DEN DONE?: Rob Lowe may want to see if there are any job openings at the West Wing. NBC has pulled the ex-Brat Packer's new drama the Lyon's Den off the schedule for November sweeps. A second helping of Law & Order: Criminal Intent will air in its place. The show is expected to return in December, but for how long? (That was a rhetorical question.)

Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 8:52 AM
NBC to Re-Open 'The Lyon's Den' on November 30
By Brian Ford Sullivan

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- NBC is making good on at least one of its pre-sweeps promises as its hiatused drama "The Lyon's Den" is set to return to the Peacock's schedule on Sunday, November 30 at 10:00/9:00c.

NBC topper Jeff Zucker told reporters in late October that while "Coupling" and "The Lyon's Den" would not air during November sweeps, both would return after the key ratings period. Since said promise, the Peacock axed "Coupling" (read the story) while "Den" has gone through some creative changes.

The show's creator, Remi Aubuchon, stepped down as showrunner on the series due to creative differences with Brad Grey Television and 20th Century Fox Television shortly before NBC pulled the show (read the story). Aubuchon reportedly wanted to delve more into the murder mystery mythology established in the pilot while the studios were pushing for more close-ended legal stories. All parties say NBC itself didn't ask for the change however was supportive of the decision. Aubuchon remains as a writer/producer on the show.

For its five airings this season, "Den" averaged 10.1 million viewers, off slightly from "Boomtown's" 10.7 million viewer average during the same period last season. Repeats of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" will continue to fill the Sunday, 10:00/9:00c hour until "Den's" return on November 30. "Intent's" November 2 repeat broadcast snagged 10.8 million viewers, the time slot's best numbers since "Den's" pilot episode (12.3 million). This past Sunday NBC aired its telefilm "Saving Jessica Lynch" where it scored 14.9 million viewers.

Thursday, January 8, 2003 - 7:55 AM
NBC Officially Closes 'Lyon's Den'
By Brian Ford Sullivan

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- After weeks of dodging, NBC executives confirmed yesterday it has pulled the plug on its freshman drama "The Lyon's Den."

Production was completed on its initial 13-episode order last month however the series has been absent from the Peacock's schedule since November 30. The news leaves seven installments of the series on the shelf. No permanent replacement for the show's Sunday, 10:00/9:00c time slot has been named.

"Den" averaged 9.6 million viewers for its six-episode run, retaining just 66.45% on average of lead-in "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."

Remi Aubuchon, Rob Lowe, Kevin Falls, Brad Grey, Bernie Brillstein and Dan Sackheim were the executive producers of the series, a production of 20th Century Fox Television and Brad Grey Television.

THE HOOK: Joey Pants is about to lose his shirt — or at the very least his CBS series The Handler. The network has trimmed the show's episode order from 22 to 15, fueling talk that the freshman drama is a goner.