For the second straight season, NBC has tried and failed to create a hit comedy with gay characters. The network has decided to shut down production on Sean Saves The World with former Will & Grace star Sean Hayes before the show gets to film its last episodes.

Sean Saves was paired with The Michael J. Fox Show on Thursday nights, as the network tried to promote the return of two award winning television stars. Both have struggled in the ratings, but NBC has already committed to 22 episodes of Michael J. Fox.

No such commitment was made for Sean Saves. Initially, the network only went with 13 episodes, but bumped that up to 18. According to The Hollywood Reporter, 14 shows were filmed and 12 have aired so far. The last four shows will not be filmed and it's not known when the last two that were shot will air.

The writing was on the wall for Sean Saves, especially after its latest episode only drew 2.6 million viewers and a 0.6 18-49 rating, notes E! News.

Sean Saves was a Universal Television production with Hayes’ Hazy Mills. The shingle also co-produces NBC’s Grimm and Hollywood Game Night.

Last season, NBC tried out Ryan Murphy’s The New Normal, which lasted one full season before being cancelled. NBC will try another show with a gay character next year, if Ellen DeGeneres’ One Big Happy makes it past the pilot stage.

image: NBC