Apparently, Blair Underwood’s return to television will prove to be brief. NBC announced this afternoon that Ironside has been removed from its schedule after the fourth and final episode.
NBC is axing the low-rated series– a remake of Ironside, which is averaging just 6 million viewers, and is the oldest-skewing new show on network TV this fall.
The show, which starred and was produced by Underwood, will vacate its time period after its fourth episode airs Oct. 23, in favor of editions of Dateline and various specials (including consecutive holiday outings for Kelly Clarkson and Michael Buble, as well as Saturday Night Live-themed specials) through the end of 2013.
Underwood’s return to television was heralded after he played headstrong attorney Jonathan Rollins from the NBC legal drama L.A. Law for seven years seasons.