LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- CBS has pulled the plug on its drama veterans "Cold Case" and "Ghost Whisperer" as well as its comedy mainstay "The New Adventures of Old Christine."
Also landing on the chopping block are "Gary Unmarried," "NUMB3RS," "Miami Medical" and "Accidentally on Purpose."
On the flip side "Medium" and "Rules of Engagement" have both been picked up for the 2010-11 season.
The decision to drop "Whisperer" is viewed as the biggest surprise as the series has been a perennial winner in its Friday, 8:00/7:00c time period since its launch five years ago. Nevertheless with its limited back end ($650,000-$700,000 per episode collectively from Syfy, ION and WE tv), co-production status with ABC Studios and escalating license fee (pegged at $3 million per episode) going into this season, the cancellation wasn't totally unexpected.
Conversely, "Medium," which is wholly owned by CBS Television Studios nabs nearly twice as much ($1.3 million per episode from Lifetime) for its off-network run.
As for "Christine," the Warner Bros. Television series has been flirting with cancellation - and a potential move to ABC - for the past three years. More word about a shift to the Alphabet will undoubtedly come after upfront week concludes.
The rest of the axed group had long been considered on the fence, whether it be due to age ("Cold Case"), episode reduction ("NUMB3RS") or modest ratings ("Unmarried," "Purpose," "Medical"). CBS will still have five episodes of "Medical" yet to air, presumably to be burned off this summer.
CBS announces its 2010-11 season lineup tomorrow.
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