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What Programs Will Survive The WB/UPN Merger??

J

Joseph_Gallant

Guest
At present, the WB and UPN networks have a combined 23 hours a week of prime-time programming.

In today's (January 24th) announcement of the UPN/WB merger, CBS' Les Moonves said that the combined network would run 13 hours of prime-time programming a week (Sundays 7-10 P.M. ET/PT; Monday through Fridays from 8 to 10 P.M. ET/PT).

Although the combined network could easily fill it's 2006 Fall schedule with the most popular current programs from both UPN and the WB, I would think the combined network will want to launch a couple of hours of new prime-time series come September.

Assuming that the combined network will have eleven prime-time hours a week of shows that are now on either UPN or The WB, which current UPN and WB shows will make the cut?? Could any shows from either network not make the merged CW network's scehdule but be picked-up by ABC, CBS, Fox or NBC??
 
Keep the following UPN shows:

"Veronica Mars" (*)
"Everybody Hates Chris"
"WWE Smackdown!" (*)

Keep the following WB shows:

"Smallville" (*)
"Everwood"
"Gilmore Girls"
"Supernatural"

(*) means I watch these now.

By the way, what happens with the recently-started Daytime WB?

<P ID="signature">______________
#13 Dan Marino...2005 Football Hall Of Fame Inductee :)</P>
 
> Keep the following UPN shows:
>
> "Veronica Mars" (*)
> "Everybody Hates Chris"
> "WWE Smackdown!" (*)

"America's Next Top Model" had already been renewed by UPN for two more cycles and is certain to make The CW as well.

>
> Keep the following WB shows:
>
> "Smallville" (*)
> "Everwood"
> "Gilmore Girls"
> "Supernatural"
>
> (*) means I watch these now.
>
> By the way, what happens with the recently-started Daytime
> WB?
>

As announced, the WB's daytime bloc will continue (presumably under a changed name) on The CW.
 
>
> Assuming that the combined network will have eleven
> prime-time hours a week of shows that are now on either UPN
> or The WB, which current UPN and WB shows will make the
> cut?? Could any shows from either network not make the
> merged CW network's scehdule but be picked-up by ABC, CBS,
> Fox or NBC??

At UPN, we already know "America's Next Top Model", "Veronica Mars", "Everbody Hates Chris" and "WWE Smackdown" will make it to The CW. I'd expect an effort for UPN's "Eve", "All of Us", and "Girlfriends" to make it there as well--the latter two for their executive production behalves (Will Smith and Kelsey Grammer respectively, though "Girlfriends" was likely scheduled to end in 2007).

I don't watch the WB at all, but I imagine it's best performing shows will make based upon its 'friendly advertising demos' (i.e., White women with money). Aformentioned shows that will return include "Smallville", "Gilmore Girls", and "Beauty and the Geek".

It'll be interesting to see what The CW announces as it's Fall 2006 Schedule in May.
<P ID="signature">______________
"I have the feeling about 60% of what you say is crap."--David Letterman underestimates Bill O'Reilly</P>
 
> At UPN, we already know "America's Next Top Model",
> "Veronica Mars", "Everbody Hates Chris" and "WWE Smackdown"
> will make it to The CW. I'd expect an effort for UPN's
> "Eve", "All of Us", and "Girlfriends" to make it there as
> well--the latter two for their executive production behalves
> (Will Smith and Kelsey Grammer respectively, though
> "Girlfriends" was likely scheduled to end in 2007).
>

Quick correct, we don't know that "WWE Smackdown" will make it. The current WWE/UPN contract is scheduled to run out at the end of this summer. A new deal has to be reached for Smackdown to air on The CW.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by EvWill on 01/24/06 07:21 PM.</FONT></P>
 
> Quick correct, we don't know that "WWE Smackdown" will make
> it. The current WWE/UPN contract is scheduled to run out at
> the end of this summer. A new deal has to be reached for
> Smackdown to air on The CW.

Look for that announcement for "Smackdown" to be greenlighted for another season under the CW very soon.
 
http://money.cn> n.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/index.htm?cnn=yes
>
Word has it the network's new mascot will be Michigan J. Frog, but with only one huge eye.
 
> >
> > Assuming that the combined network will have eleven
> > prime-time hours a week of shows that are now on either
> UPN
> > or The WB, which current UPN and WB shows will make the
> > cut?? Could any shows from either network not make the
> > merged CW network's scehdule but be picked-up by ABC, CBS,
>
> > Fox or NBC??
>
> At UPN, we already know "America's Next Top Model",
> "Veronica Mars", "Everbody Hates Chris" and "WWE Smackdown"
> will make it to The CW. I'd expect an effort for UPN's
> "Eve", "All of Us", and "Girlfriends" to make it there as
> well--the latter two for their executive production behalves
> (Will Smith and Kelsey Grammer respectively, though
> "Girlfriends" was likely scheduled to end in 2007).
>
> I don't watch the WB at all, but I imagine it's best
> performing shows will make based upon its 'friendly
> advertising demos' (i.e., White women with money).
> Aformentioned shows that will return include "Smallville",
> "Gilmore Girls", and "Beauty and the Geek".
>
> It'll be interesting to see what The CW announces as it's
> Fall 2006 Schedule in May.

Zap2It.com writer Rick Porter did his own speculating (see link below) on CW's fall look (and it's only January). He made some pretty good suggestions, including pairing "Gilmore Girls" and "Veronica Mars" on Tuesday nights and moving "Reba" and "Smallville" to Sunday nights. I can't say I disagree with any of his suggestions, though having "Reba" and "Chris" on a family-oriented comedy block on Thursdays would have been good too.

http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|99710|1|,00.html
 
Keith Olbermann checks in ...

On tonight's Countdown, he speculates (jokingly) that the CW will combine shows from both networks.

This would result, he says, in UPN's "Everybody Hates Chris" being merged with the WB's "What I Like About You" into a new show titled "Everybody Hates What I Like".

Good for a quick laugh, anyway.<P ID="signature">______________


</P>
 
> > At UPN, we already know "America's Next Top Model",
> > "Veronica Mars", "Everbody Hates Chris" and "WWE
> Smackdown"
> > will make it to The CW. I'd expect an effort for UPN's
> > "Eve", "All of Us", and "Girlfriends" to make it there as
> > well--the latter two for their executive production
> behalves
> > (Will Smith and Kelsey Grammer respectively, though
> > "Girlfriends" was likely scheduled to end in 2007).
> >
>
> Quick correct, we don't know that "WWE Smackdown" will make
> it. The current WWE/UPN contract is scheduled to run out at
> the end of this summer. A new deal has to be reached for
> Smackdown to air on The CW.
>
That's true.

and on top of that you got Spike TV with TNA

and now MTV has ordered a pilot (February 7th) for a program from an upstart

group.

Cleary McMahon needs to play his financial guru to see if he can still

get the most from being on over the air.

Now with CBS fully involved it might be difficult knowing their rich history

being more high brow than the other networks.

USA may be a major player if Smackdown goes there.

Then it could move to either Tuesdays or Thursdays

and bring huge ratings for that timeslot just like what Raw has been

doing as of late.
 
On the subject of "Smackdown" it looks like the show will be part of CW's lineup in the Fall 2006-07 season, so it looks like it will be carried over from UPN.
 
> On the subject of "Smackdown" it looks like the show will be
> part of CW's lineup in the Fall 2006-07 season, so it looks
> like it will be carried over from UPN.
>

Buried in the one of the Variety articles tonight was a note that Smackdown had already been quietly renewed in a new deal by UPN for two seasons. Implied was that the renewal would carry over to The CW. You get props on that one.

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by EvWill on 01/25/06 06:58 AM.</FONT></P>
 
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