One of the few bright spots on NBC's 2011-2012 primetime television schedule as far as genre televsion fans were concerned was Grimm, which stars David Giuntoli and Russell Hornsby as homicide detectives Nick Burkhardt and Hank Griffin who work for the Portland Police Department trying to solve murders with a decidedly supernatural bent to them.  NBC has announced that the series will return for a second season, and we talked with them recently as NBC gets set to broadcast the first season finale.  Also, the network has announced that the show will temporarily move to Tuesdays with reruns of Season 1, which will begin on May 29 following America's Got Talent.

USTOWNHALL SPEAKS TO DAVID GIUNTOLI AND RUSSELL HORNSBY OF GRIMM:

USTH: The first season finale will be airing soon, so let's have you reflect on this past year and how it's been for each of you in terms of your personal career and how the show has been going for you and the fan reaction and the network support.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Appreciate it, absolutely. From a standpoint of an actor, I've grown leaps and bounds. I've learned so much. You really get thrown into it, and you don't stop running until 22 episodes are done and 9 months has passed.
And I've been very fortunate to get to work alongside guys who are youthful veterans of the entertainment industry like Russell Hornsby and Silas Weir Mitchell. These guys have really been great and gracious and have taught me a lot just so I kind of lock it in every day.
And the fans have been unbelievable. I've had fans in the past, but genre TV fans are passionate fans. They're completely active. They watch the episode, and then next thing, they're writing fan-fiction or creating more scenarios and asking questions, and they really hold you accountable. And the whole experience has been wonderful.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: Well, for me this experience has been rather surreal. I guess I don't consider myself a veteran of television. This is like the first time I've been on a show that people actually watch [David laughs] and so, just sort of getting used to the hubbub and fanfare and being the first time recognized. It has been crazy.
And so I really thought that I had sort of made it five years ago, and I realized, "Oh, no, I didn't." The work schedule has been very intense like I've never experienced – just all the hours that we've had to put in, being on location, being in Portland and shooting outside in the rain and at night.
I've just learned to appreciate this whole experience and as an actor learning just new things about myself – as an actor and as a performer, all the stuff that I can handle. I never thought I could up to this point.
And again, the fans have been crazy. I mean in a good way. Genre fans are nuts about their shows that they've loved and they follow them. And they're very interactive and very smart.
So, I'm just really curious to see what the next season is going to bring as far as the show's concerned, but also from a fan perspective.

(l-r) David Giuntoli (as Nick Burnhardt), Russell Hornsby (as Hank Griffin) on NBC's Grimm [Image credit: NBC]

DAVID GIUNTOLI: I'm excited for Nick to become more of a badass, so to speak. Throughout the Season 1, he's [gone] from [being] a very passive observer of what was taking place to a real kind of go-getter where he tried to work the politics of what Wesen [pronounced "Vessin," the series' mythological creatures] were against him and who was for him and who was going after his loved ones, who was his friend. And I think that certain events will make him a little more aggressive.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: My hope is that Hank sort of finds out what's behind door number one. And, if that's the case, then just sort of seeing an opportunity for the relationship to develop, I think, between the three of them – Nick, Monroe and Hank, as they try to solve these crimes together. And I guess the drama that could possibly ensue between the three of them.
You know, I did a little joke today that there's a chance for a nice love triangle, you know. And, Monroe might settle for fighting for the affections of Miss Burkhardt. So it'll be fun.

USTH: In the season finale, there is a new character introduced called "The Woman in Black,"  who will be played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.  I know you can't reveal any spoilers to the episode, but will the character continue on into next season or will she appear in just this one episode?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: I don't have a definitive answer to that, but I would imagine that yes, she would continue on to next season.

USTH: Our thanks to Nick Giuntoli and Russell Hornsby for speaking with us today.  The season finale to Grimm will air on Friday, May 18 at 9pm Eastern. 

Also, remember that beginning Tuesday, May 29, NBC will be airing reruns of the entire first season following America's Got Talent in an effort to attract a wider audience heading into Season 2.