LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- CBS has pulled the plug on its freshman drama "3 lbs." after - ironically - three airings.
The series never rose above the ratings of its previous time slot holder - the equally as short-lived "Smith" - in weekly comparisons.
Various repeats and other specials will take over the Tuesday, 10:00/9:00c hour through the end of the month, including "The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" on December 5, "The 29th Annual Kennedy Center Honors" on December 26 and "The 33rd Annual People's Choice Awards" on January 9.
A special "3 lbs." airing at 9:00/8:00c on Tuesday, December 5 has also been replaced by a repeat of "The Unit."
In total only eight hours of the show's original 13-episode order have been shot, leaving five installments on the shelf. It's not clear if the unaired episodes will be shown on the network's "Innertube" service (a la "Smith").
Meanwhile, NBC has firmed up its spring plans following Wednesday's winter schedule announcement (read the story).
Midseason dramas "Raines" and "The Black Donnellys" reportedly will take over "Las Vegas" and "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip's" time periods - Fridays at 9:00/8:00c and Mondays at 10:00/9:00c respectively - in March.
"Studio" will have aired 18 episodes at that point, meaning the four remaining installments of its 22-episode order will air at a later date.
As for "Vegas," the series will have wrapped its season by March. Both it and fellow veteran drama "Crossing Jordan, began the 2006-07 season with abbreviated 17-episode orders.
In addition, the second season "America's Got Talent," which was originally targeted for a January start, will now move to the summer.
Still to be announced: launch dates for midseason comedies "The Singles Table" and "Andy Barker, P.I."
And finally, also confirmed - but not mentioned in the network's press release - additional episodes of "Deal or No Deal" and "1 vs. 100" will help kick off the network's new Sunday lineup at 7:00/6:00c until "Dateline NBC" assumes the slot on February 11.
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