Fox cancels reality-TV experiment ‘Utopia’

By Lorena Blas

“Utopia” is no more.

The Fox series, dubbed as a social experiment by producers and the network, had been airing at 7 p.m. Fridays, except for recent weeks when baseball playoffs and the World Series took its place.

The livestream from the compound where cast members of the reality show have been living was shut off, and a message told Internet viewers that the streams “will no longer continue, effective immediately,” with no further explanation.

“Utopia,” based on a Dutch series by Big Brother creator John de Mol, was designed to challenge participants to create their own society. It started with a three-night premiere in early September. By early October, Fox pulled the struggling series from its Tuesday lineup.

During its run, “Utopia” was averaging 2.6 million viewers when it aired on Tuesdays and 2.4 million on Fridays.

On Fridays, the series will be replaced by reruns of “Masterchef Junior.”

Gannett News Service