The first two episodes of the historical miniseries attracted 2.65 million viewers.

NEW YORK -- As HBO contemplated who should replace Entertainment President Carolyn Strauss after her exit this week, the premium cable network was buoyed by solid early ratings for its miniseries “John Adams.”

The first two episodes of the seven-part series that aired Sunday drew 2.65 million viewers on average, one of the network’s highest viewerships for a premiere in recent months. The miniseries, starring Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney, airs on Sundays through April 20.

Another HBO project did not fare so well, however.

The network has decided to drop “12 Miles of Bad Road,” a dramedy by “Designing Women” creator Linda Bloodworth-Thomason that executives had originally touted as one of their most promising series for the coming year.

But after viewing all six episodes that were completed before the writers strike in November, HBO officials concluded that the hourlong show was too broad for the premium cable channel, according to network sources.

The program, produced by Bloodworth-Thomason and her husband, Harry Thomason, stars Lily Tomlin as a Texas real estate matriarch.

HBO, which co-produced the show, allowed the Thomasons to shop the series around to rival networks, but several other broadcast and cable channels have now passed on it, including TNT and Lifetime, sources said.

A spokeswoman for the Thomasons disputed that, saying that negotiations are ongoing.

The network’s dissatisfaction with “12 Miles” was seen as one of the factors that contributed to the departure of Strauss, an HBO veteran who had helped nurture programs like “The Sopranos” and “Six Feet Under.” She has not commented on her exit but is in discussions to work with HBO in a producing deal.

Many high-level television executives are expected to vie to replace Strauss in the coveted job that allows for substantial creative freedom.

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matea.gold@latimes.com