TV News: NBC Cancels Failed Comedy ‘Free Agents’

Submitted by BrianTT on October 6, 2011 - 1:54pm

CHICAGO – NBC continues to be a network in ratings freefall (pretty much since “The Jay Leno Show” debacle) as they can now lay claim to not only the first show canceled in the Fall 2011 season (after axing “The Playboy Club” earlier this week) but the second as well. It was reported this afternoon that after last night’s anemic numbers for the third episode of “Free Agents,” a fourth episode won’t see the air.

The Hank Azaria sitcom was dead on arrival, drawing only a 1.0 in the key 18-49 rating last night (compared to the 2.2 rating in the same demo for its hour-mate “Up All Night,” which was just given a full-season order). It was only a matter of time but some thought that the network might give it a little more leeway while they figured out how to fill the time slot. Wondering what’s going to happen there? Good news “Whitney” fans! The also-full-season-ordered show will air repeats after “Up All Night” for now.

Free Agents
Photo credit: NBC

There is a little bit of cause for concern for “Community” fans. The critical fave on NBC has seen continuously disappointing ratings and one ratings pundit has already suggested that if NBC wants to replace the “Up All Night” & “Free Agents” block on Wednesday nights with a drama that they could move the Christina Applegate sitcom to the anchor spot on Thursdays and axe the Joel McHale vehicle. Who do I need to bribe to make sure this doesn’t happen?

Brief recap: NBC’s “The Playboy Club” and “Free Agents” have been canceled. Full-season orders have been given to NBC’s “Up All Night,” NBC’s “Whitney,” FOX’s “New Girl,” and CBS’s “2 Broke Girls.” Comedy is taking off this year. Well, comedies not starring Hank Azaria.

Come back next week for a full feature on what’s been canceled, what’s been ordered, and where we think the axe will fall next (looking at you “Charlie’s Angels.”)