NEW YORK (AP) – Roseanne Barr’s hysterectomy has forced the cancellation of her upcoming cooking show, “Domestic Goddess,” and may claim the ABC reality show leading up to it.
The 50-year-old comedian-actress is due to undergo the operation this week.
“Domestic Goddess” was to begin airing Sept. 20 on the ABC Family cable channel. Production had only recently begun and no completed episodes were available to broadcast, a network spokeswoman said.
However, ABC is in the midst of airing a reality series in which cameras followed Barr as she pitched “Domestic Goddess” to various networks.
Two half-hour episodes of “The Real Roseanne Show” are scheduled to air each Wednesday through Sept. 17, setting up “Domestic Goddess.” Production on the ABC network shows is already complete.
ABC is taking a “hard look” at whether it should cancel the reality series, as well, spokesman Kevin Brockman said Monday.
One point of the ABC show was to build anticipation for “Domestic Goddess,” and if that series has been shelved, ABC has to decide whether it’s worthwhile to continue, he said.
Ratings may make the decision easier. The Aug. 6 premiere of “The Real Roseanne Show” drew fewer than 5.5 million viewers, ranking it No. 59 for the week.
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AP-ES-08-18-03 1410EDT
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