AN
Andrew
Founding member
Eamonn Holmes is set to add his name to the list of British stars who have flopped on the other side of the Atlantic after his US quiz show was pulled from the schedules after just one episode. Holmes had hoped to match the success of earlier exports, who also include the journalist Martin Bashir, snapped up by the ABC network following his Living with Michael Jackson documentary and who now anchors its main current affairs show Nightline.
But yesterday Fox, the television network owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, confirmed that Holmes's quiz show The Rich List had been pulled from its primetime Wednesday slot after attracting just 4 million viewers on its debut. Less than one in 20 Americans watching television at the time tuned in, preferring instead the drama Criminal Minds on CBS, Lost on ABC and diet show The Biggest Loser on NBC.
Although the show has not yet been axed altogether, industry insiders do not expect it to return. Several formats first seen in the UK have succeeded on US television in recent years, including versions of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Wife Swap and Strictly Come Dancing. However, the format is usually tweaked for the US audience and a new host parachuted in. Taking a British host and building a show around them has usually proved more problematic.
Holmes is familiar to British viewers but unknown in the US. Last year, he switched from the GMTV sofa to Sky News. He has also fronted National Lottery Jet Set for BBC1 and has his own sports show on Saturday mornings on Radio 5 Live. His move to the US made tabloid headlines when publicity shots to promote The Rich List appeared to have been airbrushed to make him look younger and thinner.
They don't mess about with the axings in the US do they, only one episode!
But yesterday Fox, the television network owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, confirmed that Holmes's quiz show The Rich List had been pulled from its primetime Wednesday slot after attracting just 4 million viewers on its debut. Less than one in 20 Americans watching television at the time tuned in, preferring instead the drama Criminal Minds on CBS, Lost on ABC and diet show The Biggest Loser on NBC.
Although the show has not yet been axed altogether, industry insiders do not expect it to return. Several formats first seen in the UK have succeeded on US television in recent years, including versions of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Wife Swap and Strictly Come Dancing. However, the format is usually tweaked for the US audience and a new host parachuted in. Taking a British host and building a show around them has usually proved more problematic.
Holmes is familiar to British viewers but unknown in the US. Last year, he switched from the GMTV sofa to Sky News. He has also fronted National Lottery Jet Set for BBC1 and has his own sports show on Saturday mornings on Radio 5 Live. His move to the US made tabloid headlines when publicity shots to promote The Rich List appeared to have been airbrushed to make him look younger and thinner.
They don't mess about with the axings in the US do they, only one episode!
