Limitless S01E01 Still - H 2015
David M. Russell/CBSSometimes IP just isn’t enough.
Fresh off canceling Rush Hour, CBS appears poised to drop fellow film-to-TV reboot Limitless, with executives telling press during its pre-upfront breakfast on Wednesday that the procedural is being shopped elsewhere by producers CBS Television Studios.
CBS Corp. CEO Les Moonves was bullish about nearly all of the network’s first-year shows back in March. But enlisting Bradley Cooper, who starred in the 2011 film on which the show was based, as an executive producer and recurring guest star didn’t provide the fireworks the network was no doubt banking on from a blockbuster film star and three-time Oscar nominee.
The drama averaged a 2.4 rating among adults 18-49 with impressive DVR numbers factored in, but it’s live-plus-same-day stats (1.4) placed it well behind that of Tuesday night counterparts NCIS (2.2) and NCIS: New Orleans (1.8). With all three NCIS shows returning as well as cop dramas Training Day and MacGyver, CBS has opted to see if it can improve on Limitless’ performance.
While the Jake McDormand and Jennifer Carpenter starrer likely won’t be back on CBS, the show did receive a fair amount of critical support. The Hollywood Reporter‘s TV critic Daniel Fienberg called it one of TV’s most “creative procedurals.”
Overall, CBS’ 2015-16 freshman class finishes 3 for 7, with the network also cancelling comedy Angel From Hell and renewing Life in Pieces, Code Black and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. Supergirl was canceled but will move to The CW for season two.
Keep up with all the renewals, cancellations and new series pickups with THR’s handy scorecard and follow the pilot crop status here. For full Upfronts 2016 coverage, go to THR.com/upfronts.
