House is set in an infectious diseases hospital ward

TV network NBC has temporarily pulled Joey from the line-up after just 4m viewers tuned in last week, according to industry paper Daily Variety.

Meanwhile, rival network Fox has ordered a third season of medical drama House, starring Hugh Laurie.

The series has averaged 14.1m viewers, but numbers have jumped since Fox began airing the show after American Idol.

Emmy award

House has managed to hold on to 70% of the American Idol audience - 20% more than other shows have managed.

Laurie, who plays the grumpy-yet-brilliant Doctor Gregory House, won a Golden Globe earlier this year for his role, and was nominated for an Emmy award last year.

Joey was due to be aired in the US at 8pm on Tuesdays, but last week just 4m viewers tuned in.

The timeslot will now be filled by Most Outrageous Moments, and Joey will be put back on hold, possibly until the summer.

Joey, starring Matt LeBlanc, had already been struggling on Thursday nights, with audiences way down from the 18.6m viewers who tuned in for the show's debut in September 2004.