Quality television took a serious hit on Thursday with news that ABC has opted not to order additional episodes of Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone and Dirty Sexy Money for this season. The network isn’t commenting, but multiple sources confirm that all three shows have effectively been canceled.
The one bright spot: The ratings-challenged trio will complete production on their 13-episode orders (Daisies already has, while Eli and DSM have an episode or two to go). Of course, completing the episodes and actually airing them are two totally different things.
“It’s all true,” Daisies creator Bryan Fuller tells me. “I’m so very proud of this show and grateful for everyone’s hard work in bringing it to life.
“We would love to continue telling this season’s arcs in a comic book format, just to tie up all the loose strings — and believe me, there are plenty,” he continues. “That way we can tell a stand alone movie story that doesn’t have all the baggage from the second season stories — and those bags are packed!” (Watch the video below for scoop on one of the loose strings Fuller speaks of.)
Meanwhile, an ABC insider is confirming several long-rumored midseason scheduling tweaks. Among them:
* Private Practice will move to Thursdays at 10 p.m./ET following Grey’s beginning Dec. 11.
* Life on Mars, which just got picked up for four additional episodes (bringing its Season 1 total to 17), will shift to Wednesdays at 10 p.m./ET following Lost beginning Jan. 28.
* Scrubs will join the net’s Tuesday lineup on Jan. 6 at 9 p.m./ET.
Happy about Life on Mars and Scrubs. Totally bummed (but not surprised) about everything else.
I knew this would happen. But if anyone’s to blame, it’s ABC. They did not even THINK about advertising Daisies!
I cannot believe this…my hopes, my dreams, all gone…
I purposely did not watch Pushing Daisies in Season 2 because I couldn’t handle watch dogging the ratings for another show. Veronica Mars and Everwood nearly killed me when they got killed.
Sucks for bigger fans than me, though.
NOOOOOO! Pushing Dasies was one of my favorite TV shows.. I agree that ABC didn’t do a good enough of a job of advertising this year…. I’m very upset right now
I hate ABC! While I didn’t watch Pushing Daisies, I loved Eli Stone and found DSM a fun guilty pleasure in the same context as Knot’s Landing. What is ABC going to replace these shows with? Wife Swap or the Manny? All we need is more reality crap on network TV!!!
Frak! ABC just didn’t show Daisies enough love. They should try it in another time slot before giving up. And Eli had such potential. PD is the most creative show on TV right now. I totally adore everything about that show. I’m going to miss the Pie Hole gang so much!!
…Expletives that I can’t put on this comment section!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s sad about Pushing Daisies, but not surprising. However, I am shocked that both Eli Stone and Dirty Sexy Money were canceled. What am I going to do, three shows I love are going to be gone. ABC is making a big mistake.
Aw I loved DSM. Not to fond of the other two though. Its too bad
Doesn’t surprise me. Actually I have been liking Pushing Daisies this season. More so than last season. Even been watching Eli Stone. I hate Dirty Sexy Money – so no loss there. But the ratings haven’t been good. So it doesn’t shock me. And I can see why people don’t get Pushing Daisies. It’s a very wierd show. The best of the bunch; but very weird. I’ll miss it. Maybe they will now up the order for Amber Tamblyn’s drama, The Unusuals?
NOOOOOO, Not Eli Stone..one of the best shows out there…
Not DirtySexyMoney!!!!!!!
Not Eli!!!!! This stinks, although I do have 3 episodes I haven’t watched still on my DVR. Could not take Katie Holmes
Horrible news!! I love those shows, especially Pushing Daisies and Eli Stone. I want to see where Eli Stone was going to go. There better be time for some sort of closure with all these shows!! What is ABC thinking?? And we all know it is inevitably going to be replaced with crap!
Tv just lost three good shows today. Its such a shame because tv viewers have spoken, and they obviously want crappy tv shows on like NCIS. I hope somehow that a network like AMC will save one of the shows like Pushing Daisies. Imagine a Mad Men-Pushing Daisies lineup – oh that would be heaven! If only if only… But I am very depressed right now. Pushing Daisies was one of my favorite shows ever. I’m not sure I could ever forgive ABC. First Commander In Chief, now Pushing Daisies…