Big Shots: ABC Pulls the Series, Will It Be Back?
ABC is moving some shows around for the November sweeps period and, as part of that, is pulling freshman drama Big Shots.
Big Shots follows the lives of four businessmen who are successful in business but whose personal lives are a bit of a mess. The series stars Michael Vartan, Dylan McDermott, Christopher Titus, and Joshua Malina. Big Shots debuted on September 27, 2007 and six episodes have aired thus far. The premiere attracted a mediocre 11.6 million, losing about nine million from the premiere of Grey’s Anatomy that preceded it. The ratings have been slipping ever since and the most recent episode attracted just 7.3 million. (Numbers based on overnight ratings.)
Its no surprise that ABC is pulling Big Shots for at least part of the November sweeps. Women’s Murder Club will take its place for a special Thursday night airing on November 15th. Then, on November 22nd, October Road will kick off it’s second season before settling into it’s Monday night timeslot a few days later.
It looks like Big Shots may return to Thursday nights on November 29th. If the writers’ strike continues for very long, ABC will certainly want to make use of any current scripted content that’s already been completed.
However, Big Shots is one of the few freshman shows that were not given orders for additional scripts or episodes in advance of the impending strike. That fact alone puts the series’ future in question. It’s not known how many of Big Shots’ 13 episode order have been completed or scripted. One way or the other, the show’s production will probably be shutting down in a few weeks at most.
As the writers’ strike goes on, ABC will be faced with some serious economic decisions. They’ll have to decide how long they want to keep paying actor and production expenses for a mid-to-low rated show that’s not even in production. At this point, it’s looking doubtful that Big Shots will survive. Stay tuned! 
20. Juan said,
I have watched every single Big Shots episode up to now. I like the show b/c there is no magic, no murder, no blood. It being replaced for a “special episode” of Women’s Murder Club just rubs salt in my wounds.
I know it may seem strange, but to me this “world” painted in Big Shots was a lot more plausible than most shows b/c it’s just rich people doing regular stuff. No murder, no courts, no computers that don’t exist.
I am seriously disappointed that I don’t get to watch these characters continue to evolve, I’ve grown somewhat attached to them. I get no closure whatsoever either… just build up … build up… build up… gone.
Dearest ABC, can you work something out? Release a DVD set with the 13 episodes? Offer some closure for those of us foolish enough to give your shows more than a chance? There’s iTunes, there’s abc.com… surely there has to be a better way to treat your viewers (and your employees) than to just SLAM the door in our faces like this.
Bring this show back, this is seriously making me nervous about watching other freshmen shows. It doesn’t feel good at all. It’s so ABRUPT.
There were people in my household that were just catching on to this series… one person was on episode 3 the other on 5… how do you count them in your ratings when this show sits recorded on my computer?
Such is life.
19. Anonymous said,
This show is great. It would be a shame to cancel it. I think it could be successful if ABC would give it some more time to catch on.
18. Jackie said,
NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
I want Big Shots to come back!!! I love this show!!!
The time slot sucks, which is why the viewership is low.
Bring it back, just put it where folk can find it! Duh!
17. Anonymous said,
WE LOVE THAT SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!! THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO WATCH RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE WANT IT BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
16. John said,
I thought the show was very well suited for the male audience, I think the fact that this show followed two shows which were rather mushy and the 10 PM time slot on the east coast wasn’t exactly helping matters. I hope it isn’t true….
15. Anonymous said,
This show is awesome…I love Grey’s Anatomy but I was starting to like this one even more….Please do not let it go!!!!
14. Leslie Self said,
I watch a lot of shows on TV and Big Shots was definitely one that my husband and I look forward to, the cast is fantastic. We were very upset to find that Women’s Murder Club had taken it’s place tonight. We hope it comes back soon!
13. John said,
Don’t take this show away. I like it. I don’t watch much TV but I do make a point to watch this after my wife watches grey’s anatomy on Thursdays.
12. Sierra said,
So, I sit down to, what I consider the best night of television, and am thoroughly upset when the finale of my evening is announced as ‘Women’s Murder Club’!!! WHERE IS ‘BIG SHOTS’?!?!?! I LOVE ‘Big Shots’!! It’s humorous and smart and I think it should be given more of a chance because as much as I love Betty and Grey’s, it is a little unfair for ‘Big Shots’ to follow them. I love ‘Big Shots’, its fresh and fun, and I don’t think ABC should give up on it… PLEASE!!! for the sake of my Thursday nights.
11. tamI said,
omg after grey’s i got all excited waiting for the next episode of big shots to air and instead, the announcer goes “an all new women’s murder club!” wtf!!! im pissed, big shots, i think, is one of the seasons best shows, not just on abc but on television in general. i have my fingers crossed!
10. Ste said,
Aww I really liked this show. I rarely make time to sit down and watch a particular show every week, but this is one of those that I did that for. I’ll be sad if they don’t bring it back
9. anika said,
Please don’t cancel Big Shots! Its a wonderful program and definitely different from anything else on TV right now.
8. Debbie said,
Please don’t cancel Big Shots.My husband even likes it and looks forward to thursday nights because of it.
7. Debbie said,
Please don’t cancel Big Shots.My husband even likes it and looks forward to thursday nights because of it.
6. Craig said,
I am not surprised that Big Shots is having trouble because of the time slot they have been given. Big Shots should not be part of a night of Ugly Betty and Grey’s Anatomy. Big Shots should have been set up to allow men to tune in, but the time slot behind two women’s based programs hides Big Shots from the male audience that would enjoy the program.
5. cindy said,
this is a great show and it is a shame if they cancel it why is it when a white guy and a black lady share romance the picture goes away i’m very interested in their story people need to stop being so closed-minded bring big shots back it is much better then grey’s anatomy and ugly betty. PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL THIS SHOW GIVE IT A CHANCE! IT’S WONDERFUL!
4. Christina Calloway said,
I hope that ABC doesn’t cancel “Big Shots.” I’m starting to like it and it’s starting to improve a little. Please reconsider about your decision with “Big Shots.”
3. Fee said,
I love big shots. It’s the only new show I watch this season.
2. katie said,
kinda surprised this show has lasted this long. its just plain bad!
1. dee said,
hope it comes Bummer, I really liked that show back.