[Updated] ABC's 'Eastwick' gets the broom while 'The Forgotten' is remembered

ABC has decided not to order additional episodes of its new Wednesday-night drama "Eastwick," which is about as close as a network gets to saying it's canceling a show these days.

While much of ABC's Wednesday night has been a pleasant surprise with "The Middle," "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town" all getting full-season pickups, "Eastwick" has been pulling in Jay Leno-like numbers at 10 p.m., often averaging less than 5 million viewers. The show, which stars Rebecca Romijn and Lindsey Price, is based on the John Updike book. While it spawned a moderately successful movie, this is the third time an attempt to make a TV series based on the book has fallen short.

The other Wednesday night ABC show whose fate is up in the air is the 8 p.m. sitcom "Hank," starring Kelsey Grammer. "Hank" has also been an under-performer and will likely not have any additional episodes ordered.

ABC did give its Tuesday freshman drama "The Forgotten" some good news and ordered five more episodes. That's a network's way of saying we sort of like you, but we're not sure how much.

[Updated Tues. 1:00 p.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly referred to ABC's "Eastwick" as "The Witches of Eastwick." The post has been updated to reflect the change.]

-- Joe Flint

Comments

[Apres Ski]

With some of these cancellations, maybe Forgotten will get a better time slot. It's opposite The Good Wife, which I CANNOT miss! I'm in love with that show & the way the writers have it unfolding better than an origami fortune teller is just amazing to watch.

If it gets a better time slot, I'll watch it even more. Right now, I can only watch it online. Thanks to online, at least I know what it's about.

[Matt]

"The Witches of Eastwick" was the name of the book and movie... the ABC show is just "Eastwick"

[Barb]

Sure take off good shows. I hate Jay Leno and I knew this would happen when he came on for five days a week. Its not very often you find a good show to make you laugh. Its sad that a handful of people can ruin someone elses fun night of tv. Its not very often that ABC has a good show, so go ahead take off shows that you may not like.

Thanks
Unhappy

[Paul]

Horrible decision to cut Eastwick. It is a great show and has kept me coming back each week. I'm very sad it's going away. Cougar town is unwatchable. No Legs and NOT FUNNY. Modern Family is very good only good choice there. Why don't they just admit the price is the reason they are cutting Eastwick. The middle is Malcom in the Middle Again. Lame....

[Ras]

LOVE EASTWICK!! WHERE DO I GO TO PROTEST?

[Lisa]

I am so mad that Eastwick is being cancelled, I love the show!!!!!!!

[Leese]

Any chance of a change of heart by producers?? Executives should reconsider the decision to shut down Eastwick; it's a great show!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jane]

I really like Eastwick please don't cancel it...I hope FOX picks it up or FX

[Beverly Hill]

Eastwick is one of the few good comedies on TV at the present time and as an 82yr old who tapes the show every Wed so I can see it at an earlier time I definitely protest. While the show is wacky it is steadily getting better and deserves to be extended. Beverly Hill molehill@olypen.com

[Anonymous EastWick supporter]

Alright, I'll make this comment quick and short because there isn't much to say. First, you guys are freaking stupid, blind and to top it all off ridiculous. Second, come on ABC money hungry scumbags why not slot Eastwick between seven and nine as people have to work to make a living. This show has legs to run a whole damn marathon, but no you guys won't even give it a fighting chance. Okay, yup, Hank has been cancelled and yay, cuss it kinda sucked, but look at it this way. Push up The Middle to Hanks previous time, Eastwick coming after that then Cougar Town and finally Modern Family. See, now doesn't that sound easy. What? Are you guys gonna give Jay Leno more air time. Hahaha. Sorry, just had to make an obvious point here.

[RC Primak]

Both cancellations (Eastwick and Hank) were good calls.

Kelsey Grammer has done little of merit on TV since he starred in Frasier. Even there, it was the guidance of Charles, Charles and Burroughs who kept Grammer from overacting and ruining the show (as well as his guest shots on Cheers). Without that guidance, Grammer's comic style is simply too big for TV comedies -- kind of like Nathan Lane, who is great on stage, but seems over the top on TV. Now if ABC will fully bite the bullet and dump The Middle, all will be well with Wednesday nights on ABC.

Eastwick suffered from an entirely different problem. Portraying the supernatural on TV is very tricky. Most of the F/X which indicate magical happenings work well on the bigger screens in the movies, but fail to impress as much on the smaller screens of TV. This can be overcome if the actors seem to truly believe in the magic they are portraying (think WB's Charmed, Seasons 1-3), or if the show seems to do a good or truly great job of poking fun at the entire genre (think the CW's Supernatural. Reaper failed to match the campy atmosphere of this show, and never caught on as a result.) CW's Vampire Diaries may have only short-lived success, as the angle here is more Romantic/Sexual, and viewers can tire quickly of that theme. Eastwick achieved none of these possibilities, and died as a result. Add to that the fact that Rebecca Romijn cannot act, and Lindsey Price is weak at best, and the disaster was inevitable. Too bad -- the Witches of Eastwick book(s) and movie(s) were a lot of fun.

One more prediction, if this has not yet happened: "V" will also fail to impress, and even if its initial ratings were strong, it will quickly fade. (I may be wrong, but I don't think so.)

[Trish]

It's like what happened to the show "Related".

[S. Schoolcraft]

KEEP EASTWICK!! I protest against this. I for one am sick of Network Television deciding for EVERYONE what is a good show and what is a bad show. You messed up big time, ABC! Even great shows like Seinfeld, The Cosby Show and Knight Rider didn't get their fanbase until the 2nd or 3rd season. They became big hits. ABC doesn't give shows a chance to get a 2nd season. Shame on you ABC!! You might as well change your slogan to "ABC, where good shows die".

[Crystal]

Please bring this show back!!! I can never watch on the TV but I always watch it from my laptop on ABC.com. I am not the only one either there are five of my friends that I got hooked on the show as well, along with my roommates. We are all very disappointed that it was taking away from us!

[Twila]

I love Eastwick! I can't believe you would cancel it. It was one of the best shows on at night. Finally a show that did not have dead corpses, cops, or a CSI team!!!

[Mari]

I love watching Eastwick. I thinkit is better than Cougar Town. Keep Modern Family though that is truly funny. You guys should bring Eastwick back. My husband doesn't like those type of shows but he really got into the first time and we got dissapointed when we did not see other episodes come on. I want to know what happens!!!!! Please bring it back:(

[gail]

This is a great show, don't cancel it ,get rid of scubs ,the new ones are terrible , put it on another night ,I think the stars are great,get rid of the other 1/2 hr. show and put it back

[Theresa]

PU-LEEZE bring this show back. OMG, it was the BEST show I've ever seen on TV...(Desperate Housewives is second best.) I totally cannot beleive that you would cancel Witches, ABC. You guys finally have another winner. What on earth are you thinking???? Maybe the problem is that you are NOT thinking. Wake up and "smell" the fans. Listen to us...we want this show. How often do you hear people say that they wait all week long for a show. That was me. Oh please listen to us. Don't force crap like Cougar Town and Modern Family down our throats..I want my Witches back. PLEASE!!! Thank you.

[Linda Murray]

Extremely disappointed that you cancelled Eastwick. It's much better than Cougar Town. Love Modern Family and The Middle, but please bring back Eastwick.