CBS has axed summer dramas “BrainDead” and “American Gothic” after one season each, TheWrap has learned.
Both dramas debuted to disappointing ratings this summer before coming to an end in September. Of the network’s scripted summer series, only “Zoo” remains on the air. The TV adaptation of the James Patterson novel was renewed for Season 3 in August.
Created by “The Good Wife” duo Robert and Michelle King and ordered straight-to-series last July, “BrainDead” came as part of CBS’s push into scripted fare for the summer. However, the Mary Elizabeth Winstead-led drama only managed 4.5 million viewers and a 0.7 rating in its June premiere.
Corinne Brinkerhoff’s “American Gothic” fared even worse, with just 3.5 million viewers for it’s premiere despite a strong “Big Brother” lead-in.
By contrast the two-hour Season 2 premiere of “Zoo” was watched by 5.1 million people, up in total viewers from last season’s finale.
The cancellations come the same day CBS handed out full-season orders to three of it’s new fall shows. “Bull,” starring Michael Weatherly; “MacGyver,” starring Lucas Till; and “Kevin Can Wait,” starring comedian Kevin James were all picked up by the network on Monday.