Lifetime cancels 'America's Most Wanted'

Lifetime has canceled "America's Most Wanted," effectively ending the reality series after 25 years, TV Guide Magazine reported. Host John Walsh's production company declined to comment, but is deciding whether to produce the show on another network, TV Guide reported. Lifetime is looking to stay in business with Walsh and is developing a pilot tentatively named "John Walsh Investigates." The final episode of "America's Most Wanted" aired Oct. 12 and averaged a low number of viewers -- 807,000, TV Guide said. The show was launched in 1988 on Fox, and since then, has helped law enforcement capture 1,202 fugitives. Fox ended the series in 2011, but allowed Walsh to air the show elsewhere, and Lifetime picked it up for its 25th season, airing 44 episodes that resulted in 36 captures. The show was nominated for an Emmy in 1990 for Outstanding Informational Series and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presented Walsh with its Governors Award in 2011, saying Walsh "has dedicated his life to the betterment of society, and while doing so has used television in an inventive and extraordinary way."