AceShowbiz -

E! has made plans for the future of "Fashion Police" following the departure of its two co-hosts. The network said on Tuesday, March 17 that it would put the show on an extended hiatus and scrap the remaining three episodes initially scheduled to be filmed this spring, while the team is rebooting and recasting the show.

"We look forward to taking this opportunity to refresh the show before the next awards season," E! said in a statement. "Our talented co-hosts Giuliana Rancic and Brad Goreski, along with executive producer Melissa Rivers, will continue their roles as we evolve the show into its next chapter for the legions of 'Fashion Police' fans around the world."

The show is expected to return with six or seven episodes in September leading to the Emmy Awards. NBCUniversal Lifestyle Networks Group president Frances Berwick told THR, "With the benefit of hindsight, we definitely brought it back too soon."

Berwick revealed that following controversy surrounding Giuliana Rancic's racist joke about Zendaya Coleman's Oscars deadlocks and Kelly Osbourne and Kathy Griffin's departures, she and Melissa Rivers considered canceling the show, but ultimately decided not to because they wouldn't disappoint the loyal viewers.

"There was a lot of noise and drama that are really not helpful or additive to the creative process, but there's a real love for this show," Berwick explained. She jokingly added, "Given the focus on this, the ratings should really be the size of 'The Walking Dead'."

Regarding Griffin's complaints that the show often blasted celebrities, Berwick argued, "The show is about comedy and fashion and those are very light, frothy, fun subjects." Still, she paid attention to the criticisms and in the case of the mani-cam feature, she said, "If people don't want to do it, they shouldn't be forced to do it."

She elaborated further, "To the extent that this has all gotten very intense and serious - it's meant to be fun. When it stops being fun or if we think that we're offending or crossing a line, absolutely, that's the time to re-evaluate and that's what we're doing, frankly, with things like the mani cam."