Fox cancels 'Anchorwoman'
Series axed after dismal opening-night ratings
Model Lauren Jones stars in Fox's sort-of reality series alongside working television journalists.
By RICK KISSELL
According to preliminary nationals from Nielsen, the comedy-reality series "Anchorwoman" -- which chronicles the travails of a former "WWE Diva" who becomes a news anchor in small-market Tyler, Texas -- averaged a 1.0 rating/3 share in adults 18-49 and 2.7 million viewers overall from 8 to 9 o'clock. This is less than half the number put up in the time period by unscripted fare on CBS and NBC, and about one-third what Fox was generating a week earlier with the conclusion of its hit "So You Think You Can Dance."
“Anchorwoman" was designed as a limited-run series, so Fox may stick with it for its remaining three weeks -- although it wouldn't be surprising if it simply pulled the plug.
The competition didn't take too much advantage of Fox's weakness in the 8 o'clock hour, as CBS gameshow "Power of 10" (2.2/7 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall), NBC's repeat of "Most Outrageous Moments" (2.1/7 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) and ABC's hour of "According to Jim" repeats (1.7/5 in 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall) were all up slightly in 18-49 rating but flat in share. "Power" was the night's most-watched program overall with its largest overall audience in its three Wednesday outings.
Standout performer of the night was NBC's "Last Comic Standing" (3.1/9 in 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall), which dominated the 9 o'clock hour in key demos. No longer having to face Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," the stand-up comedy series hit summer highs and delivered the Peacock's best result in the time period since January.
CBS won the night's final hour with a repeat of "CSI: NY" (2.4/7 in 18-49, 8.0 million viewers overall).
