HBO Kills Ice-T’s Series : Television: The network cites high costs and creative differences for the decision.

“Ice-TV” is iced.

The late-night comedy series starring controversial rapper Ice-T was supposed to air early this year on HBO, but the pay-cable network has pulled the plug, citing exorbitant costs and creative differences.

Officials at HBO insisted that the dropping of the show had nothing to do with Warner Bros. Records’ severing its seven-year relationship with Ice-T last month after a furor over his “Cop Killer” recording.

Both HBO and Warner Bros. Records are units of Time Warner Inc., which became the target of national protests and boycotts last year after the release of “Cop Killer.” Critics said the record glorified the killing of police. HBO officials said the decision to shelve the four half-hour shows was made at the end of December.

“Ice-TV” had been designed mainly as a comic tribute to the blaxploitation films of the 1970s such as “Shaft,” “The Mack,” “Superfly” and “Blacula.” The idea was for Ice-T and celebrity guests to screen clips from the movies and discuss them.

One of the shows, all of which were filmed at Ice-T’s home, featured producer Quincy Jones, singer Little Richard and a member of the 2 Live Crew rap group.

However, an HBO spokesperson said the idea was not working. The show was supposed to be mostly clips introduced by discussion, but each of the four episodes ended up leaning more heavily on talk.

“There was a lot more talk than the HBO folks thought there would be,” said a source close to Ice-T who asked not to be identified.

In addition, officials said the costs involved in getting clearances for the films “became prohibitive.”

Spokesmen for HBO and Ice-T said they did not know what, if anything, would be done with the shows, which were not completed. Even so, because of the language used in the clips, it is unlikely that the shows would turn up on network or syndicated television.

The rapper has long been a fan of black films from the 1970s. He co-produced a Sire Records release last year titled “Pimps, Players and Private Eyes” that features music from those films.

Ice-T is preparing for the release of his latest album, on his own independent label. The album, “Home Invasion,” will include controversial artwork of violent images that had distressed executives at Warner Bros. Records.