
Production on the John Wells-produced cop series is being shut down after six episodes.
"Southland," from Warner Bros. TV, was originally slated to debut in its new Friday 9 p.m. time slot during premiere week, but in August, NBC opted to push the start to Oct. 23 and air "Dateline NBC" in the meantime.
"Dateline NBC" will now continue to run in the Friday 9 p.m. hour.
It is not clear when the six produced new episodes of "Southland" will air.
"Southland," created by Ann Biderman, got off to a good start when it premiered in midseason in the Thursday 10 p.m. time period, succeeding NBC's long-running medical drama, "ER," also exec produced by Wells.
Additionally, "Southland" garnered solid reviews, but through its initial run last spring, the series showed ratings erosion.
Then came the Jay Leno factor, with NBC forced to shift its 10 p.m. dramas to 9 p.m. to make room for "The Jay Leno Show."
While "Southland" has enjoyed strong support among NBC brass, after screening the finished episodes from the upcoming second season, the show's content was deemed too dark and gritty for broadcast TV, especially for 9 p.m.
There is a possibility for the series starring Ben McKenzie to be shopped to cable networks.
The cancellation of "Southland" ends (for now) a long relationship between NBC and Wells, who has been behind some of NBC's biggest series, including "ER" and "The West Wing," for the past 15 years.
NBC should now be named Nothing But Crap. Good Job NBC, you guys are digging your own grave.
VIA: ATOWNSCORE
1 comment:
It's official. TNT picks up Southland
http://news.turner.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=4777
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/business/media/02tnt.html
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