'Lopez Tonight' canceled

George Lopez, whose late-night show was canceled Wednesday, was on "Late Show With David Letterman" recently, and their chat turned to time periods. "Lopez Tonight" was shunted from 11 p.m. to midnight after Conan O'Brien arrived at TBS last fall. But Lopez went along without much fuss -- uncharacteristic for the outspoken comedian.

How do you like being at midnight, asked Letterman, who knew the answer.

"I don't."

Who would? Midnight is where most late-night hosts escape from, not escape to. When Lopez joined TBS in November 2009, he not only had the distinction of becoming TV's first Latino late-night host, but sold potential viewers and guests on the show's 11 p.m. slot.

For Lopez, the move to midnight proved fatal. Not only was he a Hispanic host in a predominantly white-male genre, his show aired on a cable channel not normally associated with late-night comedy. When he wraps Thursday, fewer than a half-million viewers may watch; he launched with just under two million.

"We're very saddened and very disappointed to hear this news," said Lisa Navarrete, spokeswoman for National Council of La Raza, the Latino civil rights organization that also sponsors the ALMA Awards, which Lopez will host in September. "Regardless of your opinion of it, it was like nothing else on late night, and reflected his sensibilities as a Mexican-American comedian growing up in Southern California."

Lopez had no immediate comment -- but don't be surprised if he has plenty to say Thursday.