'The Rosie Show' Canceled By OWN

The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) has canceled its freshman talk show 'The Rosie Show' starring Rosie O'Donnell after only six months into its first season.


The series premiered in October 2011 to a very healthy 500,000 viewers. A milestone for the OWN network. During the first three months the viewership sank to 250,000 viewers, half the audience during premiere week. 


In January 2012 Rosie O'Donnell changed the entire set, cut the live audience and game segment. The talk show went from live to pre-taped one-on-one intimiate interviewers. The viewership went even lower with this past week going as far as 100,000 viewers. One episode in March attracted only 60,000 viewers.


The series was set to move from the remote Chicago setting at the old Oprah Winfrey set to New York City where it would be much easier to attract more guests. With the higher costs for a set in New York City and the struggling viewership, OWN decided to cancel the talk show instead. 


The last episode of 'The Rosie Show' will air on Friday, March 30.