CBS has a problem on Tuesday nights at 10pm. Last season, the network aired Love Monkey with Tom Cavanagh (who previously starred in NBC’s Ed) in that spot. It lasted three episodes before being pulled off the schedule. They tried the quasi-reality show Tuesday Night Book Club but that only lasted two episodes. Close to Home also performed badly in the timeslot but was moved to Friday nights and survived. CBS started the current season with the Smith series. Though many felt it was one of the best new shows on television, Smith was yanked off the air after only three episodes. To fill the hole left by the Ray Liotta series, CBS inserted the midseason replacement show 3 lbs to take its place. And now, guess what?
3 lbs. (which incidentally refers to the weight of the human brain) debuted on Tuesday, November 14, 2006. Billed as “the next great medical drama,” the show followed the medical careers of the difficult brain surgeon Douglas Hanson (played by Stanley Tucci) and his protege surgeon Jonathan Seger, played by Mark Feurstein. Also part of the gifted medical team is calculating neurologist Dr. Adrianne Holland (Indria Varma) and intern Dr. Tom Flores (Armando Riesco).
By airing this show on Tuesday nights, one might guess that CBS execs were hoping people who watched the very popular House on FOX at 9pm, would then turn to CBS to watch 3 lbs at 10pm. That didn’t happen.
The first episode of this House-like show debuted to 9.8 million viewers. The ratings have been dropping ever since. The second episode was watched by 9.2 million and the third episode was watched by 7.9 million viewers — prompting CBS to pull the doctor series immediately. The special 9pm episode of 3 lbs. that was scheduled for December 5th (entitled “Disarming”), has been replaced by an episode of The Unit. Repeats of CBS crime dramas will take the 10pm timeslot for the foreseeable future after that.
Eight episodes of the series have been filmed thus far, leaving five episodes unaired. Though CBS has not called this a cancellation, no further episodes will be produced and its highly unlikely that 3 lbs. will be given another primetime timeslot. Because of the public outcry, CBS has released all episodes of Smith on its website, for download via Amazon.com, and the show will possibly be released on DVD. It looks unlikely that 3 Lbs. will receive the same treatment.
It’s interesting to note that 3 lb.’s overall audience numbers have been lower than Smith’s, the show it replaced. Somewhere, I suspect Smith fans are quietly smiling. 
I kept trying to find out what happened to 3lbs?
The 2 episodes I saw were great. Love the chemistry.
I also watch House, Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, and a few comedies.
Anything we can do to get it back on?
Such crap on television today, it’s too bad they cancel the good ones after such a short try.
I purchased three episodes of 3lbs. for my Ipod and just loved it…so did my husband. I actually went to this site to find out what time it aired on CBS only to learned it will not…very bad decision. High quality show, great acting and story lines. Hope it comes back
Please release all episodes on DVD. I want to see all eight episodes!
My wife and I loved the first episode of this show and can’t belive they cancelled it.
Joke: What do you call a CBS executive with an IQ of 125?
Answer: A foursome
Please bring it back!
Too bad, 3 Lbs. was an unusually intelligent show. I will miss it.
For those of you who miss this show, you should definately check out House, on fox Tuesday night! Basically cause that’s the show that it was modeled after! House rocks!
Please bring back 3 lbs. I loved it and couldnt wait to see it. I havent seen House or ER but I love Grey’s and I loved 3 lbs. I loved Stanley Tucci and I loved the fact that every ending was a happy one. Please bring it back.
3lbs was an AWESOME show. The biggest problem with it was the fact that it aired on the same day as House. Now if you wanted your show to be well liked, well then you dont put it on right after watching House. House is an excellent show, and 3 lbs was pretty good but everyone compares one show to the other and you just cant do that when starting out. Just like the fact that you cant compare Grey’s Anatomy to House. Both somilar shows, both excellent show but both different in their own ways. Also both aired on… Read more »
House has become a joke to watch. ER is boring. 3lbs was an intersting and very realistic medical show to watch. CBS, in my view, you did not give this show a fair chance. In fact, I believe you blew it by making this quick decision to pull this show. I hear CBS teling their viewers that they are the most watched network.You keep making decisions like this, that could change very quickly. Perhaps another network might be interestd in 3lbs. If they are, I am their.
Big mistake taking off 3lbs. The show was had potiential of being more interesting to watch then ER. Move the show to another time slot if need be. But bring it back.If you want to remain the most watched network on TV, then stop making decisions like this. BRING 3LBS BACK!!
I also agree that these networks Not just CBS are canceling a lot of programs before they have a chance to get off the ground… some times it takes a season or two to get off the ground. We pay for the shows, and all we are getting is a bunch of reruns…..I am to the point where I I don’t want to see another CSI because it is played on every channel not just one of the CSI’S but all of them. I would like to have a discount on the money I pay to my cable network for… Read more »
Two more sad viewers! My question is WHY? It wasn’t on long enough to ever consider that ratings weren’t what they should be. I mean for real, give the show a chance. My husband and I thought it was one of the best shows on TV. Now Tuesday is movie night. Score big for Netflix!! Not such a great score for CBS or their viewers.
Bringing it back would be wonderful! Hint Hint Hint!
I do hope CBS will reconsider the decision to cancel 3lbs. We loved that show–it was our favorite new show this season even though we only saw the three. It is really sad that apparently the viewing public cannot support a quality program that is not reality based or some silly comedy..They have their place but some of us like something more.
please bring 3lb back!!!!!
bring it back!!!!!
i feel as if there is really too much violence on alot of the t.v shows.What a breath of fresh air to see the chemistry among all the actors in 3lb.Talk about wanting to find a great neurosurgeon-stanley tucci dressing into his scrubs was enough for me to want to watch as well as record for a rainy day!!!!Bring it back.What a tease to know there are more episodes and we are not able to see them.Ihope someone out there is listening!!!
3 lbs. was a great show I also recoded it every week give it a chance and put it on another night obviously Tuesday at 9:00 is a tough slot