ABC will replace the Tuesday time slot originally occupied by Willard's improv show with reruns of 'Wipeout', but sources say the move has nothing to do with his recent arrest.
- Jul 31, 2012
AceShowbiz - ABC has pulled Fred Willard's "Trust Us With Your Life" off schedule almost two weeks after he was arrested for alleged lewd conduct. The network has decided not to air the remaining two episodes of the improvisational comedy series hosted by the 78-year-old comedian.
The Alphabet will replace the low-rated show, which originally aired on Tuesdays, with reruns of "Wipeout". Despite the short gap between the two events, insiders claim the change in schedule has nothing to do with the former "Everybody Loves Raymond" star's arrest.
Previously, Willard insisted he would continue gracing the small screen through "TUWYL" despite his legal issue. "I was not fired from TUWYL so B sure 2 watch Trust Us With your life Tues, ABC 9," he tweeted a few days after he was arrested during a routine inspection on Wednesday, July 18 evening at the Tiki Theater in Los Angeles.
Unlike ABC which still aired Willard's show last week, PBS fired the comedian as the host of "Market Warriors" less than 24 hours after his arrest. The cable channel's president and CEO Paula Kerger later explained their move, "Our concern was his circumstances would actually become a distraction from the series," adding that they "had to make a quick decision" because the show was taping.
Unlike Willard's arrest which sucked people's attention, his show "Trust Us With Your Life" failed to attract viewers' interest. It dropped 33|percent| from its premiere to a 0.6 rating in adults 18-49 last week with only 1.83 million viewers, making it the lowest-rated broadcast on ABC in summer.
