CBS orders more 'Worst Week' scripts

CBS has ordered two more scripts for the freshman comedy "Worst Week," sources say.

The Universal Media Studios/CBS Paramount series has presented a bit of a conundrum for the network. The likable single-camera comedy has seemingly stabilized on Monday night with a rating that's acceptable for a freshman comedy in general but unacceptable for its top-notch time period in particular.

The show has averaged about a 3.2 rating in recent weeks, about 40% lower than lead-in "Two and a Half Men" and putting a crimp on 10 p.m.'s "CSI: Miami," which has dropped the last five weeks in a row. Clearly CBS doesn't want to give up on a show that's rating above a 3.0 when competitors are dishing out full season orders to shows like "Knight Rider" and "Terminator" that rank in the 2's. But what do you do with it? Keep it where it is, and accept a deep pothole for the time being? Or move it, like a delicate patient on a respirator, and risk it crashing?

CBS' hope, of course, is that "Week" has not stabilized and that, like "How I Met Your Mother," there's growth to come. The network just rather not wait a a few years like it had to do with "Mother" for viewers to get on board.

Fall TV status report updated.

Comments

[matt]

eventually cbs is gonna have to move it off mondays. Its a semi decent show, but it sits there after two and a half men like a lead weight. Eventually Cbs is gonna want that timeslot for either the return of Rules of Engagement or inevitably the launch of another show. I'll be surprised if Worst Week makes it through Dec and into Jan on tv, let alone in this timeslot, but should CBS decide to give it a pick-up, I do see a shift to Wed nights (which is really the only place CBS could put it...the question then becomes how do they re-shuffle that lineup? do they just swap this with Garry?? I've actually been enjoying Garry, but Worst Week's comedy of humiliation might fit a little better with Old Christine then with 2.5 men...or not. really i can't quite see how Worst Week can keep going in general---they seem to be out of ideas already! I don't know what to say, but I do think The Eleventh Hour should be deep sixed soon--two eps in and its already boring. i never thought i'd miss Shark but there you go.)

[Dave B]

This show is a complete waste of one of the best lead-in's on TV today. Meanwhile, Old Christine is somewhat in danger of cancelation. It is proven that Old Christine and Rules of Engagement would do better behind Two and a Half Men, so why bother grasping at this show when they know they can do better.