Meredith Vieira’s daytime talk show has been cancelled, just days after a report said it would be. The Meredith Vieira Show failed to draw audiences as it competed with Ellen DeGeneres, Steve Harvey, Wendy Williams and Dr. Phil during afternoons.
Last week, the New York Post reported that scheduled celebrity guests had already been told that the show is on the chopping block. It was clear that it wouldn’t last when the second season premiere only earned a 0.8 household rating, despite a new format. That was half of the first season’s premiere.
This morning, NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution confirmed to Deadline that the show was officially cancelled. After the show finishes production, Vieira will remain with NBC News to cover the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
“I am so sorry to see our show come to an end after this season, but I am also incredibly proud of the work our staff has done and forever grateful to our supportive viewers,” the former Today Show anchor said in a statement. “We promise to spend our final weeks producing the best broadcast we know how. And have a blast doing so!”
Vieira wasn’t the only high-profile TV personality to fail with a daytime talkshow. Katie Couric’s show didn’t last long, either, proving that it is hard to succeed in a sector dominated by DeGeneres, Harvey and Williams. Next up for NBCU is Harry Connick Jr., whose show will start in the fall.