Sutherland unhappy about 'Chief' fate

NEW YORK, May 3 (UPI) -- Veteran Hollywood actor Donald Sutherland says he was disappointed to learn his TV show, "Commander in Chief," probably won't be back for a second season.

The ABC drama about the first female U.S. president was acclaimed by critics when it debuted last fall, but lost viewers after changes were made in program scheduling and personnel behind the scenes.

"'Commander in Chief' is over, as of two hours ago," Sutherland told UPI in New York Tuesday.

The actor who plays the Speaker of the House said he was troubled that in recent episodes of the show his role -- fully-developed in the writing and acting processes -- was reduced to a "two-dimensional, moustache-twirling" character through editing.

"And that wasn't the guy I was interested in playing," he explained.

So, is the show's cancellation a done deal?

"It isn't final," Sutherland said. "But when I spoke to the people at ABC, they said, 'What is the word beyond miracle?'"

Zap2it.com has reported the final episodes of the show's first season will air this summer.

Starting Friday, Sutherland will be seen on the big screen in the 19th Century paranormal thriller, "An American Haunting."