Showbiz Commentary: Heidi Oringer

April 10 —, 2002 -- I contemplated whether or not to bother getting up today, figuring eventually, the way things have been going, the day would be canceled.

I thought perhaps John Ashcroft or someone from network television would interrupt regularly scheduled programming to tell the world, "Wednesday's been canceled this week."

Why did I think something this absurd? It might have been the cough syrup with codeine that got me on this track, but really it's because just about everything else with a scintilla of value has been ended, concluded, finalized or canceled over the past few weeks.

There's the relationship between Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. First swirling rumors, then denial, then confirmation: Two of today's youngest musical icons ended their torrid romance (if it can be torrid without consummation).

Timberlake has recently been seen at strip clubs with the rest of his boy band pals. Spears has been seen shopping solo where she once only shopped with him. Why? Were their grueling tour schedules keeping them apart too often? Was it the unexplained "irreconcilable differences?" Maybe he just figured he could find a gal with a bod, a belly ring and the desire to give into a penchant for hot sex. (Maybe if he's on the prowl, he can go after a songstress who actually sings during live concerts … just a suggestion.)

For whatever reason, the Britney/Justin romance is over. Now, I certainly didn't think this was the do-all and end-all of relationships. I thought that about Tom and Nicole and boy, was I flattened on that one, but I did think this one might just make it down the aisle. I figured perhaps young, foolish love would prevail and we'd see a flashier, more star-powered and far more believable set of nuptials than that of Liza Minnelli and David Gest. However, it was not to be. They ended it.

Once and (Never) Again

Onward to television, where they've hacked away at just about any program that has substance. ABC's Once and Again was canned.

The reason, of course, is poor ratings, but look at what got them there. The network took a great show, put it on three different days and different time slots over the course of a few seasons. Viewers needed a Farmer's Almanac to figure out when the show was on. Then, then the network canceled it because the ratings sank. Duh!

What makes even less sense is to take one of the finest television actresses, Sela Ward, and hand her a pink slip, not to mention a brilliant ensemble cast of young actors like Julia Whelan, Shane West and Evan Rachel Wood. Solid show, solid acting, just not to be. The series' last episode airs April 15.

Goodbye, Dr. Green

"On a very special ER …" Dr. Green went vamoose. Now, I realize it was actor Anthony Edwards' decision to leave the show, but surely NBC could've thrown enough money at him to have him hold on for one more season. (Unless, of course, they tossed it all at the cast of Friends and they're broke.)

Edwards was just about the only original cast member remaining, and although his storyline — brain tumor, brain tumor gone, brain tumor back — was a bit overbearing, it still added some salt to a show that has remained in the top 10 for almost its entire tenure on the air.

But no use crying over split series stars, because he's left the building. OK, not really. Although Dr. Green said "adios" last week, he will make his FINAL, final appearance on the show during May sweeps. Apparently the "Dr. Green says goodbye to the ER" episode wasn't his last. You see, ER still has to say goodbye to Dr. Green.

American Embassy Bombed (Along With Sally's Court)

Fox's The American Embassy is history. Wednesday 9:30/8:30 Central, ABC's stab at humor, is done after only two episodes. And The Court, starring Sally Field and Craig Bierko, is another broadcast casualty.

The show itself didn't have much chutzpah, but talk about star power! Field, an Oscar and Emmy winner, has always been at the top of her game. Bierko is a terrific stage actor and has merit as a TV sidekick.

Perhaps with some heavy script rehashing they could've salvaged this one, but no sirree … "Sally, we like you. We really like you, but not enough to keep you on television. Take a walk. We're making room for reruns."

Final Chapter of Oprah's Book Club

And last but not least, what has certainly turned the literary world on its proverbial ear, da da da dum … the announcement that Oprah Winfrey is terminating her book club. Ms. Winfrey had included nearly 50 books in the club, established in 1996, and turned some unknown authors into millionaires.

The Oprah Book Club became such a big deal because, matter of factly, Oprah is credited for getting people to read again. (I don't know who credited her, but that's what "they" say.) And now, it's done. She says there are not enough good books to chose from, so she can't continue to suggest them.

Today has kindly offered to take over where Ms. Winfrey is leaving off. Katie and Matt will now feature a book once a month or so and have the same type discussions with the author as Oprah did, but honestly, is Matt Lauer going to pick a book like Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone and coo over what it means to women of all ages? I'm guessing the Today show's book club isn't going to have the impact Oprah had.

So, romance has been canceled.

Good television … canceled.

Reading … canceled.

All we can do now is wake up every day and hope something is canceled that's worthy of cancellation … like work!

Heidi Oringer is director of entertainment programming at ABCNEWS Radio.