 -- "Alpha Dog"

2006 -- "Factory Girl," "Swimmers"

2005 -- "My Name is Earl" (TV), "Little Athens," "Faith of My Fathers" (TV)

Prior to 2005 -- "John Q.," "Anywhere But Here," "Outside Providence," "The Faculty," "No Way Home," "In & Out," "Inventing the Abbotts," "Home for the Holidays."

Post your comments » Round 2: Snow expected to fall today, Wednesday Fast on the heels of the largest 24-hour snowfall to hit the Frederick County since 1983, meteorologists are predicting another round of heavy snow and wind to hit today. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday afternoon for the area, including Frederick County, and said 10 to 20 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday night. Weather-related closings, delays A list follows of weather-related closings and cancellations for this week. Fire and police blotter Police search for robber School closures cause makeup schedule revision Even though Frederick County Public Schools are closed today -- using the sixth snow day this school year -- the school system will not hold school on the Monday Presidents Day holiday as the first scheduled snow makeup day. Crowds pay respect to fallen marine Even U.S. Marines couldn't hold back tears Monday at the viewing of their colleague, Sgt. David Smith. The procession to the Frederick Christian Fellowship Church was led by Frederick County Sheriff's deputies. Dressed in full military regalia, Marines carried Smith's casket into the church followed by family members as more Marines stood at attention.