Spike TV's new comedy Players has been yanked from the schedule after only three weeks according to a report from The Futon Critic. No word on if/when the final seven episodes will air.
The show was averaging a .2 adults 18-49 rating, which winds up significantly lower on a percentage basis than its lead-in Blue Mountain State which averaged a .34 adults 18-49 rating during the same three weeks.
For the rest of the month encores of Blue Mountain State will air at 10:30p in Players' place, with repeats of Deadliest Warrior taking the slot beginning in April.
Here's the press release announcing the series order from more than a year ago:
SPIKE TV ORDERS 10 EPISODES OF NEW COMEDY SERIES, “PLAYERS,” CREATED BY MATT WALSH
Half-Hour Scripted Comedy Follows The Hilarious Antics Of
Two Completely Opposite Brothers Who Run A Sports Bar
NEW YORK, NY, February 10, 2009 – Spike TV has greenlit a new, original half-hour comedy, “Players,” which follows two brothers with opposite personalities trying to run a sports bar. Created by Matt Walsh, one of the founders of the acclaimed improvisational comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade, “Players” is a Principato Young Entertainment Production and shoots in Los Angeles in February and premieres this summer on Spike TV.
“Players” stars Walsh as Bruce, a free-spirited, fun-loving, guy’s guy who is living out his fantasy of owning a bar that allows him to freely bet on sports along with dating the cocktail waitresses. His older, more subdued and uptight brother, Ken (Ian Roberts), serves as his antagonist, and tries to keep the focus on the bar turning a profit. The series also features Vicky (Danielle Schneider), the promiscuous waitress who has an affinity for B-list athletes, Hickey, the senior member of the staff who instead of actually working, spends most of his time bidding on sports memorabilia on eBay, and Calvin (James Pumphery) the young bartender who idolizes the fun-loving Bruce.
Matt Walsh , Ian Roberts, Jay Martel as well as Peter Principato, Paul Young, Tucker Voorhees, John Lynch of Devlin Entertainment serve as executive producers. Jason Woliner, who directed the presentation, serves as a co-executive producer. Walsh, a Chicago native, is a former “Daily Show” correspondent who was a founding member of the successful improv comedy troupe, Upright Citizens Brigade. Walsh has appeared in such popular comedy films as “Old School,” “Semi-Pro,” and “Bad Santa.”
Spike TV is available in 97.7 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at http://www.spike.com/press.
Sad to see. It looks low budget, but it is pretty funny.
That's too bad. I was just watching the most recent episode on DVR. It's no Arrested Development but I got a few laughs out of it. I think it's better than Blue Mountain State but whatever.
I'm not surprised it got canned. All of the humor was stale and none of the actors stood out as doing anything more than just reciting their lines. No enthusiasm and no one seemed to be having fun.
I'm not happy to see people out of work though.
I LOVE BMS and really liked Players. I hope they air the rest of the episodes!
spike: tv for men even though a lot of our executives are women.
talk about not giving something a chance.
spike: tv for men even though a lot of our executives are women.
talk about not giving something a chance.
this is bs, these too guy diserve too be on tv , sooo funny and witty not for ur average dumbass . please let the rest air
I really liked this show. I hope to see the remaining episodes soon.
I've been an Upright Citizens Brigade fan for at least 10 years. It's hard since many people don't get the humor and don't have the patience to watch it. I though Players was an excellent offering from the troupe and I'm really sad they pulled it already. Judging from what I've seen of Blue Mountain State, it doesn't surprise me half the viewing audience didn't stay since they apparently like shows that aren't funny.
I've been an Upright Citizens Brigade fan for at least 10 years. It's hard since many people don't get the humor and don't have the patience to watch it. I though Players was an excellent offering from the troupe and I'm really sad they pulled it already. Judging from what I've seen of Blue Mountain State, it doesn't surprise me half the viewing audience didn't stay since they apparently like shows that aren't funny.