FIRST OFF . . .

“San Diego at Large,” a daily (7:30 p.m.) half-hour comedy series hosted by Larry Himmel on KFMB (Channel 8), is being canceled, the show’s 13 staffers were told this week. The 3 1/2-year-old variety show profiles San Diego people and places, and pokes fun at TV commercials and programs. After receiving the Arbitron and Nielsen ratings for February, the station decided to drop the program, said “San Diego at Large” producer Dan Arden. “Since the November ratings, we dropped from a 7 to a 6 in Arbitron and went from a 6 to a 7 in Nielsen,” he said. “From what I was told, we had a solid audience. But from the ratings, we would never grow.” Arden said the show’s strength was with young people, who are regarded as less faithful viewers than those watching such competing programming as the game shows “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune.” Arden said no cancellation date has been given and that the show might continue running through the summer.