16 Maj 2000
By Michael Schneider & Josef Adalian
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NEW YORK - WB Network execs have croaked up a fall schedule heavy on stability.
The network will play it safe in many ways: its Monday through Wednesday lineup remains unchanged; two proven performers have been swiped from rival networks, and one of them even remains in its same time slot; comedy returns to Sunday, where the network launched with sitcoms five years ago; and three underperforming but signature shows will return after all. Beyond that, the WB Tuesday morning will announce a fall schedule that includes one new drama and three new comedies. The WB does have one unusual programming trick up its sleeves: Both Felicity and Jack & Jill have been slotted in the same time slot, Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. Under the so-called "wheel" concept, the network will air 11 originals of Felicity in that spot through fall, and then replace it with Jack & Jill in January. After that, the network will air 11 additional episodes of Felicity (barring any fall ratings disaster) in the slot come springtime. WB executives figure a repeat-free Felicity and Jack & Jill will strengthen both shows' overall standing. The two dramas generally collapse in reruns, which hurts the shows' season-to-date figures and the WB's overall ratings. WB execs were also inspired by ABC's decision to split the Tuesday 10 p.m. slot between Once and Again and NYPD Blue, allowing for an all-original season of Blue. ABC is expected to do the same thing this year with Gideon's Crossing and Blue. "We're looking at the way people watch TV, which has changed with the introduction of alternative programming sources," one senior WB exec said. According to that exec, the WB and Felicity producer Imagine Television are in discussions to carve out a secondary window for Felicity - most likely on a vertically integrated cable outlet. The move to repurpose Felicity is similar to the decision last season by Disney and ABC to rebroadcast episodes of Once and Again just a few days later on Lifetime. As a matter of fact, Lifetime (which is partly owned by Disney/ABC) is one of the possible homes for a second run of Felicity. Finding an additional home for Felicity is one way to get around the financial problem that comes with not airing reruns in season. Networks generally make money only after a series episode is repeated; the original airing normally covers the studio license fee. "It's something that we felt would help us make good on lost revenue," the exec said. The WB may also potentially save money by making fewer full-season pickups. Putting two shows in one slot means a backup is readily available should one show stumble toward the end of its initial 13-episode run. The fact that Felicity and Jack & Jill would return wasn't a given in the first place. At one point it didn't look good for either series. But The WB eventually decided to take a "favored nations" approach to renewing Felicity, Roswell and Jack & Jill, giving each show (from Imagine/Touchstone, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros., respectively) a 13-episode pickup and one more shot at survival. The returns of Felicity and Popular weren't necessarily done deals until very recently; sources said the tense relationship between Disney and Time Warner over cable carriage delayed the final firm go, and the return of Warner Bros. TV's Norm on ABC was somehow tied to last-minute hardball negotiations. In the end, the WB picked up Popular for 22 episodes and didn't change the license fee for Felicity. As for Jack & Jill, WB execs are said to be especially hot on series co-star Amanda Peet, who starred in the fall box office hit The Whole Nine Yards. New shows next fall include Gilmore Girls, a drama following a single mom who runs a New England bed and breakfast; Grosse Pointe, a comedy from from Darren Star about the behind-the-scenes goings on of a soap opera; the sketch comedy Hype; and Nikki, a comedy starring Nikki Cox. Midseason pickups include Dead Last, about a struggling rock band that helps the dead. The WB schedule includes four hours of comedy, up from two at the start of last season. The WB, which has long thrived on young adult dramas while struggling to make any in-road with comedies, made developing comedy a top priority for fall. The new lineup also moves the network's block of urban comedies to Sunday - including The PJs, which jumps from Fox as expected. On Mondays, the network sticks with top drama 7th Heaven at 8 p.m. and the return of sci-fi Roswell at 9. Tuesdays continue with Buffy the Vampire Slayer at 8 p.m. , followed by Angel. Dawson's Creek leads Wednesday at 8 p.m., followed by Felicity/Jack & Jill. New drama Gilmore Girls, at 8 p.m., is said to be a much more "broader" show for Thursday night than Popular was in that slot. Charmed continues at 9 p.m. On Friday the WB will go after the defecting "TGIF" audience with ABC import Sabrina, the Teenage Witch at 8 p.m., Grosse Pointe at 8:30 p.m. and the move of Popular at 9 p.m. Sunday starts with The PJs, Jamie Foxx Show, Steve Harvey Show and For Your Love from 7 to 9. The favorite among WB insiders, Hype, tentpoles at 9 p.m., followed by Nikki. |