FROM UPI LOS ANGELES -- The Fox television network announced it has canceled its crime-themed reality show "America's Most Wanted" after 24 seasons.
The series sought help from the public in catching people on the run from law-enforcement agencies. It celebrated the capture of its 1,000th criminal in 2008.
Although it consistently wins its time period and averaged 5 million viewers this season, EW.com quoted Fox as saying it is not longer profitable.
"[Host] John Walsh has been an important guy at the network for a long time," Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly told reporters Monday. "It's been an important show for us historically. We haven't made money on the show in quite awhile. It wasn't particularly viable. We wanted to keep the franchise alive. John is having conversations about ways to keep the series alive."
The network plans to air four 2-hour "America's Most Wanted" specials next season, EW.com said.
Walsh became a victim-rights advocate after the abduction and murder of his son, Adam, in 1981.
**Canceling AMW????? i cant believe the network feels that Money is more important than finding "dangerous"fugitives/criminals that are still out in public. If it wasnt for this show many that have been captured would probably still be out there. this show deserves to be on the air regardless of money, i believe the network is making a big mistake, what if one of their family members was a victim of a crime im sure they would keep the show on the air until "AMW" has captured "their" fugitive!
Posted by: V | 05/16/2011 at 01:08 PM