Wilmore Out at 'Bernie Mac'

[TJ]

http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?30532

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Larry Wilmore created and executive produced "The Bernie Mac Show." Last fall he even won an Emmy for writing the pilot. On Tuesday (March 11), just days after the show picked up an NAACP Image Award for outstanding comedy series, Wilmore was fired.

Despite erratic ratings, "The Bernie Mac Show" is likely to be back next fall for its third season, but FOX executives reportedly told Wilmore that his services would no longer be required for that next step forward.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the decision was not a complete surprise. Tensions had been building between FOX, Wilmore and star Bernie Mac about the show's direction. Apparently the consensus is that "Bernie Mac" is doing well, but it could be doing better and that the show is funny, but it could be funnier.

Moved up to 8:00 p.m. ET on Wednesdays to compete with Damon Wayans' "My Wife and Kids," "The Bernie Mac Show" struggled to start this season. The show took a break for December and January and returned to its old 9:00 p.m. time slot in February. Assisted by its "American Idol" lead-in, ratings have improved dramatically, but the show's creative future is unstable.

Wilmore began as a writer on "In Living Color" and went on to work as a supervising producer on "The Jamie Foxx Show." He also created "The PJs."

Shooting on the second season of "The Bernie Mac Show," which co-stars Dee Dee Davis, Kellita Smith, Jeremy Suarez and Camille Winbush, will conclude this week.