ABC yanks 'Work It' after two airings
'Last Man Standing' repeats will take its place in the short-term
"Work It"
Credit: ABC
It didn't take long for ABC to decide that "Work It" wasn't working.
After one airing, ABC's promotional department was running ads calling the critically reviled comedy a hit.
After two airings, ABC was ready to move on.
Late Friday, ABC sent out a scheduling release announcing that "Work It" has been pulled from the network's lineup, effective immediately. The cross-dressing comedy will be replaced by repeats of "Last Man Standing" at 8:30 on Tuesdays for at least the next three weeks.
ABC's release clearly states that the remaining original episodes of "Work It" are "not yet rescheduled," which theoretically means that "Work it" could return for a summer burn-off.
In its brief run, "Work It" ran afoul of critics for its quality, of GLAAD for its depiction of the transgendered community and Puerto Rican groups for its stereotyping. Those concerns weren't enough to keep the show off the air, but an audience of under 5 million viewers in its second airing, along with a dismal number among adults 18-49, did the trick.
Speaking with at the Television Critics Association press tour earlier this week, ABC Entertainment President Paul Lee explained his decision to pick up the "Mancession" comedy in the first place.
"I looked at our portfolio of shows that we were picking up. Certainly I wanted to bring some new types of shows," Lee said. "We certainly thought there was room, as we were saying here, for some ambitious shows, for some really sexy, sticky shows like 'Revenge' and 'Scandal,' and for some really sophisticated, smart shows like 'Suburgatory.' I thought there was room, personally, for a very, very, very, very silly show. And I tried it, and it was a little engine. We’ll see whether it does well or badly. It wasn’t our priority when we did the pickups, but certainly it became a cause for discussion."
Lee's words came the day before the fateful second episode aired.
This will immediately raise speculation regarding the fate of "Cougar Town," ABC's lone midseason comedy without a schedule slot. In the same chat with reporters, Lee said that an announcement would be coming soon on a "Cougar Town" premiere date and that the network had a slot in mind. Was Lee already anticipating Friday's move?
Adding fuel to the fire late on Friday night were "Cougar Town" creators Bill Lawrence and Kevin Biegel, who engaged fans on Twitter soon after the "Work It" announcement.
Lawrence tweeted, "Hoping CT's premiere date will be announced Tuesday. Fingers crossed..."
And Biegel tweeted, "You should all hear very soon about Cougar Town's return date. Everyone gets a kiss, a hug and a handshake for waiting patiently"
Stay tuned...
Trending Now on HitFix Boards
| Topic | Started By | Latest Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|---|
| dave1279 |
8 days ago
|
12
|
|
| JedyKnight |
17 days ago
|
2
|
|
| Billy Dakota |
about 1 month ago
|
2
|
|
| sepinwall |
4 months ago
|
6
|
|
| Discuss Sitcoms on HitFix Message Boards » | |||
News From Our Partners
-
BAFTA: Professor Green Is Best Supporting Boyfriend
BAFTA: Fred West Drama Takes Top TV Awards
Frat Brothers Save Up For A Toga Party On 'Extreme Couponing'
-
This Was Pop: May 26, 2012
For Our Consideration: Reconsidering Codeine, a ’90s band frozen in time
Podmass: May 17-May 23
-
Will Smith's 'Men In Black 3' Tops 'Avengers' At Box Office
'Cosmopolis' Premiere: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart On The Red Carpert
Wes Anderson Movie Art: 'Rushmore,' 'Moonrise Kingdom,' 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' (PHOTOS)
-
Robert Pattinson's 'Cosmopolis': The Cannes Reviews Are In!
Marvel Casting Round-Up: 'Thor 2,' 'Iron Man 3' Add Villains
'Men In Black' Star Will Smith's Energy Needs To Be 'Harnessed'
-
The Telefile - Today's TWoP News: Friday, May 25, 2012
The Telefile - The Most Heinous Person on Reality TV This Week
The Telefile - TWoP 10: In Memoriam - What We'll Miss from Cancelled Shows
-
'American Idol' to 'The Vampire Diaries': The top-rated TV shows on each network for 2011-12
CBS shares 'Made in Jersey' trailer along with 'Vegas' and 'Partners'
'Cougar Town' signs Ric Swartzlander as new showrunner
-
Cannes 2012: Michael Haneke Wins Palme d'Or -- Again
Weekly Ketchup: Tom Cruise to Remake The Magnificent Seven
Cannes 2012: Critics Scorecard
Comments
Option 1
Comment instantly as a guest GuestOption 2
Option 3
Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupPrettok
January 14, 2012 at 2:59AM EST Reply to CommentDoes ABC have more 'sticky' shows on the pipeline?
De Laughington
January 14, 2012 at 3:04AM EST Reply to CommentReally sad to read of this move. Watching the second episode of WORK IT on DVR now, and finding it just as funny as we did when we attended that episode's very entertaining taping. Really hoping the many other completed episodes ARE aired at some date!
--D. Laughington
Brendan Noel
January 14, 2012 at 6:15AM EST Reply to CommentWith the cancellation of "Work It", Alan and Dan happy danced the whole weekend, their faith in humanity partially restored by the American public's rejection of an atomic bomb that tried to ruin the careers of somewhat legitimate actors like Ben Koldyke and Rebecca Mader.
Amaury Nolasco now continues his valiant effort to find Maricruz in the new FOX pilot, "Maricruz! Maricruz!". I have yet to determine whether that show is a drama or a comedy.
dan Brendan - And yet "¡Rob!" is -- at least initially -- a hit. So... Yeah. But I am, like you, VERY happy for Rebecca Mader and perhaps somewhat happy for Ben Koldyke... Free at last!
January 14, 2012 at 11:24AM EST-Daniel
Chrispy
January 14, 2012 at 10:37AM EST Reply to CommentPlease put Cougar Town there, so it can fail (again) and we never again have to hear about that ridiculous, unfunny show.
Nicole Yes, because after a show is cancelled people will never mention it again.
January 14, 2012 at 12:50PM ESTPhil and friends
January 14, 2012 at 12:22PM EST Reply to Commenti am so surprised this was not number one in the ratings.
BRING BACK COMMUNITY!!!!!
tom_houseman
January 14, 2012 at 9:18PM EST Reply to CommentSix seasons and a movie!
troopermsu
January 14, 2012 at 10:33PM EST Reply to CommentA show like this getting on air at a network makes you question the entire process and the associated individuals who put it on air.
JedyKnight
January 14, 2012 at 10:44PM EST Reply to CommentDont get worked up, CTown Fans.. Work It not working, will surely end up working in your favor. ; ) ps.. sorry couldnt resist.
DISAPPOINTED
January 17, 2012 at 10:02PM EST Reply to CommentI was looking forward to watching that show. I saw the first episode but missed the second. I don't have DVR so I thought that we could watch an episode tonight. BAD MOVE @ ABC... (repeats dramatically) BAD MOVE!
DISAPPOINTED
January 17, 2012 at 10:03PM EST Reply to CommentI was looking forward to watching that show. I saw the first episode but missed the second. I don't have DVR so I thought that we could watch an episode tonight. BAD MOVE @ ABC... (repeats dramatically) BAD MOVE!Write a comment...
Col Bat Guano Well, you could always hit yourself in the head with a hammer. The effect is the same.
January 18, 2012 at 1:04AM ESTtrudy
January 31, 2012 at 3:56AM EST Reply to CommentI hate ABC, first they get rid of my favorite 2 soaps, AMC and OLTL and now Work It, my friends and I Loved it. So F---k ABC!!!!!