CBS cancels 'Viva Laughlin'

By Stone Martindale Oct 22, 2007, 21:14 GMT

Hugh Jackman - wife © Lee Roth / RothStock / PR Photos

CBS series “Viva Laughlin” has been officially canceled after just two episodes.

Emmy winner “The Amazing Race” will take “Laughlin’s” place in the Sunday 8 p.m. slot - where the reality show resided last year - effective Nov. 4. A repeat “CSI” will run in the time period next week according to Variety.

“Laughlin” becomes this season’s first scripted series casualty. CBS initially had high hopes for “Laughlin,” with executive producer Hugh Jackman.

Show was based on the hit BBC series “Viva Blackpool,” about a gambler who opens a casino but winds up in the middle of a murder investigation. The series was part of CBS' push to up the fare offerings on the network.

Variety writes that "critics were generally unimpressed with 'Laughlin,' and viewers mostly stayed away. Show tanked in its premiere Sunday night airing, averaging just a 1.2 rating and 3 share among adults 18-49. That came after a disappointing Thursday night bow in the post-'CSI' time slot."

Jackman, John Palermo, Bob Lowry, Paul Telegdy and Peter Bowker executive produced “Viva Laughlin,” which came from BBC Worldwide Prods., Sony Pictures TV and CBS Paramount Network TV.

Lloyd Owen, Madchen Amick, Carter Jenkins, D.B. Woodside and Eric Winter starred in the show.

CBS is still determining what to do with the remaining episodes of “Viva Laughlin,” such as streaming them online or placing them on a cable outlet, according to Variety.