Newsgasm: CBS loses its Pants– before his show even airs

Industry

By Tabloid Baby | Wednesday, October 18, 2006 | 11:44 pm | 3 Comments

joe_pantoliano_1.jpgCBS president Les Moonves loves Joe Pantoliano.

After the fine actor got whacked on The Sopranos in 2003, Les gave him the lead in The Handler, which hung in for four months. The following year, Les gave Joey Pants another shot, supporting Rob Lowe in Dr. Vegas, which lasted five weeks.

This year, Les had Joey starring in the planned midseason drama, The Waterfront, as the colorful, charismatic and morally ambiguous mayor of Providence, Rhode Island (with any resemblance to imprisoned former Providence mayor Buddy Cianci purely not coincidental).

Not any more.Warner Bros. Television was five shows into production of a 13-episode order this week, when CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler pulled the plug on the show– and Les Moonves’ favorite actor.

The LA Times says she didn’t like the show’s creative direction (was it his funny hats?). The Hollywood Reporter cites the series’ high cost and lack of space on the network schedule. Tassler’s decision sounds like a move from Amanda Peet’s character on Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, which happens to be another Warner Bros. show that’s tanking.

Meanwhile, despite the diminishing returns (four months… five weeks… being cancelled before the show even airs, expect Les Moonves to soon find another fit for Joey Pants.

–Tabloid Baby

3 Comments

  1. 1
    Tony A.
    Posted October 19, 2006 at 4:29 am

    It’s surprising that Joe Pants gets no respect, but I’d have to say that, like fine foods or wine, Joe’s best enjoyed in small doses. That’s what makes him such a fine character actor. Can’t see him as a lead on any type show, not even a gangster one.

    In re “Studio 60″: It’s the West Wing all over again; self-important people rapid-fire-talking about stuff the average person knows nothing about, which quickly loses its value. It deserves to tank and be replaced by Tony Puleo and his Harmonicats.

  2. 2
    BigTeebo
    Posted October 19, 2006 at 7:12 am

    I watched Studio 60 for about 2 minutes. I swore I was watching The West Wing. Except instead of the presidency, you have a sketch comedy show. yet, it is taken just as seriously. You’re right, Tony.

  3. 3
    dumbanddumber
    Posted October 19, 2006 at 7:38 am

    I’m not surprised that Studio 60 is tanking … it’s well-written and casted; it’s just, why would anyone care about a behind-the-scenes show for a sketch program?

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