Neil Patrick Harris might want to put his dreams of becoming a TV host on the backburner. After flubbing with the Oscars, the former How I Met Your Mother star has also failed at hosting a variety show.
On Tuesday, NBC announced that it has cancelled Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, an ambitious attempt to revive the variety show genre that ultimately failed. Featuring a parade of celebrity cameos and pranks, the show was based on the U.K. series Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
While NBC gave the show a major push - including a Super Bowl ad - the show never earned a big audience. While its premiere earned a 1.9 18-49 rating, the November finale only earned a 1.3 rating, notes The Hollywood Reporter.
“We are extremely proud of the work Neil and the producers did on Best Time Ever,” Paul Telegdy, NBC president of late night and alternative programming, told Variety. “People rewarded us for taking the risk of trying something different. It was an incredibly complicated and sophisticated form of television to put on a live show on a weekly basis. We’re proud of Neil for giving it his all and we have steely resolve to work together on something new.”
NBC told Variety that they still plan on working with NPH on new projects with his Prediction Productions.
While Harris did a good job hosting the Emmys and Tonys, his Oscar performance in February earned mostly mixed reviews. (He wasn’t asked to come back.) Harris is still best known for his roles on Doogie Howser M.D. and How I Met Your Mother. He also won a Tony for starring in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway and starred in David Fincher’s Gone Girl.