CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- ABC has rolled back its commitment to "Threat Matrix," as the network revealed over the weekend that production will halt on the series after its 16th episode.

"Matrix" joins fellow freshman drama "10-8" and midseason comedy "The Big House" as series on the Alphabet's roster to have their episode orders trimmed. ABC cut "10-8's" run from 22 to 15 installments and "Big House's" from 13 to six back in December (read the story).

ABC however isn't the only broadcast network rescinding its orders this season as CBS cut "The Handler" from 22 to 15 episodes and "The Stones" from 13 to nine; NBC trimmed "American Dreams" from 22 to 18 installments and its upcoming midseason comedy "Come to Papa" from six to four; and "Jake 2.0" had its run rolled back from 22 to 16 episodes by UPN.

In addition, CBS' "Becker" (13 episodes), NBC's "Ed" (17 episodes), FOX's "Boston Public" (15 episodes) and UPN's "The Parkers" (19 episodes) will each close their runs early, all falling short of typical full season 22-episode orders.

As for "Matrix," ABC reps insist the series remains under consideration for its fall 2004 schedule. Daniel Voll, Fred Gerber, Emile Levisetti, Keith Addis, Michael Edelstein, Jim Parriott and John Shiban are the executive producers of the series, a co-production of Touchstone Television and Industry Television.