FX’s “Dirt,” an over-the-top look at the world of celebrity journalism — if you can call it that — is preparing to embark on its second season. The ever-obnoxious Parents Television Council referred to the show as “yet another distasteful offering from the FX network.” That’s exactly why Staff Writer Andy Swift thinks you should love it.

 

On “Dirt,” Courteney Cox plays Lucy Spiller, the cutthroat editor of the glossy tabloid, DirtNow. Lucy is heartless, manipulative and willing to screw over anyone in order to land the perfect cover every week. Needless to say, viewers used to seeing Cox in her neurotic-but-harmless Monica Gellar persona on “Friends” should prepare to have their sensibilities shocked.

Though no real-life celebrities are featured on the show, most of the storylines are inspired by the goings-on in Hollyweird. Christopher Knight and Adrianne Curry guest-starred on an episode in season one in which they tried to get Lucy to write a story about them — but they don’t really count as ‘celebrities.’

The first season ended with Lucy bleeding from a knife wound on the front step of her house after a run-in with Julia Mallory (Laura Allen). DirtNow had recently exposed Julia as the person who leaked her sex tape for media attention. Add to that the fact that Julia’s boyfriend, Holt McLaren (Josh Stewart), had been carrying on a secret relationship with Lucy, and it’s easy to understand her anger. Lucy’s schizophrenic friend and go-to paparazzo, Don Konkey (Ian Hart), arrived at the scene and called an ambulance — but only after taking a few photos, per Lucy’s request.

Unfortunately only seven episodes were produced before the writers strike, and FX has decided not to go forward with any more for the season. While the season will be shorter than originally planned, the stories will likely be as intense as ever.

Episodes inspired by the life of Anna Nicole Smith, Paris Hilton’s DUI and even Alec Baldwin’s infamous voicemail to his daughter are just a few of the outrageous things we have to look foward to in season two.

 

The second season of “Dirt” premieres at 10 p.m. Sunday on FX.