"Commander" Conspiracy Theories

Who did in President Allen? Was it Dr. House? The American Idols? Zack Morris?

The conspiracy theories are endless; Commander in Chief isn't. For the second time this season, ABC has pulled rank on President Mackenzie Allen's TV administration and pulled the freshman White House drama from its schedule effective immediately.

And, as if to leave no hanging-chad doubt, series costar Donald Sutherland told the UPI news service Tuesday that "Commander in Chief is over, as of two hours ago."

The network's decision wasn't final, Sutherland added, "but when I spoke to the people at ABC, they said, 'What is the word beyond miracle?' "

ABC will announce its new fall schedule, and in a roundabout way confirm its dead, on May 16.

Starting this week, and for the remainder of the May sweeps, the newsmagazine Primetime will succeed Commander in Chief in the 10 p.m. Thursday time slot. The presidential series' three unaired episodes, one of which is titled, "Unfinished Business," may be burned off next month, after the season ends, the Hollywood Reporter said.

In the latest Nielsen Media Research rankings, Commander in Chief didn't look at all like the TV leader of the free world in 64th place with a season-low 6.5 million viewers.

The fall for Commander was swift and steep. A heavily promoted new show with a hook (Oscar winner Geena Davis as the first woman U.S. President), the drama was an early Top 10 hit. Its Sept. 27 premiere was watched by 16.4 million. By October, ABC had picked up the show for a full season. And then in January, Davis won a Golden Globe.

But despite appearances, all was not well with the President Allen White House. Within weeks of the premiere, series creator Rod Lurie was removed from his day-to-day job of running the show and replaced with NYPD Blue vet Steven Bochco. Later, Bochco himself was replaced.

Ratings-wise, things began to go south in November, when House returned from its annual baseball holiday. Faced with head-to-head competition in the 9 p.m., Tuesday hour from the hot Fox medical show, Commander in Chief blinked. At first, House led by as little as 300,000 viewers; by January, it led by more than 3 million. Faced with House getting even hotter in February thanks to its American Idol lead-in, ABC yanked Commander from the key ratings month. The show remained benched until Apr. 13, when it was cast down the black hole that is Thursday night on ABC.

Timing-wise, Commander in Chief's ratings descent coincided with the arrival of Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Prior to the Saved by the Bell troublemaker (and NYPD Blue good guy) joining the cast as a hotshot advisor on Nov. 29, the series was averaging 15.4 million viewers. Immediately after Gosselaar's arrival, that average slipped 1 percent. As of this week, the show was done 18 percent when comparing the pre-Gosselaar numbers to the post-Gosselaar numbers.

All around it was a lousy season for TV presidents with President Bartlet and President-elect Santos both doomed by The West Wing's weak ratings. (That show's series finale airs later this month on NBC.)

Despite falling poll numbers, Commander star Davis maintained a brave face. On Tuesday night, the Associated Press reported, she even met with constituents at a United Nations event honoring her work as a make-believe female head of state.

"If elected to another season--uh, term," Davis joked, per the AP, "whatever I can do to make change happen quicker in the fake world, I promise to do."

Unfortunately for Davis, it appears her fake world is beyond change. Or help.