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For 'Gary Unmarried,'
a trial separation

Low-rated CBS sitcom wraps up its season early

By Louisa Ada Seltzer
Mar 17, 2010

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When a show airs its season finale in March, it's rarely a good sign. Often it means that the network wants to test out another program in its stead before making a decision on renewal, and that seems to be the case for CBS's "Gary Unmarried," which airs its season-two finale tonight at 8:30 p.m.

Later this month, the first-year Jenna Elfman sitcom "Accidentally on Purpose" will take over the Wednesday 8:30 p.m. slot behind "The New Adventures of Old Christine." CBS seems to think that the woman-woman pairing of "Christine's" Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Elfman could work better than the divorced mom-divorced dad pairing of "Christine" and "Gary."

"Gary" has averaged an underwhelming 2.2 adults 18-49 rating and last week finished behind ABC's competing sitcom "The Middle" in its timeslot.

Anywhere else on CBS's enormously consistent schedule, those weak numbers would be cause for cancellation. But the network has really struggled to find a Wednesday 8 p.m. combination that works and has lost a bit of ground to ABC's new competing comedy block this year.

If CBS decides to stick with comedy on Wednesdays, it will probably renew just one of the two, either "Gary" or "Purpose," which was the network's lowest-rated Monday comedy in its former timeslot.

But if CBS contracts to just one night of comedy, Monday, both shows could be canceled in favor of "Rules of Engagement" or "Christine," which is headed for syndication this fall.

On tonight's finale, Gary finds out that, in a situation that only happens on TV, his divorce from Allison was never finalized.

A look at this week’s top TV draws
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17
Time	Network	Program	Description
8 p.m.	CW	“America’s Next Top Model” (R)	The models’ first challenge is to take part in a nude photo shoot.
9 p.m.	Fox	“American Idol” (R)	One of the top 12 finalists is eliminated.
9 p.m.	Food Network	“Throwdown with Bobby Flay” (R)	Flay takes on a chef in New Jersey in a battle of stuffed French toast.
10 p.m.	NBC	“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (D)	Benson and Stabler doubt the credibility of a rape accusation.
10 p.m.	A&E	“Dog the Bounty Hunter” (R)	Dog and his crew track an unlikely fugitive.
10 p.m.	Comedy Central	“South Park” (C)	Season premiere. This will make you feel old: the show begins its 14th season.
10 p.m.	MTV	“The Real World” (R)	Erika’s boyfriend visits, and then she decides she wants to go home.
THURSDAY, MARCH 18
Time	Network	Program	Description
Noon, 7 p.m.	CBS	“College Basketball” (S)	March Madness officially gets underway with the start of the NCAA tournament.
8 p.m.	ABC	“FlashForward” (D)	Mark is forced to meet with a therapist before he can return to the FBI.
9 p.m.	NBC	“The Office” (C)	The workers try to drum up sales with new leads.
9:30 p.m.	TNT	“NBA Basketball” (S)	Chris Paul and the Hornets take on Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets.
10 p.m.	Bravo	“Real Housewives of New York City” (R)	Most parents ponder how to tell their kids about the birds and the bees. Equally awkward, Kelly tells her daughters that she’s going to pose in Playboy.
10 p.m.	Lifetime	“Project Runway” (R)	Another team challenge, which always results in plenty of drama.
FRIDAY, MARCH 19
Time	Network	Program	Description
Noon, 7 p.m.	CBS	“College Basketball” (S)	More first-round NCAA tournament coverage.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Thin Ice” (A)	Series premiere. First of a two-part figure skating competition.
8 p.m.	Nickelodeon	“iCarly” (C, K)	Carly and her friends try to help a washed-up pop star make a comeback.
8:30 p.m.	Disney Channel	“Wizards of Waverly Place” (C, K)	Justin campaigns to become student body president.
9 p.m.	Syfy	“Caprica” (D)	Joseph looks for Tamara in a New Cap City nightclub.
10 p.m.	Starz	“Spartacus: Blood and Sand” (D)	Spartacus is controlled by Rome’s richest woman.
SATURDAY, MARCH 20
Time	Network	Program	Description
1 p.m.	CBS	“College Basketball” (S)	Coverage of the second round of the NCAA tournament begins.
3 p.m.	NBC	“PGA Golf” (S)	Third round of the Transitions Championship from Palm Harbor, Fla.
7:30 p.m.	ESPN	“College Wrestling” (S)	Coverage of the NCAA championships from Omaha, Neb.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Cops” (R)	Cops in Texas chase down a man who runs away from a bar fight.
9 p.m.	Hallmark	“Healing Hands” (M)	A janitor can heal others by touching them, but it hurts his own health.
9 p.m.	BBC America	“Survivors” (D)	Season finale. Abby’s group tries to separate itself from Samantha.
SUNDAY, MARCH 21
Time	Network	Program	Description
Noon	CBS	“College Basketball” (S)	More second-round tournament coverage, setting up next week’s sweet 16.
Noon	Fox	“NSACAR Racing” (S)	A Sprint Cup race from Bristol, Tenn.
8 p.m.	Fox	“The Simpsons” (C)	Sarah Silverman voices a girl Bart has a crush on.
9 p.m.	ABC	“Desperate Housewives” (D)	Gaby and Susan get into it and Angie’s ex-boyfriend shows up.
10 p.m.	Style	“Jerseylicious” (R)	Series premiere. Following workers at a hair salon in New Jersey.
10 p.m.	E!	“Kendra” (R)	Kendra and Hank bring their baby home for the first time.
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.