In the least shocking move of the television season, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) has cancelled “The Rosie Show,” starring the once-charming Rosie O’Donnell. Oprah released a statement about the cancellation:
I thank Rosie from the bottom of my heart for joining me on this journey. She has been an incredible partner, working to deliver the best possible show every single day. As I have learned in the last 15 months, a new network launch is always a challenge and ratings grow over time as you continue to gather an audience. I’m grateful to Rosie and the dedicated Rosie Show team for giving it their all.
Rosie commented, too:
I loved working with Oprah in the amazing city of Chicago. I was welcomed with open arms and will never forget the kindness of all I encountered. It was a great year for me – I wish the show was able to attract more viewers – but it did not. So I am headed back to my home in New York – with gratitude. On we go!
It was no surprise to see “The Rosie Show” go down in flames. It never found an audience, and with good reason – Rosie’s charm faded long ago. It’s average viewership dropped precipitously, from 500,000 at the outset to 150,000 by the end of its short tenure. Eventually, the show suffered so badly that its studio audience was removed entirely. Chalk up yet another failure for Oprah’s network, which has failed to reach the rich potential once attributed to it.