TV Jots

A&E Still Ain’t Saying

I’ve been waiting patiently since news spread last week, via entertainment industry news outlet Variety, that basic-cable network A&E has canceled its latest original crime drama The Beast due to low ratings and also its lead cast member’s poor health. The FBI show stars film actor and current pancreatic cancer fighter Patrick Swayze, of course, who bravely continued with the series despite his medical condition.

Variety‘s revelation reportedly came from some of those ever elusive “sources,” and other entertainment websites and blogs quickly picked up the claim and ran with it straight to their headlines. However, not long after the rampant rumors of cancellation hit the Internet, website Zap2it posted a clarification directly from the horse’s, er, network’s rep.

The spokesperson stated that while A&E hasn’t awarded The Beast with a second season yet, it hasn’t canceled the series as of now either. According to Zap2it, the A&E publicist’s precise confirmation was:

At this point no decision has been made. Any reports to the contrary are false.

It doesn’t get any clearer than that, and so you have it — The Beast is neither canceled nor renewed, and fans will just have to wait longer, until the limbo sorts itself out. I hope that happens soon and the decision is ideal for ailing Swayze. Best wishes to him.

Season One of The Beast ended on April 23 after all 13 ordered and produced episodes finished airing. The series co-stars Travis Fimmel, Larry Gilliard, Kevin J. O’Connor, and Lindsay Pulsipher.