NBC - STRIP STRIPPED FROM NBC'S SCHEDULE

STRIP STRIPPED FROM NBC'S SCHEDULE

Marking the end of one of the greatest debacles in its history, NBC is expected to disclose during its upfront season presentation on Monday that it has canceled Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, the centerpiece of its presentation one year ago and a show that had reportedly cost it an enormous $3 million per episode -- or nearly $100 million over the past year (when marketing and other costs are reckoned). The series, from The West Wing's Aaron Sorkin, which amounted to a backstage look at a kind of Saturday Night Live show, had struggled in the ratings almost from the outset and had received mixed notices from critics. Nevertheless, until recently, NBC executives had voiced their support for it. NBC President Kevin Reilly insisted that he was a fan of the show and that it deserved time to find a larger audience. Meanwhile, the network has reportedly ordered five new hours of dramatic shows for next season, including a revival of the '70s series, The Bionic Woman. Further details are expected to be provided on Monday.

11/05/2007