CBS’ ‘TRIANGLE’ STOPPED BEFORE IT GOT STARTED

“Triangle,” a new CBS series starring Bruce Boxleitner and Jameson Parker, was suddenly halted in mid-production this week over apparently volatile creative differences, upsetting network plans to launch it April 18.

A CBS spokesman confirmed that the show, in which Boxleitner plays a detective and Parker a police chief, was abruptly terminated Tuesday as it was completing the third of six episodes. He said, “The series has been discontinued due to creative differences.”

“Triangle” co-executive producer Philip DeGuere, saying he was angered by CBS interference and the failure of Columbia Pictures Television to protect him from the network, reported he was dismissed from the show last Friday.

“When I informed them I had creative control, they fired me and stopped production on the show,” he said.

DeGuere previously produced “Simon & Simon,” “Max Headroom” and a new 1980s version of “The Twilight Zone.”

DeGuere said that at a meeting at CBS last Thursday, he “got angry” at Peter Tortorici, senior vice president of program planning for the network, after showing a rough cut of “Triangle” and “told him that if I had my way, I would never see his face again. And I don’t think I will.”

Columbia declined comment on the termination of “Triangle.” CBS said the show will be replaced by an episode of “Wiseguy” and special programming.