–SPOILER ALERT–

Did you watch last night’s episode of Homeland? “The Choice” served as the second season finale and what played out was certainly unexpected. Everything we witnessed Abu Nazir do was a ruse, believe it or not. It was not until after he died did his ultimate plan come to pass. Showrunner Alex Gansa discusses the exciting finale in the video embedded above. In the discussion he makes a very interesting point regarding the Quinn situation: had Estes’ shooter gone through with the plan to assassinate Brody, Nazir’s plan would have been foiled! Gansa also teases season three and we learn that Saul is indeed the “acting director of the CIA” and he will be rebuilding the institution with Carrie at his side when Homeland returns in 2013.

It was only a matter of time before Saturday Night Live produced a sketch parodying the uber-popular Showtime series Homeland. Anne Hathaway proved that she’s got what it takes to over-exaggerate Claire Danes’ “crazy” Carrie Matheson, Bill Hader can add yet another spot-on impersonation to his list with his subtle portrayal of Mandy Patinkin’s Saul Berenson, and Taran Killam has the look and just the right sized mouth to pull off a believable Nicholas Brody; Kenan served as David Estes and Nasim popped in at the end for a brief but effective poke at Brody’s annoying daughter Dana. From the re-creation of the opening credits sequence to Carrie’s obsession with corkboards and her quivering chin, SNL did a stand-up job parodying the show that’s on everyone’s DVRs. Though they had the opportunity to do so much more with it (where was Saul’s ruler and peanut butter…anyone?), it’s an instant classic in my book.

On Monday Showtime renewed Homeland for a third season. Coming off a critically acclaimed first season and sweeping at the Emmys, the counterterrorism drama from Howard Gordon, Alex Gansa, and Gideon Raff continues to bring the intensity, suspense, and surprise. The renewal comes a day after the shocking plot twist that occurred in season two’s fourth episode “New Car Smell;” this episode ranks as the highest rated hour of Homeland garnering 1.75 million viewers.

Showtime president David Nevins on the 12-episode renewal: “The Emmy wins for Homeland have certainly set the stage for a great second season. The writers, cast and crew of Homeland continue to create a remarkably entertaining and suspenseful roller coaster ride, growing audiences week after week. We can’t wait for our viewers to experience what unfolds through the rest of season two. Our partners at Fox 21 have been tremendous, and we are thrilled to begin the planning for Homeland’s third season.”

Homeland airs Sunday nights at 10PM on Showtime.

In season two of Homeland things pick up six months later; Brody’s in office and Carrie’s forgotten but feeling better. The critical darling recently scored multiple Emmys for Best Drama, Best Actor (Damian Lewis) and Best Actress (Claire Danes), so the stakes are high for this show to continue to produce creatively intense hours of politically and emotionally driven action and drama. In (showrunner) Howard Gordon (24) we trust.

Check out images from tonight’s premiere “The Smile” in the gallery below. Eye the season’s key art above (with the tagline “It hits home”), and check out an alternate pic after the break (with the tagline “The obsession continues”). And don’t forget we’ve been privy to two short Homeland teasers and one impactful trailer.

Homeland premieres tonight at 10PM on Showtime.

(Click here for more…)

Following two tantalizing teasers, Showtime has released a full-on trailer for the second season of its critically acclaimed drama Homeland. Carrie looks to be a lot more stable following her shock treatment at the end of the first season, and this time she’s going undercover as a brunette with brown eyes. She’s still popping pills, mind you, but now we know that without them she can’t do her job. What else? Saul is there for moral and professional support, and David Estes looks on with suspicion. On the other side Brody is still praying with the Qur’an in cahoots with the terrorist Abu Nazir, but it appears as if he’s still treading a fine line between acting as war hero and serving as a “turned” terrorist. In the meantime, Carrie and Virgil and his cousin are back at video surveilling Brody and the clip ends with a major twist: Carrie and Brody get back together again? All of this plays in front of a beautiful, haunting rendition of The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” by Scala & Kolacny Brothers.

Homeland returns Sunday, September 30 on Showtime.

For the sake of everyone who has yet to catch up on Showtime’s breakout drama Homeland, stop reading this and do not watch the teaser embedded above. If you have watched all 12 episodes that comprise season 1, Carrie on… (get it?)

Showtime has released this schizophrenic teaser to promote the second season of the critically acclaimed political drama Homeland starring the scene-stealer Claire Daines and the enigmatic Damian Lewis. When the season concluded, Carrie Mathison of the CIA stitched together Nicholas Brody’s “Issa” night terrors with the facts at hand; but before she could tell anyone her shock treatment began and her memories erased. Or were they? In the teaser above, Carrie stands in front of a barrage of images and sounds from season 1. Toward the end of the all-too-brief clip, she shuts her eyes, opens them and we hear, “You are a traitor and a terrorist and now it’s time to pay for that.” The promo is called “Look Again.”

Homeland returns Sunday, September 30 at 10PM on Showtime.

Update (8/7): Showtime has uploaded a second Homeland teaser; this one shows war vet-turned-politician Brody inching closer to the Vice President. He asks, “If everything you had was taken away and you had nothing left to lose, what lengths would you go to for the one idea that pulled you through?” Carrie, meanwhile, looks levelheaded and determined since we last saw her. Watch the 45 second clip after the break. (Click here for more…)