Networks Shuffle Spring Shows

With February sweeps fast approaching, the major television networks are scrambling to to change their schedules for the strongest possible showings in the ratings.

E! Online reports that Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine)'s Boston Public has been suspended by FOX, leaving the show's future in limbo as former Star Trek staffer Bryan Fuller's Wonderfalls is scheduled to take over its timeslot on March 12th.

Despite Ryan's presence, Kelley had been ordered to find a new female lead to join the show's cast, the report said.

Boston Public, which was created by David E. Kelley of Ally McBeal and The Practice, is now shooting its 15th episode of the season, far less than the 22 episodes usually ordered for a full television run.

This is an increase on the 13 episodes ordered by Fox at the start of the season, but the show has averaged only 4.8 million viewers.

Though Variety reported that Fox may order a final wrap-up episode, that would put Boston Public at only 82 episodes for its total run - short of the 100 episodes that usually makes a show a candidate for syndication.

Meanwhile, Zap2It has posted that new episodes of NBC's The Apprentice have been moved permanently out of competition with Star Trek: Enterprise after being trounced by FOX's American Idol 3 in the Wednesday night ratings.

The decision will keep The Apprentice in competition with the top-rated show on television, CBS's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

The Apprentice was scheduled to move to Wednesdays after its initial two episodes aired in special Thursday night broadcasts, but its ratings dropped significantly against American Idol, bringing in only a 7.9/12 where the week before it had scored a 14.0/20.

NBC will air reruns of The Apprentice in the 8 p.m. Wednesday timeslot against Enterprise, which was also trounced in the ratings by American Idol.

Here is E! Online's coverage of Boston Public, while Zap2It's report on The Apprentice's moves is here.

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