LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Though NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker insists that it's still too early to speculate on which of his network's sagging freshman series will hit the shelf during November sweeps, industry reports suggest he may have lots of choices. "Coupling," "Whoopi" and "Happy Family" may all take a little vacation next month.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, while those new shows are the most obvious stragglers, more ambiguous performers like "Las Vegas," "Miss Match" and "Lyon's Den" may also lose time in November. The most obvious victim could be the American version of the popular British comedy "Coupling." With ratings falling each weak, unimpressive viewer retention from lead-in "Will & Grace" and the always intriguing possibility of super-sized Thursdays hits, "Coupling" may cease to be Must-See as of Oct. 30, the first day of the sweep. Sources at other networks speculated to the HR that NBC may be inclined to use its much-anticipated Jessica Lynch telefilm on Sunday, Nov. 9 in the time currently occupied by "Lyons Den." A special 90-minute "Fear Factor" special might provide better counter-programming for FOX's finale of "The New Joe Millionaire" on Monday, Nov. 24, stranding "Las Vegas." Finally, previously announced specials featuring Justin Timberlake and Shania Twain are expected to find a home on Tuesday, Nov. 24, which would leave "Happy Family" and "Whoopi" out in the cold. The struggling "Miss Match," which has already been moved once (from 8 p.m. ET to 9 p.m. on Fridays) could end up being the only new NBC series to remain in place for the entire sweep. Even that, though, hardly seems set in stone. ________________________________ Changes to your subscription (unsubs, nomail, digest) can be made by going to http://sandboxmail.net/mailman/listinfo/sndbox_sandboxmail.net
