It's hard to imagine that a network capable of telecasting "Lucky Louie" would cancel a comedy series starring the likes of Lily Tomlin and Mary Kay Place before the show even debuted, claiming it wasn't up to their standards.

And yet, this is just what HBO has done with "12 Miles of Bad Road." The one-hour series, which was in development at HBO for four years, and on which six episodes already had been shot, got the hook almost simultaneously with Carolyn Strauss stepping down as the network's programming chief.

Immediately after the show's cancellation, unusually vitriolic stories about its axing popped up in the news media.

"The plot, pilot showrunners [Linda Bloodworth and Harry Thomason], and leading lady all seemed a little moldy for HBO, especially when the channel is struggling to fill a schedule left by shows such as 'The Wire,'" wrote the New York Observer.

"Just how dreadful was '12 Miles of Bad Road'?" wondered the New York Post. "That's what folks were asking Thursday after HBO canceled the Lily Tomlin comedy series with six episodes in the can."

Creators-executive producers Bloodworth and Thomason are now trying to get HBO to change its mind, or to shop the show to another network. To that end, they've sent all six episodes to TV critics in hopes rave reviews will make it attractive somewhere. The six episodes, out of 10 ordered, were shot before the writers' strike shut production down in November.

The project, in which Tomlin plays the matriarch of a filthy rich Dallas family, was ordered by HBO's then-CEO Chris Albrecht, but it outlasted him. He left abruptly last May after being arrested in Vegas on suspicion of roughing up his girlfriend. The series was among those inherited by HBO execs promoted to key programming positions, including Richard Plepler, co-president of programming, and Michael Lombardo, president of the programming group. They thought it too broad and out of step with the times.

(Lisa de Moraes, Washington Post)

It's about time the Jonas Brothers landed their own TV series.

The pop-rock trio will be featured in their own reality series on The Disney Channel, according to The Hollywood Reporter. With the working title "Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream," the series will follow the lives of Kevin, Joe and Nick -- ages 20, 18 and 15, respectively -- as they live with their parents and younger brother on their "Look Me in the Eyes" tour. Cameras will feature them performing on stage, during rehearsals, skydiving, go-cart racing and doing other shenanigans.

The series will appear as shortform segments, debuting in the spring.

(Zap2it.com)

It doesn't necessarily mean that they're on the verge of cancellation, but ABC dramas "October Road" and "Men in Trees" are reportedly seeking new homes. According to The Hollywood Reporter, ABC sent tapes of both bubble shows to Lifetime, but the trade paper says that the cable network has already ruled out picking up either series.

What will be the next option for "October Road" and "Men in Trees"?

"October Road" is in particular danger. After spending its first season in the safe confines of Thursday nights at 10 p.m. after "Grey's Anatomy," frequently drawing over 10 million viewers per episode, the coming-of-age drama moved to ABC's Monday 10 p.m. trouble spot this year. After premiering with just over 6 million viewers, the show has been struggling to reach 5 million viewers in recent weeks and its last two episodes, airing on March 10, averaged a 1.8 rating in the 18-49 demo.

(Zap2it.com)

The History Channel is now history.

Make that History. The cable network quietly dropped "the" and "channel" from its name recently, claiming History for itself.

"Our brand is, in the media landscape, synonymous with the genre of history, so I don't think it's presumptuous of us to call ourselves History," said Nancy Dubuc, the network's executive vice president.

That's how many viewers already refer to it, she said. "Channel" is a drag on efforts to establish the brand in other media, like on the Internet. The network has even changed its "H" logo to make it look bolder, less ancient.

Once dubbed "The Hitler Channel" for all of its World War II documentaries, History has switched to a more "immersive" style that tries to show rather than tell, she said. Adventure-seeking is in. Sitting in an armchair telling war stories is out.

(Associated Press)