'Animal Practice' Can't Be Resuscitated, Mind-Numbing 'Whitney' Takes Slot

So close, and yet… have we just fallen out of the pan and into the fire?

NBC has pulled its lackluster comedy “Animal Practice,” but rather than try replacing it with a prime-time option that might feature decent writing or a promising storyline, it’s choosing to give stinker “Whitney” another hopeful shove into the limelight.

As of November 14, “Whitney” will be sneaking into the coveted 8pm Wednesday time slot, beginning its second season after having its premiere held back—presumably for just such an opportunity as this.

“Animal Practice” is the second of the new shows to tank already this fall. “Made in Jersey” was the first to fall… and fingers crossed “Guys With Kids” will be soon to follow.

The last “Animal Practice” fell 9 percent in viewings, airing to only 3.8 million. It was ranked lowest broadcast show in the house. The mentally abusive “Guys With Kids,” contrastingly, inched tenaciously onward with 4.3 million viewers.

There’s at least one organization thrilled about the cancellation: PETA.

“PETA’s staff are celebrating today in response to news that NBC’s ‘Animal Practice’ has been canceled. The cancellation of ‘Animal Practice’ sends the strong message that using animals for cheap laughs on TV shows is archaic and uninteresting to today’s viewers, who are sophisticated enough to know that not only is putting a monkey in a lab coat not funny, it’s also cruel.”

Not a good time to mention that many people found the monkey the only funny part of the show?

“Whitney,” meanwhile, is the brainchild of comedienne Whitney Cummings and follows characters Whitney and long-term boyfriend Alex through the ups and downs of their relationship. Last season ratings were low, but maybe this push to a decent time slot will be what the show needs to survive? That… among other things.

No word yet when much-loved "Community" will make it back to the air, by the way.

Will you miss "Animal Practice?" What show should be next to get the axe?