HBO Cancels Lily Tomlin Comedy

According to Variety, HBO has cancelled a series called 12 Miles of Bad Road, after just 6 episodes, out of the 10 ordered, were written and shot. Described as an hour-long comedy starring Lily Tomlin as a Dallas real estate maven whose family life is the center of the series, the show halted production due to the strike and hasn't been impressing studio execs enough to continue. Other stars included Gary Cole and Mary Kay Place.

Tomlin was recently seen in A Prairie Home Companion and did an earlier stint as Deborah Fiderer on The West Wing.

Twelve Miles came from executive producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, who had created the '80s/90s hit Designing Women, but HBO insiders said the show is said to have had a creative vision that didn't mesh with that of the cable channel. Executive producers have marketed the show elsewhere, but potential homes are still up in the air with alternative networks either declining (i.e., TNT) or avoiding commitment (i.e., Lifetime).

This week has been one of change for the premium cable channel as its veteran entertainment chief, Carolyn Strauss, left her position two days ago after helping develop programs such as The Sopranos and Six Feet Under and attracting high-caliber creative talent.