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.
