Here's a new equation for 'Numb3rs' fans to work on: does 22 - 6 = 0?
According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS has decided to cut back on its episode order for 'Numb3rs', reducing this season's run from the usual 22 episodes down to just 16 and leading to widespread speculation that the series will be canceled.
Friday night ratings have plummeted this year, and 'Numb3rs' appears to be the first high profile victim of this trend; last week's episode brought in a paltry 1.7 rating and 6 share in the key 18-49 demographic.
So what will fill the void? Entertainment Weekly is reporting that CBS is considering 'Flashpoint' as a long-term solution, but in the meantime the network has ordered up one or two extra episodes from many of their biggest shows to fill their programming gaps, including 'How I Met Your Mother', 'NCIS', 'NCIS: Los Angeles', 'CSI: Miami', 'Two and a Half Men', 'Criminal Minds', 'CSI: NY', 'The Big Bang Theory', 'The Good Wife', 'CSI' and 'The Mentalist'.
In other words, just about every show other than 'Numb3rs'. And it doesn't take a genius to do that math.
-- Scott Harris
