Economic Woes Mean Reprieve for Weak Series

The financial crisis and the lingering effects of last year’s writers’ strike are breathing life into TV shows that would already have worn out their welcome in years past, reports the Hollywood Reporter. In previous seasons, ratings dogs like NBC's Knight Rider and ABC's Private Practice likely would have been canned, but the cost of replacing them has execs hesitating.

"From the networks' standpoint, they're loath to cancel since the cost of finding something to replace a show may not be worth it," says one programming executive. "And advertisers still prefer to be in a quality scripted series to an inexpensive reality show."
(More financial crisis stories.)