The One: Making a Music Star: ABC Show’s Not a Winner

After just a few airings, ABC has pulled host George Stroumboulopoulos and The One: Making a Music Star from their schedule. The reality show was looking to find the next hot singer in a similar vein as Fox’s American Idol. Unfortunately, the show didn’t find ratings and viewers.

The singing-competition show debuted to some of the lowest-rated ratings in reality-television history, garnering just over three million viewers. That’s the smallest audience for a series premiere on one of the four major networks since 1990. In addition, the show’s 1.1 rating with the all-important 18-49 demographic group of viewers was the lowest in ABC’s history. ABC aired three episodes in total and repeated the two-hour debut, doubtless in an attempt to try to build viewer interest. It didn’t work.

ABC is expected to settle with the production company of The One for the unaired episodes since ABC is said to have been contracted to purchase at least a dozen episodes. The One was produced by Endemol USA, who also produces ABC’s hugely popular Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, so the settlement is expected to be amicable. Another Endemol USA reality show entitled For the Rest of Your Life is already being produced for future ABC airings.

The cancellation leaves ABC with some programming holes to fill in its schedule until the Fall 2006 season begins. For now, reruns of According to Jim will fill the Tuesday night slot while George Lopez will replace The One’s Wednesday night results show.

Though it is possible for the singing competition to conclude on the sister cable network ABC Family (which shares episodes of Kyle XY) or through webcasts on ABC.com, no plans have been announced as yet. Audiences may be left hanging though it would seem that most viewers may not notice.