• by Wayne Friedman , September 4, 2007

Not every cable show clicked this summer. Turner Network Television now says it is pulling summer doctor series "Heartland."

"Heartland" initially averaged just 3.5 million viewers, keeping only half of its lead-in from hit show "The Closer," which usually gets 7.6 million viewers. It premiered in mid-June on Mondays at 10 p.m.

Unable to keep up with TNT's big "Closer" series, the network downgraded "Heartland" to the 8 p.m. time period on Mondays. TNT put in "Saving Grace" at 10 p.m., which has scored far better numbers.

"Heartland" ended up averaging 3 million viewers for its entire run. TNT's cousin network, TBS, has also had some mixed results. Its comedy series "House of Payne," which jumped out quickly to big numbers, has cooled off. Its June debut soared to a record 5.9 million total viewers for an ad-supported cable situation comedy. But the series has since averaged fewer than 3 million viewers in subsequent weeks.

Still, a number of new cable TV series have scored good results this summer: Lifetime's "Army Wives," USA's "The Starter Wife" and "Burn Notice," and AMC's "Mad Men," among others.