CBS has all but cancelled their new sitcom, How to Be a Gentleman, after just two weeks on the air.
The series debuted to disappointing ratings with a 2.7 in the 18-49 demographic and 8.98 million viewers. While it was second in its timeslot, the sitcom lost 44% of its demo lead-in from The Big Bang Theory and the network was down year-to-year by 32% when compared to now-cancelled $#*! My Dad Says. Last night’s episode dropped to a 2.5 in the demo and 7.58 million.
Based on these two showings, the network has decided to exile How to Be a Gentleman to the Saturday night graveyard, essentially cancelling the show. It’ll trade places with Rules of Engagement which was scheduled to kick off on October 15th. Returning for its sixth season, Rules was renewed in large part for syndication reasons but CBS execs are now surely glad they have the utility player in the wings.
Last season, 10 episodes of Rules aired in the Thursdays at 8:30pm timeslot and averaged a 2.5 in the demo and 8.47 million. We’ll have to wait and see how it performs this time around. If it can do better, the series could earn itself another season.
Here’s the press release from CBS:
“RULES OF ENGAGEMENT” MOVES TO THURSDAYS, 8:30-9:00 PM, BEGINNING OCT. 20 WITH ITS SIXTH SEASON PREMIERE
“How to Be a Gentleman” Relocates to Saturdays, 8:30-9:00 PM, Effective Oct. 15
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT will move to Thursdays (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT) beginning Oct. 20 with its sixth season premiere and HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN will relocate to Saturdays (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT) effective Oct. 15.
A rebroadcast of THE BIG BANG THEORY will air in the 8:30-9:00 PM time period next Thursday (Oct. 13).
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT’s previously announced sixth season premiere, on Saturday, Oct. 15 (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT), will be replaced with a rebroadcast of TWO AND A HALF MEN followed by HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN in its new time period.
Revised Schedule for Thursday, Oct. 13
8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY
8:30-9:00 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY (R)
9:00-10:00 PM PERSON OF INTEREST
10:00-11:00 PM THE MENTALISTRevised Schedule for Saturday, Oct. 15
8:00-8:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN (R)
8:30-9:00 PM HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN (New Time Period)
9:00-10:00 PM CSI: MIAMI (R)
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERYRevised Schedule for Thursday, Oct. 20
8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY
8:30-9:00 PM RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (6TH Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM PERSON OF INTEREST
10:00-11:00 PM THE MENTALISTRevised Schedule for Saturday, Oct. 22
8:00-8:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN (R)
8:30-9:00 PM HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN
9:00-10:00 PM CSI: MIAMI (R)
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERYRULES OF ENGAGEMENT stars Patrick Warburton, Megyn Price, Oliver Hudson, Bianca Kajlich, David Spade and Adhir Kalyan. Tom Hertz, Jack Giarraputo and Doug Robinson are executive producers for Happy Madison Productions and CBS Television Studios in association with Sony Pictures Television.
UPDATE: We later learned that production was shut down and CBS cut the season order to nine episodes. The remaining episodes are just being burned off on Saturday nights. Keep track of the status of current CBS TV shows.
What do you think? Are you sorry that Gentleman has been booted? Will Rules perform any better?
Image courtesy CBS.
[…] TV show dates: September 29, 2011 – June 23, 2012 Series status: Cancelled […]
[…] Last week, after two disappointing airings, CBS pulled How to Be a Gentleman from the Thursday night line-up and sent it to Saturdays. They subsequently shut down production after nine episodes and cancelled the show. […]
I thought Gentleman has potential, but I’m glad to see Rules of Engagement return. ROE is hilarious when they get going.
Watched the first episode of Gentlemen and I thought it had potential. Shame CBS decided to axe it so soon, I won’t be watching Rules of Engagement.
When you are losing almost half of your lead in audience, it is a bad sign. Of course, I watched the pilot for Gentlemen, and so I understood why people were not watching. The show had a couple of good actors in it, but they were not the main characters so they couldn’t help much. I will be more than happy to watch Rules instead.
I am so mad! It had decent ratings but why would they cancel it? Plus, I wanted to see Rules of Engagement tank on Saturday nights!
I have enjoyed the How to be a Gentleman,but i really want Rules of Engagement back…..This is a must see for the week and i’m excited to see it return to Thursdays. Thanks CBS….
Good! I’m glad this show failed, there was no reason to cancel Sh*t My Dad Says.
@admin
According to tv.com: “A repeat of The Big Bang Theory will take How to Be a Gentleman’s spot next Thursday, and the next new episode of How to Be a Gentleman will air Saturday, October 15 at 8:30pm. Rules of Engagement will now kick off its sixth season on Thursday, October 20 at 8:30pm.”
Pikachu ยป yes, if you read the press release portion, that is noted.
@admin
Also, according to Wikipedia: “The final episode is scheduled to air on November 26, 2011.”
I don’t think they gave gentlemen a fair shake. After all they are competing with post season baseball. BTW gentlemen is much funnier then rules of engagement! Rules has been done for the last two seasons. The reason your network is falling in the toilet is there’s No new blood…..
I started to like it and enjoyed kevin Dillon. Rules of Engagement is ok, but I’m not really a big fan of the little guy on the show.
Well dang CBS.
thank God. the show was terrible. I was Yuri.h on reruns s of law an order for the 1/2 HR