Maybe Michael Rispoli's next TV series will last three episodes.
You may recall - but, then again, you probably won't - that Rispoli headlined the Fox legal series "The Great Defender" last season. It was canceled after the first episode aired.Well, Rispoli's second TV series lasted exactly twice as long. CBS has pulled the plug on the sitcom "My Guys" after just two airings, the second of which was last week. Instead of tonight's third "Guys" episode, CBS has instead scheduled a rerun of "The Nanny."
As for Rispoli, assuming he ever gets another starring role in a network television series, the odds are still pretty good that it will last longer than his first two. Combined.
CBS still has four episodes of "My Guys" sitting on the shelf, which may get burned off this summer sometime. Or they might just disappear into network TV's black hole.
But "My Guys" wasn't the only series CBS yanked off the schedule. "Good Company," a relatively promising new series that has aired four episodes on Mondays at 8:30 p.m., won't be back this coming week. (Instead, CBS has scheduled a repeat of "Cybill.")
There are two new episodes of "Good Company" floating out there, but don't hold your breath on seeing either of those, either.
Oddly enough, both "My Guys" and "Good Company" were short-run series, getting orders for just six episodes as spring tryouts. And, odder, still, neither managed to make it to the end of that short run.
WEAK SHOW RETURNS: Exciting news for both of you . . . er, uh, all of you "In the House" fans - the sitcom returns to NBC's Monday night schedule next week.
In case you've forgotten about this show - which is somewhere south of mediocre in terms of quality - it's the one that features Debbie Allen as a divorced mother who moves into a home owned by injured professional athlete LL Cool J.
Before you parents think about letting your kids watch this show - which will be seen Mondays at 7:30 p.m. for at least a few weeks - here's one additional warning: Deion Sanders guest stars in next week's episodes.
Not exactly a wonderful role model for the youngsters - unless you want your kid to grow up to be arrogant, self-centered, avaricious and obnoxious.
SETTLING IN: Isn't it fun to tune in to KUTV-Ch. 2's newscasts lately - just to see what they've done to the set this week?
A few monitors here. A CBS eye there. Another CBS eye over there. New paint. New backdrops.
Actually, it's looking better and better.
Now, if only they could do something about that window behind the anchors that looks in on the newsroom. This was a decision made long before the current management, but how did anyone ever think that seeing an empty newsroom during the 10 p.m. newscast was going to increase the credibility of the Ch. 2 news?
SUCKING UP: It seems that NBC Entertainment President Warren Littlefield will make a cameo appearance on next week's episode of "Caroline in the City."
First of all, that's a bit odd because Littlefield has all the personality and magnetism of a wet noodle.
And, secondly, talk about sucking up to the boss! This is a bit extreme.
NO LONGER "FRESH": Not that this is surprising or anything, but NBC has finally made it absolutely official that "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" will go off the air at the end of this season.
And not that this is tragic or anything. This was a one-note, cartoonish show that grew old quickly. Like after the first episode.
At any rate, Will Smith and Co. will be bidding TV farewell with a one-hour season finale on May 20.
Don't say goodbye, just say good riddance.
BIDDING CNBC FAREWELL: Mary Matalin, the former spokeswoman for George Bush's 1992 campaign, is leaving her job as co-host of CNBC's "Equal Time" in June to take an unpaid position with Bob Dole's presidential campaign.
Matalin is chiefly known for three things. First, her comments about the "bimbo eruptions" in the Clinton campaign during the 1992 elections.
Second, her marriage to James Carville, the architect of President Clinton's 1992 election victory.
And, third, the fact that she can talk without moving her mouth.
ANGELS TIE EVIL: In last week's ratings, "Touched by an Angel" and the movie "Face of Evil" each drew 10.6 ratings nationally - putting them in a tie for 22nd place.
I don't know what this means, but it's weird.
FRIGHTENING NEWS: Talk-show host Montel Williams told talk-show host Leeza Gibbons this week that he's thinking about running for president. Perhaps as soon the 2000 elections.
Be scared. Be very scared.