The dismal year for new television comedies continued Wednesday with Fox pulling “Ben and Kate†â€" one of the few modestly praised new comedies of the year â€" from its schedule
The show, about a brother and sister living together with her young daughter, has posted weak ratings all season, but Fox executives said earlier this month that they would remain committed to it. That was before this week, when “Ben and Kate†attracted only 2.6 million viewers and a low 1.2 rating in the audience group Fox most seeks, viewers between the ages of 18 and 49.
Numbers for “New Girl,†Fox’s strongest comedy from last season, which has followed “Ben and Kate†on Tuesdays, have deteriorated all season; they hit a new low Tuesday with just a 2.1 rating in that 18-to-49 audience and only four million viewers.
Starting next week, “Ben and Kate†will be replaced on Tuesdays by repeats of “Raising Hope,†another Fox comedy that is struggling in the ratings. (It drew only four millon viewers and a 1.7 rating in the 18-to-49 category this week). The night’s other Fox comedy, the new entry “The Mindy Project,†is also barely surviving. On Tuesday it reached just under three million viewers and scratched out only a 1.5 rating with the 18- to 49-year-old viewers.
Comedy on Tuesday appears to be nearing complete rejection: NBC’s two new series, “Go On†and “The New Normal,†both sank to new lows this week, even though Tuesday’s strongest network, CBS, was offering only repeats all night. Both new NBC comedies have had their ratings plunge since they were separated from the powerful lead-in of “The Voice.†Their once-secure status as shows set to survive the season could now be threatened.
Fox is promising to bring “Ben and Kate†back later in the season to finish its run of episodes, but its fate â€" cancellation â€" seems sealed.
