Network shelves final three episodes of freshman series

Rather than play out the strike-addled string with its freshman series "Big Shots," ABC has decided to take the show off the air.

The network has opted not to air the three remaining original episodes of the series, which had been scheduled for Dec. 13, 20 and 27. In its place following "Grey's Anatomy" on Thursdays, ABC will air repeats of "Grey's" spinoff "Private Practice."

ABC's decision is a little bit of a head-scratcher, given that original episodes of scripted shows will be at a premium as the writers' strike drags on. On the other hand, in a season without a strike, it's unlikely "Big Shots" would have lasted this long.

The show, a buddy dramedy about four CEOs-with-issues (Michael Vartan, Christopher Titus, Joshua Malina and Dylan McDermott), has averaged only about 8.4 million viewers a week this fall and a 3.5 rating in the key adults 18-49 demographic. It squanders more than half the audience of its lead-in; "Grey's" draws just under 20 million viewers and an 8.4 rating in the 18-49 demo.

ABC has more scripted programming in reserve than most of its competitors for the second half of the season. As things stand, the network has eight episodes of "Lost" to air, plus three new series: dramas "Eli Stone" and "Cashmere Mafia" and the comedy "Miss/Guided." Second-year shows "Notes from the Underbelly" and "October Road," which premiered in late November, will also have a good number of episodes to air after the calendar turns.