ABC has decided against giving full-season orders to “Pushing Daisies,” “Dirty Sexy Money” and “Eli Stone,” but is not officially saying that the struggling shows are canceled.
Producers of the shows are being told that ABC has elected not to order additional hours beyond the original 13-episode commitments. The network left the door open for ordering more episodes in the future, though that is considered improbable.
The trio remain on the schedule for next week. Going into the holidays, their ratings are unlikely to improve enough to reverse the decision.
“Money” and “Stone” are still in production (on their 12th and 13th episodes, respectively) and will finish shooting their current order.
“Daisies” and “Money” hit series-low ratings Wednesday night, and “Stone” sank to match a series low on Tuesday despite an improved lead-in.
ABC also announced Thursday an additional four-episode order for “Life on Mars” and trio of midseason scheduling decisions.
Former NBC comedy “Scrubs” will have its ABC premiere at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6. ABC will run an hour of back-to-back episodes for two weeks. Then “Scrubs” will settle into as a single half-hour at 9:30 p.m. The network hasn’t announced which half-hour program will air as a lead-in, though one likely option is the new Mike Judge animated comedy “The Goode Family.”
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ABC has made official its plan for “Life on Mars” to run after “Lost” at 10 p.m. Wednesdays. “Mars” joins “Lost” starting Jan. 28. This makes a full-season order for “Mars” very likely, but no decision has been announced.
Likewise, “Private Practice” will air after “Grey’s Anatomy.” Starting Dec. 11, current slot occupant “Life on Mars” will go off the air, while repeats of “Practice” will take its place. On Jan. 8, “Practice” will return to originals. Sources say the plan gives “Mars” some needed additional production time and helps ensure there will be original episodes ready when “Lost” returns.