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'Tough' Decision as Talker Is Halted Tue Sep 28, 2004 02:41 AM ET
By Andrew Wallenstein
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The Comedy Central late-night series 'Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn' has likely reached the end of its run.
Production on new episodes will be suspended when the series goes on a previously scheduled hiatus at the end of November. 'The future of the show will be determined at that time,' a spokesman for the channel said.
Sources indicate that network executives have been displeased with the ratings performance of 'Quinn,' a spirited roundtable discussion of current issues with host Colin Quinn and guest comedians.
'Quinn' has been holding onto only about half of the audience tuning in to its 11 p.m. lead-in, 'The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.' 'Daily,' which is red-hot as of late, coming off a pair of Emmy wins and record ratings during the political conventions, has averaged 1.1 million total viewers this year through Sept. 9, while 'Quinn' has averaged 537,000 by the same measure.
With 'Daily' running hot, sources say Comedy Central is eager to find a more fitting companion piece for the series. Although rookie series 'Crossballs' and 'The Graham Norton Effect' both had recent test runs at 11:30 p.m., neither will likely inherit the time slot or even get a second season because of poor ratings.
Potential 'Quinn' replacements are either of a pair of recent showbiz satires in the pilot stage at the network. One is from former 'Daily' correspondent Brian Unger, while the other would be produced by David Spade and Hugh Fink with Pariah's Gavin Polone and Vivian Cannon.
'Quinn' joined Comedy Central's schedule in December 2002 with a two-week test run. The network brought it back permanently in March 2003 and has since aired more than 200 episodes Monday-Thursdays.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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