Without a Trace Might Find Cancellation!

[Brian Damage]

It's time to update your bubble show scorecard.

Multiple sources confirm that cost-conscious CBS has informed the producers of Without a Trace and Cold Case that the long-running procedurals are facing possible cancellation come May.

"They no longer have the type of ratings that justify the massive overhead," points out an Eye source, who adds that the Trace and Case bean counters at Warner Bros. are looking for ways to trim costs and avoid getting the axe. That includes convincing the casts of both shows to take salary cuts -- or at the very least forfeit their annual raises. (As I reported last month, CBS is implementing a similar salary freeze at most of its in-house dramas.)

But even if new figures can be negotiated, the insider stresses that "it's not a given that either show will be back." Reps for CBS and Warner Bros. declined to comment for this story.

On the bright side, at least we don't have to worry about perennial bubble candidate-turned-hit How I Met Your Mother this year! At least I don't think we do. We better not.

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