‘Something Is Out There’ Now Isn’t

NBC’s science-fiction series “Something Is Out There” has been canceled, the first casualty of the 1988-89 TV season.

The network and the show’s production company, Columbia Pictures Television, confirmed Wednesday that the show, developed from last season’s highly rated miniseries of the same title, will be removed from the schedule after its airing Friday at 8 p.m. The show ranks 61st among the 72 prime-time series broadcast this season.

John Ashley, who is co-executive producer of “Something Is Out There” with its creator, Frank Lupo, said Wednesday he supposed the show failed because the extra-terrestrial subject matter was inappropriate for series TV.

“Material like this works better in a miniseries,” he said. “There, you’ve got four hours and a substantial amount of money to take people into outer space. On a series, you just can’t do Creature-of-the-Week.”

Ashley and Lupo also created and produced Fox Broadcasting Co.’s half-hour thriller “Werewolf,” which also fell victim to cancellation last season. “Next time around, we’re going to be more reality-based,” Ashley joked.

The “Something Is Out There” time slot will be filled with holiday specials and movies until Jan. 6. A network spokeswoman said NBC has not yet decided on a regular replacement.

CBS previously bounced one series from its fall lineup, “Coming of Age,” but classified it as being “on hiatus” rather than canceled, meaning it may be brought back.