10 November 2000
By Michael Schneider & Josef Adalian
| HOLLYWOOD - The WB is looking to pick up all of its freshman shows for a full season - but must financially find a way
to accommodate them.
As a result, the network is eschewing the traditional "back nine" episode pickup (which combined with the original 13 episodes makes for a 22-episode season) for more unconventional "back eight," "back six" and even "back four" orders. The WB has picked up more episodes of new drama Gilmore Girls and returning series Felicity (now in its third year), and is leaning toward orders for soap parody Grosse Pointe and sketch comedy Hype. The network previously ordered nine episodes of the new sitcom Nikki and eight installments of sophomore drama Roswell. The network, however, budgeted its pickups with the presumption that it wouldn't pick up at least one failed drama and one failed sitcom. But execs at the WB say they're pleased with the performance of all their new shows this fall, so the netlet's budget will have to be spread further. "The problem they have is a rich man's problem," one source said. "They're picking up everything." That includes Gilmore Girls, which the network has given an additional pickup pegged at six episodes. As financial concerns are lightened, however, the WB is expected to give the show an official eight-episode order, identical to Roswell. Gilmore has earned critical kudos and provided solid Thursday night numbers for the WB. The show was also just named the best new drama of the season by the Viewers for Quality Television. According to VQT founder Dorothy Swanson, VQT members call the drama "smart and endearing ... with believable characters" and "hands down the smartest and wittiest new show." On the comedy front, the WB is trying to find a way to order nine additional segments of its two new comedies, dividing those episodes between Hype and Grosse Pointe. The network has also ordered at least four additional episodes of Felicity, which shares its time slot with Jack and Jill. "All of us here are really thrilled and touched by the support that the WB has given our little show," Felicity co-creator J.J. Abrams said. "The fact that we get to continue and the possibility exists that we'll get to see Felicity graduate from college is more than we could ever hope for." Felicity continues to make weekly gains with viewers, especially the WB's core women 18-34 audience. As it stands now, the WB will complete Felicity's initial run with its 11th episode on Dec. 13. The network will then stunt the time period with a special holiday Gilmore Girls on Dec. 20 and a repeat Jack & Jill on Dec. 27. The WB will then debut its new season of Jack & Jill on Jan. 3 or Jan. 10. Felicity will return later in the season with two leftover episodes from the show's initial 13-episode order, followed by an additional four or five originals. "With the cliffhanger that we have and the momentum we gain into December, what I hope is three months later people will remember there's a TV show called Felicity," Abrams said. As the WB sticks with its fall schedule and doesn't open up any scheduling holes, midseason drama Dead Last will probably be pushed to summer or even to fall 2001. |