CBS axes new sitcom ‘Partners’

Coming into the season, “Partners” seemed like a can’t-lose prospect.

It had one of the best timeslots on the CBS schedule, airing between hit sitcoms “How I Met Your Mother” and “2 Broke Girls,” which had turned out two strong new comedies the past two years.

And it was airing on a network that traditionally has the strongest and most stable schedule in the fall.

But after a rough fall for CBS in general and its new shows in particular, “Partners” is done.

The network has canceled the new show after it fell to a new series low earlier this week.

It’s the second show this season CBS has canceled, the other being drama “Made in Jersey,” which lasted only two weeks.

The network's adults 18-49 average is down 18 percent this fall, to a second-place 2.8.

Comedy reruns will begin filling the Monday timeslot next week. Presumably “Rules of Engagement” will come off the bench in January or February to fill the timeslot permanently, though the network could also put a new midseason comedy in the slot.

“Partners” struggled from its very first outing, averaging just a 2.4 in its debut, dropping a third of “Mother’s” 3.6 adults 18-49 Nielsen rating.

It fell to a 1.8 this past week, one of the lowest-rated sitcoms ever in CBS’s highly successful Monday night block.

The problem seemed to be one of quality. Though the show was created by two comedy veterans, “Will & Grace” co-creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, it received bad reviews.

The show focused on two male best friends and business partners, one straight, the other gay, mirroring the real-life relationship of Kohan and Mutchnick.

“Partners” is only the third show to be canceled this season. NBC axed “Animal Practice” last month. (Update: ABC canceled "Last Resort" and "666 Park Avenue" on Friday.)
 

Tags: animal practice, cancellations, cbs, comedy, Jersey, last resort, made in jersey, nbc, new shows canceled, Park Avenue, partners, partners canceled, reruns, sitcoms, this week, timeslot