Monday, January 26, 2004 - 8:42 AM
ABC Trims 'Threat Matrix' Season Order to 16
By Brian Ford Sullivan

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- ABC has rolled back its commitment to "Threat Matrix," as the network revealed over the weekend that production will halt on the series after its 16th episode.

"Matrix" joins fellow freshman drama "10-8" and midseason comedy "The Big House" as series on the Alphabet's roster to have their episode orders trimmed. ABC cut "10-8's" run from 22 to 15 installments and "Big House's" from 13 to six back in December (read the story).

As for "Matrix," ABC reps insist the series remains under consideration for its fall 2004 schedule. Daniel Voll, Fred Gerber, Emile Levisetti, Keith Addis, Michael Edelstein, Jim Parriott and John Shiban are the executive producers of the series, a co-production of Touchstone Television and Industry Television.

The news may be slightly better for viewers who enjoyed Line of Fire. In my estimation, its goose is cooked too, but Susan Lyne, ABC's president of entertainment, sounded more optimistic.

"Obviously, we wished it had been able to get stronger ratings in the 10 p.m. Tuesday time period. That said, we were really pleased with it creatively, and everyone involved in it learned about what was working and not working with the show," Lyne said. "It is definitely a show that is still in contention when we go into our scheduling meeting in May."

Four unaired Line of Fire episodes remain. "We expect to air them at some point, but we don't have a date scheduled yet," Lyne said. "There is a fantastic final two hours that we are eager to get on the air."

Originally posted by B.A.
Remember - ABC will always come up w/ new and inventive ways to let down their viewers. They are the masters of the double-talk. They will say one thing and do the opposite.