Starz gives ‘Black Sails’ ‘Hell on Wheels’ treatment, will air show on Saturdays

Back when we were talking about some of the reasons why “Hell on Wheels” should be renewed for a fourth season, we pointed out just how smart of a move it was for AMC to move the show to Saturday nights. While there may not be the biggest live audience in the world on the night, there was an opportunity to capitalize on the lack of competition there. Rather than being a small fish in a very big pond, the show was much more dominant in what was basically a puddle.

In keeping that water analogy going, Starz seems ready to hit the high seas courtesy of their new drama “Black Sails.” The network confirmed today that the first season of the show will premiere on Saturday, January 25 at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time, which it will air for eight episodes. The show is a prequel to the classic “Treasure Island,” and also has executive producer Michael Bay on board.

In case you’re worried about this being yet another new series that will be canceled a mere matter of minutes later, know that the show has already greenlit production on a second season, which is going to take place in and around Cape Town, South Africa. That in itself excites us, since it is hardly the sort of setting that you traditionally see for most other TV shows. This sort of renewal strategy is also something that is hardly new to Starz, given that they have done something similar in the past when it comes to “Boss.” Let’s just hope that this show fares a little better than that one, and we feel pretty confident that it will. It has a great premise, and we genuinely feel like Saturday is the new untouched frontier for high-quality shows. These are the sort of thing that people will want to stay home to watch, or at least record on your DVR and take a look at the following day when you’re bored on a Sunday afternoon.

Are you interested in watching this show, and do you think that “Black Sails” can make Saturdays work in the same way that “Hell on Wheels” did this year? Be sure to share below!

Photo: Starz