Ailing Actors, Shows and Ratings: News Brief 3/4/09

Earlier today Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit's Detective Olivia Benson, was hospitalized for the third time since January. Her original ailment then was a pneumothorax, or collapsed lung for those who don't watch ER, and a spokesman for the show stated her current trip was for "routine tests". L&O: SVU, which airs Tuesdays at 10:00 PM EST on NBC, has been in reruns the past two weeks, returning next week, should not expect any delays in the production, remarked the same spokesman. All of us here wish Ms. Hargitay a speedy recovery so she can go back to what she does best, catching those sex crimes offenders and making sure they never reach trial.

Yesterday ABC announced the cancellation of new series Life on Mars which premiered back in October. The show focused on Detective Sam Tyler (Jason O'Mara) who, after being hit by a car, wakes up and finds himself in 1973. The series is based on the original BBC series of the same name, which ran for two seasons in 2006-7 and starred Doctor Who's new series' Master, John Simm, in the title role. The announcement is said to have been made with enough time for the producers to provide a satisfying conclusion to the series' storylines. For those fans of Life of Mars who are upset over the cancellation, there is comfort that the sequel series to the British original, Ashes to Ashes, has its American premiere this Saturday (March 7) at 9:00 PM EST on BBC America.

Last night's season premiere of Reaper on the CW came in last place with only 2.36 million viewers (over a 12% drop from the season one finale last May) tuning in to see Sam jumping back into his demon-hunting lifestyle. I personally blame the decline on the lack of Gladys (Christine Willes) from the long-awaited season premiere. That and American Idol with its 24.21 million viewers probably had something to do with it.