Brian Damage
06-04-2009, 10:56 AM
It looks as though A&E drama "The Beast" will not be coming back for a second season.
Sources indicate the Patrick Swayze starrer about a rogue FBI cop in Chicago has been canceled after 13 episodes, with the final installment having aired on April 23.
A&E told Daily Variety that no decision has been made.
Ratings were soft for the Sony-produced series that got off to a rough start when Swayze was diagnosed with cancer. At the Television Critics Assn. panel for the series in January in which he was supposed to appear and promote the show, he was hospitalized with pneumonia.
"The Beast" also starred Travis Fimmel, Kevin J. O'Connor, Larry Gilliard Jr. and Lindsay Pulsipher.
There was speculation at the end of the season that because of Swayze's illness, a new lead would have to take over if the show was renewed. Lou Diamond Phillips came aboard for a guest role for episode No. 7, but sources say he wasn't considered as a headliner.
One of the actors on the show was put on a contract hold through August in case of a renewal. Reps of several thesps still have not heard whether the series was being picked up or canceled and were trying to juggle their schedules as job offers were coming in.
While A&E offers a handful of offnet dramas, the cabler got into the original scripted business last summer with CBS Paramount's "The Cleaner." The Benjamin Bratt series will begin season two June 23.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118004500.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
Sources indicate the Patrick Swayze starrer about a rogue FBI cop in Chicago has been canceled after 13 episodes, with the final installment having aired on April 23.
A&E told Daily Variety that no decision has been made.
Ratings were soft for the Sony-produced series that got off to a rough start when Swayze was diagnosed with cancer. At the Television Critics Assn. panel for the series in January in which he was supposed to appear and promote the show, he was hospitalized with pneumonia.
"The Beast" also starred Travis Fimmel, Kevin J. O'Connor, Larry Gilliard Jr. and Lindsay Pulsipher.
There was speculation at the end of the season that because of Swayze's illness, a new lead would have to take over if the show was renewed. Lou Diamond Phillips came aboard for a guest role for episode No. 7, but sources say he wasn't considered as a headliner.
One of the actors on the show was put on a contract hold through August in case of a renewal. Reps of several thesps still have not heard whether the series was being picked up or canceled and were trying to juggle their schedules as job offers were coming in.
While A&E offers a handful of offnet dramas, the cabler got into the original scripted business last summer with CBS Paramount's "The Cleaner." The Benjamin Bratt series will begin season two June 23.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118004500.html?categoryid=14&cs=1