CBS takes axe to 'Viva Laughlin'

CBS has cancelled Viva Laughlin, making the remake of BBC series Viva Blackpool the first scripted series to fall on its sword in the 2007-08 television season.

The network took the decision after two episodes failed spectacularly in the ratings. Despite making its debut in a plum post-CSI slot last Thursday, the show managed to pull only 8.4m viewers - a mere 40% of the crime drama's audience. On Sunday, when the show moved to what would have been its regular timeslot, it pulled in 6.8m viewers and a dismal 3% share in the adults 18-49 demographic.

It is understood that CBS may burn off the remaining 6 episodes in the can on the net; production on the series' initial 13 episode order was shut down yesterday.