ABC yanks '666', CBS renews 'HIMYM' and TNT cancels 'Leverage'

Despite canceling 666 Park Avenue, ABC was going to air all 13 episodes they ordered. Part of the reason was timing, the alphabet network did not want to launch a new show in that timeslot so close to the holiday season -plus some of their mid-season offerings were not ready. But eroding ratings forced their hand, and ABC yanked the show off the schedule, with it's remaining episodes to be burned off in the summer.To fill that Sunday slot until at least February, comedies Happy Endings and Don't Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23 will air there for three weeks beginning January 6 (and the January 27th slot is being filled with a Hallmark TV movie). ABC is double-pumping those sitcoms, as they'll continue to air new episodes in their Tuesday timeslots as well, which means Apt 23 will have completed its 19 episode order. Endings will have four episodes left in their third season pick-up. It's expected that neither of these shows will be back for the fall of 2013.

 

CBS has struck a deal to bring back How I Met Your Mother back for a ninth and -probable- final season. With all the actors contracts up, along with most of the creative folks, including creators Craig Thomas and Carter Bays, there had been a mounting fear that this current season -its eighth- could be its last. Part of the reason for the early renewal was if CBS was going to pull the plug, both Thomas and Bays said they needed to know before the end of the year because they would need the time to set up the conclusion to the shows elaborate mythology. Plus there had been some speculation and a lot of apprehension on the part of actor Jason Segel, who's film career is skyrocketing, whom appeared not willing to commit for another season. But much like the cast of Friends, these actors are fairly tight-knit. It's a good bet that CBS backed up the money truck, and all the actors got a nice bump in pay.

Finally, TNT has cancelled Leverage after five seasons, making the announcement late on Friday -maybe they hoped no one would notice? It's final episode will air on Christmas Day.