CBS Drops ‘Battle Creek,’ Passes on ‘Sneaky Pete’ Pilot

Upfronts 2015: Cop drama from Vince Gilligan suffered low ratings

“Battle Creek” is no more.

CBS has canceled the cop drama, from “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan and “House” boss David Shore after one season punctuated by disappointing ratings.

The network has also decided to pass on the pilot “Sneaky Pete,” which counts “Breaking Bad” alum Bryan Cranston as a co-writer and executive producer.

“Battle Creek,” which starred Josh Duhamel and Dean Winters as a pair of mismatched lawmen in Battle Creek, Michigan, originated with Gilligan years before the success of “Breaking Bad” and was resuscitated after that show’s meteoric success. Despite heavyweights Gilligan and Shore being attached, the series fared poorly in the ratings, scoring just a 0.7 rating/2 share in the advertiser-preferred 18-49 demographic with its most recent airing.

“Sneaky Pete,” meanwhile, focused on a 30-something con man who, upon leaving prison, takes cover from his past by assuming the identity of a cellmate. “Sneaky Pete” then hides out from his debtors while working for his new “family’s” bail bond business. There he uses his considerable charm and criminal prowess to take down bad guys far worse than himself, partnering with a very attractive female “cousin” who has her suspicions about his real motives.

Shore wrote and executive produced the “Sneaky Pete” pilot.

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