If you're a boy aged 6-11, this is like AMC setting a return date for "Mad Men."
The Cartoon Network on Tuesday set a Sept. 17 premiere for season three of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," kicking off the George Lucas-produced animated series' new campaign with an hourlong block of back-to-back episodes.
And just like their parents, who have flocked in droves in recent years to cable anti-heroes including Tony Soprano, Vic Mackey and Don Draper, "Clone Wars'" youthful audience seems to appreciate a nuanced central character, Anakin Skywalker, who ain't your typical kiddie-show good guy.
(Parent advisory: the future Darth Vader subscribes to the Jack Bauer school of prisoner interrogation ... and that "dark side" will only be getting worse in season three.)
Over two seasons, "Clone Wars" has been the Turner network's strongest performer, averaging well over 2 million viewers an episode and becoming the No. 1 draw on cable TV for some of the channel's key demos, including kids 2-11 and boys 6-11.
Last year's one-hour season-two premiere averaged over 2.5 million viewers.
