Fox makes first cancelation of fall: 'Lone Star' is history

Fox just adminstered some cruel Texas justice on “Lone Star.”

The critically acclaimed drama received this fall’s first bullet, succumbing to ratings so low that even Fox’s spinmeisters couldn’t find the silver lining.

“The viewers have spoken,” said one network insider.

Fox will now air  “Lie to Me” in the Monday 9 p.m. slot starting Oct. 4. “Lie to Me” wasn’t originally scheduled to return to the air until November, when it was set for Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Few expected Fox to hold on to “Lone Star” beyond this week. Fox execs were worried that they might be faced with a dilemma, had “Lone Star” shown a slight uptick over its dismal 1.3 rating among adults 18-49 last week.

Turns out there was no need to worry -- according to final national ratings, “Lone Star” averaged just a 1.0 rating and 3 share on Monday night, down 23% from week one.

“Lone Star” also appeared to be dragging its lead-in, “House” (3.8/10) down. And even as “House” declines, “Lone Star” still just held a stunningly low 25% of the “House” lead-in audience.

In its second half hour Monday night, “Lone Star” posted just a 0.9 rating with adults 18-49 -- below the CW’s “Gossip Girl.”

That was the final straw for Fox execs, who had seen enough.

From 20th Century Fox TV, “Lone Star” comes from exec producers Killen. Chris Keyser, Amy Lippman, Kerry Kohansky, Paul Weitz and Peter Horton. Marc Webb directed the pilot.