No pickups for 'Daisies,' 'Money' and 'Stone'

ABC has decided against picking up "Pushing Daisies," "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Eli Stone" for full-season orders. 

Producers of the shows are being told that ABC has elected not to order additional hours beyond the original 13-episode commitments.

Actively avoiding the c-word, the network left the door open for ordering more episodes at a future date, though that is considered improbable. The trio are still on the schedule for next week. Going into the holidays, their ratings are unlikely to dramatically improve enough to reverse the decision.

"Money" and "Stone" are still in production (on their 12th and 13th episodes, respectively) and will finish shooting their current order.

Bryan Fuller, creator of the critically acclaimed "Daisies," said he hasn't yet been directly informed of ABC's verdict, but has been been playing phone tag with the network's entertainment president.

"I assumed that's what [the call] was about," he wrote. "I can't help but feel immense pride when it comes to 'Pushing Daisies.' I'm grateful TO everyone and FOR everyone who brought the show to life and for the very loyal audience that embraced us.  If we are indeed dead on ABC, we now have to convince DC Comics to let us tell the rest of the  season's story lines out in comic book form and convince Warner Bros. features to let 'Pushing Daisies' live again as a movie."

All the shows were in their second season, with "Daisies" and "Money" having been disrupted by the writers strike last year and "Stone" having launched in midseason earlier this year. "Daisies" averaged 6.4 million viewers and a 2.3 adult demo rating. "Money" averaged 6.6 million and a 2.3. "Stone" averaged 7.9 million and a 2.1. On Wednesday night, "Daisies" and "Money" hit series-low ratings, and "Stone" sank to match its series low on Tuesday. 

UPDATE: ABC books "Scrubs" for midseason, makes "Life on Mars"-after-"Lost" and "Practice"-after-"Grey's plan official.

UPDATE II: Fuller got Steve McPherson on the phone and the ABC executive said...

UPDATE III: ABC orders four more episodes of "Life on Mars"

>> Updated: Fall TV survival status report

Comments

[Travis Yanan]

We are not shocked.

Except the lack of use of the c-word.

[Tiffany]

I'm shocked and horrified. These are 3 of my favorite shows. :(

[Adam]

The management of network TV is saddening, but understandable nonetheless: it's all business. 'DSM' had loads of problems from the start and probably needed the axe awhile ago. 'Eli Stone' and 'Pushing Daisies' would have both done better on cable. Add a little raunchiness and they both sound like Showtime shows to me.

[Eric Curtis]

It's a bummer, but not a surprise. I hope Fuller can either move the show somewhere else, or more likely do a graphic novel to finish off the story line.

[Paul]

Well, with the dropping of these three shows, looks like I'll only be watching ABC on Sunday night. Stone and Daisies are both wonderful shows. Figures shows about some one doing good would get dropped by ABC. I say boooooo!!!

[Tiffany]

It's not shocking to me that it was cancelled, so I am finding myself more than a little frustrated with ABC. It seems as if they wanted "Daisies" to fail. What show comes back from a two-week hiatus and has a gain in ratings for the week? Especially when said show has had cancellation rumors circulating since the beginning of season? And when almost no ads have been shown to let viewers know it will be back?

[Blair]

ABC already ordered Eli Stone for four more episodes. They won't end at 13, they will end at 17.

This saddens me beyond belief. I was a huge fan of Eli and Daisies, and I have lost huge respect for ABC in this choice they have made. I hope that AMC, Showtime, HBO or another cable channel will be brave and smart enough to pick up these smart and well written shows.

[S.]

Blair, ABC ordered 4 more scripts, not 4 more episodes. That was never a guarantee they would be produced, and now we know they will never see the light of day.

'Daisies' is one of my favorite shows. All the best shows get canceled prematurely. 'Firefly' and 'Arrested Development' also got the big 'c' word before their times. Different =/= bad, people! Often it's just the opposite!

[Philiana]

I am not shocked by the decision, but was optimistic of the possibility of "Pushing Daisies" at least ending with a worthy 22-episode season.

[brandon s adkins]

this clearly sheds light on the problematic, archaic and erroneous ratings system used by media companies.

[Tinu]

The problem with Daisies is that they wrote a cancellation into the plot. He can't touch her without killing her. And I'm pretty sure Necrophillia isn't a great plan for prime time TV. The show itself wasn't bad, but no surprise there.

DSM I'm a bit peeved about. It's biggest problem is the time slot. You want to put something like that with Desperate Housewives or another more soapy show than Private Practice. I loved the whole does-money-make-you-bad thing, and the tense relationships. They also took the show in an interesting direction with the potential split and adding Lucy Lu. What they ought to consider is brining in another big star, changing the time slot and do something really shocking in one of the scenes to get national attention. Something unprecedented on TV that is shocking, controversial and won't cost too much.

[SL]

I'm so sick of network tv. Why is it time and time again they screw with very good shows, moving them around, etc. and then cancel them as soon as they don't beat out the blockbuster show on another network. I love DSM, it's so entertaining and the acting is great. They screwed us the writers strike and now they're still doing it with canceling great shows time after time.

[Bob]

They should cancel ABC. Lack of Talent....

[sandra]

I am an avid watcher of both DSM and Pushing Daises, and I am really sad to hear this. Pushing Daisies is a break from other high paced, special effect infested shows, and DSM is just cool.
I don't think I am going to watch ABC any more, because they always seem to cancel the shows I get attached to.

[Dale]

Glad I never watched them.
Try FilthyRichmond.com

[Dave Newton]

I am not a big fan of TV, and I hardly watch it, but ABC had my full and complete attention EVERY Wednesday night from 7PM on. These were the only shows I had any real interest in watching.

/shrug

They just lost a viewer.

[Andrew]

And some poll people (and friends, and co-workers, and...) wonder why I don't subscribe to cable TV, satellite TV, or try to watch over-the-air television signals. What's the point? Most of the shows show up six to nine months later at the local video stores on DVD. If I really like a series, I'll go buy the DVDs. Law and Order and Stargate are two examples.

DVDs -- the ultimate time shift.

[ntopics]

Thats bad news that Dirty Sexy Money is not going
to continue. I found the show interesting because
it displayed a possible truth of how the elite lived and played.

thanks from tony

[Rev.St.Huck]

Pushing Daisies was an incredibly written show with a great cast. I loved it! I'd hope maybe Showtime would pick it up but since they cancelled Dead Like Me (of which Daisies was intended as a spinoff) I highly doubt it.

Well, good while it lasted.

[Jeff]

I am really bummed that Stone is being cancelled. This was such a good show that actually showed some heart. It seems like any show that has a postive message doesn't survive on network TV...and they wonder why more people are tuning out these days. I would love to see Stone make a move sdomeplace else, but in this day and age I just don't see that happening.

[clint]

WOooHooo! It's about time. ; )
I just hope they put on another show about doctors, lawyers, or cops, or maybe a "reality" show, oooo yeah! that one has never been done before!

We must learn to trust the people who make these decisions.
They know what we want! And that is... more of the same crap that's on all the
other networks.

[Ryan]

Sad. We LOVED Stone and have been encouraging all of our friends to try it out.

[Kevin]

This is a real shame, Pushing Daisies is one of my favorite shows. It's cleaver, original, and refreshing. I'd really hate to see it go. Damn shame.

[Patrick]

Dirty Sexy Money is a great show, along with Eli Stone. They are unique, creative and being recognized for the talented writing they deserve. I remember a show called Seinfeld that did not do very well in the ratings, however once time continued on the show became the big success we recognize it for today. Your loosing fans, probably the respect from some very important actors in the industry along with the spirit of the company. Who is making these decisions and where is your loyalty?

[matt]

have to agree with everyone here

i hate to have to lose all 3 shows.

you couldn't call it unexpected with Pushing Daisies or with Dirty Sexy Money. There was no where else on the sked for Dirty Sexy Money to land, and as much as I'd wished they would have at least tried Pushing Daisies side by side with Lost...(or maybe even on Sundays pre Housewives) you just kinda knew ABC would give up on it. its not the kind of show that is mainstream enough for them. (this is the network of According to Jim after all)

but I was seriously seriously hoping for a full season repreival for Eli Stone. That would at least be a real show of faith from the powers that be. That Eli Stone honestly had several good years in it....and it had a widespread appeal that wasn't being fully tapped into just yet...there was real growth potential in Stone that they shouldn't have just thrown away or given up on...they should've let it play it cool on Tuesday nights...what the hell are they gonna replace it with exactly?

Also with Boston Legal going off the air in a couple of weeks, I thought perhaps foolishly that Eli Stone could've been their go to legal show.

Anyways---Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money---I liked both but i saw their cancellations coming---(Daisies is a Warner Bros show tho so conceivably it could maybe turn up somewhere else?)

ELI STONE tho really and truly deserved a stay of execution. the show had potential to grow. that's not right that its gone just like that. What are they putting in its place that they hope will do any better? exactly. ridiculousness.

[Lee]

Eli Stone and DSM were the only ABC shows viewed in our
house this season. I read this morning about their
cancellation with great disappointment. Not surprised because of the ongoing hints by the network pointing in
this direction. Still I'm very discouraged by their
impatience to allow an audience to build. I won't be watching anything else on ABC this season. And their
mid-season replacements will get my cold shoulder to
avoid similar discouragement.

[Provi]

Those are two of my favorite shows!!! It figures, they were quality television.

[Paul Mendenhall]

"Daisies" was too contrived and cutesy-poo for me, and DSM just looked like "Dallas Redux." But I like "Eli Stone" a lot, though I admit it has sagged a bit this season. I hope they actually bring it to a conclusion, and don't just stop.

This is why I rarely watch network dramas. If they are any good they won't last, and I get frustrated. Why can't they use the English system, and make every series a limited run, with a beginning, a middle and an end? Then if it is popular enough, they do another limited series. It makes for better TV and fewer infuriated viewers.

[LP]

That's it. Why bother with network TV? Why even watch their new series and get attached to them when they just get canceled.

So far, big 3, the series on cable have got you beat in terms of loyalty of fans. We know Monk or The Closer or Burn Notice or Psych will show an uninterrupted series of original episodes, take a half season hiatus and come back AT THE SAME HOUR & DAY with another run of original programming.

I'll never get invested in another ABC, CBS, Fox, or NBC show again. All the networks do is suck in viewers and then break their hearts once they start caring about a show and making a point of watching it every week.

Seinfeld, Cheers, MTM, even SNL would never have survived a second season in this commercial climate. Instead, we have what... Knight Rider and CSI: Topeka?

[merlinhoe]

as I have always suspected - abc doesn't know the abc's of television. I guess I will just have to cancell abc from my viewing schedule

[leann]

Thanks Sticks cause John Schneider is suppossed to be doing 3 episodes on Sexy Dirty Money.

[leann]

That Stinks 'cause John Schneider is suppossed to be doing 3 episodes on Dirty Sexy Money.

[nvmojo]

Good grief. I just knew Daisies wouldn't last. It's far too creative, the set designs and costumes are like Dr. Suess and colorful. People can't handle such imagination.

And dammit. DSM? You people take all the fun out of TV watching. Cops and lawyers aren't the only thing people want to watch.

[Vanessa]

Unbelievable. Dirty Sexy Money rocked, totally rocked! Anyway, so I want to know what crap is staying on? Um, let me guess, Howie Mandel and a shitpile of reality junk. I hate tv. AND ABC. Idiots.

[dirtysexyj]

DSM was just getting good , had greatretntion out of PP which recieved a pickup despite a fairly low demo if we wanna talk numbers. Should the standard be lower on ABC? DSM had better ratings than most of the NBC schedule. The same could be said for PD which had no lead in, and also better ratings than most the NBC schedule.

I guess as rates on ABC are heads and shoulders more than NBC.

Bad move guys, just wait till the ad dollars vanish.

[Orin]

Eli Stone rings my bell. Sharing the 1st season DVD has convinced more than a dozen of my co-workers to watch it also. ABC hasn't got a clue. Let's see if they can learn from their mistake.

[gwen foster]

that's sad. I really enjoy Pushing Daisies and was wondering what will happen next. But since they cut it short, I think they're throwing away another good possibility for a good show. :(

[coast to coast]

Just when I was thinking of saving the $100 a month instead of spending it on cable, ABC is canceling the 3 shows I watch on the network. Coupled with USA running out of Monk and Psych, and The Starter Wife showing a 11 pm in my market I'm going to be $100 richer each month.