Cbs Pulls New Shows After Low Weekly Ratings
CBS’ Wednesday lineup of “Almost Perfect,” “Public Morals” and “EZ Streets” has suffered television’s equivalent of a one-punch knockout, getting pulled after one low-rated week.
The network took that step Monday, scheduling movies from 9 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays through November, which coincides with the “sweeps” period used to determine advertising rates. “Sleepless in Seattle” will air tonight. (The changes were announced after the TV listings were prepared for today’s newspaper.)
“EZ Streets,” a crime drama starring Ken Olin and Jason Gedrick, generated a fair amount of critical praise and will be reintroduced later this season. CBS is saying “Public Morals” and “Almost Perfect” are “on hiatus,” but sources say production is being halted on both shows, signaling their cancellation.
CBS made its decision based on dismal initial results from last week, when the three shows averaged just 9 percent of the available audience.
The network was backed into premiering the series just before the ratings sweeps began by events that disrupted the prime-time schedule in October. Two nights were lost to presidential debates, and then the shows were delayed so they wouldn’t have to begin facing the World Series on Fox.
“Public Morals,” a sitcom about vice cops, engendered controversy before its premiere for language that some critics found offensive. CBS opted not to televise the pilot, beginning instead with the second episode.
Created by Steven Bochco and Jay Tarses, the series was originally offered to ABC, which passed. Bochco has a new deal to produce series for CBS and, despite little faith in “Public Morals” internally, the network sought to handle the show carefully, hoping not to sour that relationship.
Bochco’s company declined comment Monday.
Through a spokesman, “EZ Streets” executive producer Paul Haggis said that CBS didn’t have much choice based on the early ratings and that he hoped his show would fare better when it returns.
Networks frequently make short-term moves trying to boost their performances during sweeps. ABC, for example, tonight is replacing the low-rated freshman comedy “Townies” with a “Home Improvement” repeat.
Still, even temporarily pulling struggling series can make the audience that is watching lose the habit - a frequent complaint from producers and viewers.
“Almost Perfect,” which stars Nancy Travis, was the only one of 11 new series CBS scheduled in September 1995 that was renewed for a second year. “Perfect” and “Public Morals” join ABC’s “Common Law” and Fox’s “Lush Life” and “Love & Marriage” as early casualties of the new TV season.
CBS hasn’t announced permanent replacements but may consider a TV newsmagazine for Wednesday, where “Dateline NBC” previously aired. Backup series include “JAG,” which ran last season on NBC.