The drama about three female lawyers in San Francisco debuted last week but finished 82nd out of 131 total rated programs, according to Nielsen Media Research. The Monday night show lost nearly 1 million viewers this week and gave up more than half the audience that tuned in for Kelley's "Boston Public," which preceded it.

Kelley is best known for shows such as ABC's "The Practice" and Fox's "Ally McBeal." He had another program called "Snoops" that was canceled by ABC after less than a season three years ago.

"While I am disappointed that the show did not succeed, I remain proud of the entire cast and crew of 'girls club,"' Kelley said in a statement.

Fox will air a rerun of "Boston Public" next week and specials throughout November to fill the slot.

"Girls club" starred Gretchen Mol, Kathleen Robertson and Sarah Mickle as three Stanford Law graduates who get a job at a corporate law firm. It joins ABC's "That Was Then" as the second show this fall that didn't make it to its third episode.

--From the Thursday, October 31, 2002 online edition of the Augusta Chronicle