Channel 39 Cancels Larry Himmel Show; Cites Failure to Attract Large Audience

KNSD (Channel 39) canceled its 6-month-old “The Himmel Show” on Wednesday because of the show’s failure to attract a large audience.

Broadcast from the bar of a Pacific Beach restaurant, the show was “an attempt at live comedic, variety, audience involvement humor,” that did not work out, said KNSD general Manager Neil Derrough.

“We took a real whack at doing something original, local--underline local--and tried to make it a San Diego show,” Derrough said Wednesday. “We worked hard at it. It had some good elements. But it did not find an audience large enough to justify continuing it.”

Larry Himmel joined KNSD after 3 1/2 years as the brash host of “At Large,” a satirical, off-the-wall daily program at KFMB (Channel 8), which was canceled in May. “The Himmel Show” at KNSD included comedians, entertainers, live rock music and remote broadcasts from San Diego homes.

In February, the show earned a 2 rating in viewer surveys, Derrough said, losing out to reruns of “Star Trek.”

At first shown monthly, the program was expanded to a weekly 7 p.m. Saturday broadcast Feb. 4. Two specials of the “The Himmel Show” were produced for New Year’s and the Super Bowl.

Although Saturday’s broadcast was the last performance, Derrough said the show’s production company had contracts through June.

“No one, with the exception of Larry, walks out the door immediately,” Derrough said. “Most will be absorbed within the station.”