It looks like the axe has fallen for the Paul Haggis/Bobby Moresco drama The Black Donnellys. But does it have to be replaced by a reality show?
The Black Donnellys follows the story of four young Donnelly brothers — a clan of Catholic Irish-American siblings who are involved in organized crime in New York’s infamous Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. The story is told by unreliable narrator and Donnelly childhood friend named Joey “Ice Cream” while being incarcerated. The series stars Jonathan Tucker, Thomas Guiry, Olivia Wilde, Billy Lush, Michael Stahl-David, Kirk Acevedo and Keith Nobbs.
The series debuted on NBC on February 26, 2007 and took the place of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip on Monday nights. The series’ initial half hour did well (10 million) but viewership fell off significantly in the second half hour (6 million). The series’ initial hour ranked #50 for the week. The subsequent episodes lost viewers and attracted as few as 5.5 million.
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While many hoped that a Donnelly dismissal would mean the return of Studio 60, NBC has other plans. The Real Wedding Crashers will debut at 10pm on Monday nights beginning April 23rd, just in time for May sweeps. It seemed like the Crashers reality show would air on Sunday nights but, NBC execs like the series enough to give it the benefit of a post-Heroes debut.
Unless NBC pulls the series even earlier, only eight episodes of Donnellys will have aired on network TV. The series’ third episode, entitled “God is a Comedian Playing to an Audience Afraid to Laugh,” was considered too violent for network TV and was released as an NBC.com exclusive.
The network has ordered 13 episodes and its unknown at this point what will become of the remaining four segments. They may air over the summer or could be released as online exclusives.
Whether we get to see the rest or not, it looks unlikely the series will be back for a new season in the Fall. NBC will announce their Fall schedule next month. Stay tuned! 
UPDATE: NBC has now pulled Donnellys’ last scheduled episode due to low ratings. The unaired episodes will be made available on NBC.com, presumably on a weekly basis.
I am so sick of reality shows! You are seriously going to replace one of the best shows in the NBC line up with another frigging reality show?!
I can’t believ they pulled the show!
Finally a decent show BUT BECAUSE it’s NOT reality TV they pull it?
The public should have some say!
This sucks! They are cancelling all the good shows. This is one of the best NBC has! I refuse to watch NBC if they take this off.
this sucks. i freaking love The Black Donnellys. Ughhh! IT HAS TO COME BACK!!!
Who made the decision to dump
my show????
The clown who took it off should be fired.
more of the same
The show had promise from the first 2 episodes, but I felt like it was really losing steam, and the story no longer interested me and I stopped watching after episode 5. I’d rather go with Rome or The Sopranos, or Dexter, network shows just cannot hold a candle to their cable counterparts. If this show were on cable, even basic cable, it probably would have been a better show. Other then that, the show was pretty weak, mainly the plot and storyline, and I can see why they cancelled it. It’s a diet Sopranos, and I don’t know about… Read more »
YEAH JUST WHAT WE NEED ANOTHER RALITY TV SHOW!!!! WAY TO GO NBC. HOW ORIGIONAL. ANOTHER REALITY TV SHOW WHO WOULD OF EVER THOUGHT OF THAT ONE!!!
This show is the only nbc show i watch, its sad they are going to lose a viewer after this, esp. a young one that will be their target market in later years, but i’m just saying.
the black donnelly’s = AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
It seems that 99% of the comments here are all crying over The Black Donnellys being canceled. Well I, for one, couldn’t be happier. I sat through only the first half-hour of the premiere episode; and that was enough to convince me that the show was a piece of crap. It’s nothing but a Sopranos-wanna-be that couldn’t cut it. The only surprise for me was that it took this long for NBC to cancel it. So, thank you NBC for finally seeing the light (at least as far as the BD). On the other hand, I can agree with a… Read more »
Its disgusting how NBC didn’t even give BD a chance. I will not be tuning in to any of the NBC shows they have on tv. Absolutely horrible. Give it another chance before you axe them.
NBC will continue to struggle in the ratings game with actions such as cancelling an intelligent and highly watchable show, The Black Donnelys. The characters and story line were just different enough to keep you wanting more. I hope the NBC execs are forced to read all the posted comments and regain their senses.
The Black Donnellys was the best show since season one of The Sopranos. The writing of The Black Donnellys is magnificent. Being Irish-Italian, I both respect and understand this show. Pleae bring back The Black Donnellys.
Sign the petition here – http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/Donnellys
Call NBC and ask for the comment line here – 212 664 4444
Write them an email and send it here – nbcshows@nbc.com
Who the F are the idiots in charge of programing at NBC. Studio 60 was just starting to get good (great and dymanic plot and characters IMHO) and then comes the Black Donnelly’s. A show I didn’t think too much of when I saw previews, but I was blown away when I saw the first episode and have been hooked since. And what did they replace these two shows with, another piece of crap reality show that sucks donkey d**k. If NBC doesn’t like it FX should pick it up so that the series can live. The network could probably… Read more »