- NBC has canceled its controversial The Playboy Club TV show after just three episodes.
- Chrysler, a principal sponsor of the show, declined to comment on the cancellation.
- The Monday night time slot will be taken over by NBC news anchor Brian Williams' new prime-time news magazine.
NEW YORK — NBC has canceled its controversial The Playboy Club TV show after just three episodes.
The network on Tuesday pulled the plug on the 1960s-era period piece after Monday's episode drew just 3.5 million viewers. It is the first cancellation of the new fall TV season, according to the Associated Press.
The show, which featured scantily clad Playboy bunnies, drew generally lukewarm reviews from critics, but sparked controversy on several fronts, including a blast from the conservative Parents Television Council aimed at Chrysler, one of the show's principal sponsors. PTC accused the automaker of being "complicit in the act of mainstreaming pornography."
Last week, a Chrysler spokeswoman told Inside Line: "We recognize that not all advertising placement is liked by all individuals. We do not take this approach to offend, but we feel that it is important to deliver information about our products to a diverse and broad audience."
Chrysler declined to comment this week after the show's cancellation.
According to Access Hollywood, NBC news anchor Brian Williams' new prime-time news magazine, Rock Center, will take over the 10 p.m. time slot on Mondays, starting October 31, with reruns filling in until then.
Inside Line says: No surprise that Playboy founder Hugh Hefner expressed his disappointment, tweeting: "I'm sorry NBC's The Playboy Club didn't find its audience. It should have been on cable, aimed at a more adult audience."
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janwilson says:
08:19 AM, 10/24/2011
I just watched 2 shows that were saved & would love to see more. I can't believe they cancelled this as it was very entertaining. Hopefully another network will pick it up as i would love to see more episodes.
andy999 says:
03:18 PM, 10/06/2011
The most effective way to get your series cancelled, is to place Eddie Cibrian in the lead role!!!
This is becoming a habit . . .
tbone85 says:
02:59 PM, 10/06/2011
Wiki, do you somehow believe that spouting stereotypes is a sign of wit or intelligence?
ed124c says:
09:03 AM, 10/06/2011
@All those who think this article is unbecoming of Edmunds: I do not read articles on this site about super cars, cars I don't like, navigation systems, radio/stereo reviews, etc. My advice is to avoid the articles you don't like.
Oh, and why are you wasting your time posting about this article?
wikiwiki says:
08:16 AM, 10/06/2011
I guess Chrysler will have to show their ghetto stereotyped ads on BET?
cz_75 says:
08:23 PM, 10/05/2011
WTF? Is this IL or Entertainment Tonight?
Get your goddamned priorities straight and skip this mickey mouse pop-culture horseshit. You write about f--king cars, damnit.
litewerk says:
06:15 PM, 10/05/2011
So many people not happy with the proliferation of so-called hard plastics had an opportunity for some very soft-touch plastics. Why didn't all the soft-touch plastic fanciers show out in force in support of something guys often like better than even cars and trucks?
Without even an opportunity for a test drive, I'm certain I'm fond of all the models in the promo picture.
dennerline says:
06:04 PM, 10/05/2011
The only tie in I can figger out for headlining the cancelling "The Playboy Show" on a car site is the remeberance of the bumper guards on the late 50's Caddys.....there you have it.
canddmeyer says:
04:55 PM, 10/05/2011
Nice one NBC. Playboy or Brian Williams Rock Center? A real no brainer here. NBC must be planning on exploding more Chevrolet fuel tanks. I'll take HHH's ladies anytime over propaganda.
teampenske3 says:
03:41 PM, 10/05/2011
@ joey
This would definitely not be something you'd see on Jalopnik. Gawker, probably. Either way, I don't get what it has to do with cars...