CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- ABC Family has officially pulled the plug on its upcoming talk show "Domestic Goddess." The announcement comes after last week's news that host Roseanne Barr's impending hysterectomy surgery would likely delay the start of production.
A spokesman for the cable channel wouldn't go into specifics other than the show has been "shut down permanently and will not air on ABC Family" according to trade publication Daily Variety. The series, which had a 13 episode order, was originally set to bow on September 20. It's not clear why the entire show was scrapped instead of just delaying production.
With the death of "Goddess," insiders expect "The Real Roseanne Show," Barr's ABC series documenting the development of the show, is well on its way to being yanked as well. Not helping matters is the show's middling numbers. Last week's back-to-back installments averaged a third place finish in adults 18-49 and last in households among the four major networks in the Wednesday, 9:00/8:00c hour.
"Goddess'" unraveling isn't too much of a surprise considering the somewhat sorted history of the series. Originally a one-hour cooking show with celebrity guests, ABC Family executives asked to trim the series to a half-hour, more traditional talk show along the lines of IFC's "Dinner for Five."
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