‘Bionic Woman’ Axed?
Posted on February 21, 2008
TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello has claimed that Michelle Ryan drama Bionic Woman has been given the axe.
“Although NBC isn’t talking, I’m told by multiple sources that Bionic staffers were informed last week that the troubled reboot has indeed been canceled,” Ausiello posts. “That means no spring relaunch under new show-runner Jason Cahill.”
The remake of the 1970s show was one of the most hyped new series over the summer; the pilot pulled in 13.91 million viewers. However, over the eight episodes that have aired, its ratings have freefalled. Only 5.99 million viewers tuned into Bionic Woman’s most recent episode, “Do Not Disturb”, on November 28 last year, losing nearly eight million in total since the first week.
Other freshmen series not expected to be renewed for the 2008-09 season are Big Shots, Cane, and Journeyman.
NBC Renews ‘Chuck’, ‘Life’, ‘Heroes’
Posted on February 14, 2008
NBC execs Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff announced this week that freshman series Chuck and Life, as well as their top-rated drama Heroes, have been picked up for the 2008-09 season, following the end to the strike. All three shows will not return this season, but will prepare for a relaunch in the fall.
“We are thrilled to be bringing back the high-energy dramas Chuck and Life for next season,” commented Silverman. “Additionally, we will be saving and re-launching our number one drama and most successful franchise, Heroes, so it will run in all original episodes in the fourth quarter.”
Graboff added, “These pickups are a sign of our confidence in these quality series and will allow the respective producers to get a head start on their creative arcs for next season.”
Chuck and Life have been given a thirteen-episode order — with the possibility of a full season if viewing figures remain respectable — while the third season of Heroes, whose second volume “Generations” averaged 13,07 million viewers (down 9% from its Season One figure of 14.37 million), is expected to be longer than the traditional twenty-two episode run. Chuck and Life averaged 8.68 million and 8.11 million viewers respectively over the course of their first seasons.
This news does not bode well for NBC’s other freshman dramas, Journeyman and Bionic Woman, as they look even more certain to be axed.