Yes it is very likely On a related note, could it be cancelled this year:From futon critic
Tuesday, February 5, 2002
WB Preps Fall Schedule: 'Angel,' 'Charmed' Left Out?
By Brian Ford Sullivan
The WB took its first steps toward building a fall schedule yesterday as the network officially ordered 16 scripted pilots (10 comedy, six drama) and a handful of reality pilots for consideration on its fall schedule. WB Entertainment president Jordan Levin announced the network will likely stick with its eight drama, 12 comedy lineup the netlet has used since expanding to a six night schedule. With a large portion of its schedule already renewed (or at least has the option to return in place), the battle for a place on its fall schedule will undoubtedly grow more heated as we get closer to the network's upfront presentation in early May.
What we know for sure:
-- "Smallville," "Reba" and "Gilmore Girls" have all been renewed
-- the network has options to pick up "7th Heaven," "Dawson's Creek," "Charmed" and "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" for additional seasons
-- "For Your Love," "The Steve Harvey Show" and if you believe current reports "Felicity" will close up shop this season; "Elimidate Deluxe," "Dead Last," "Nikki," "Men, Women and Dogs" have already been axed or had their options expired
-- among returning series only "7th Heaven," "Gilmore Girls," "Dawson's Creek" and "Angel" have posted both gains over their own time slot and season averages from last season
-- the network will use the newly added Sunday, 5:00-7:00 p.m. time slots for encores of its dramas "7th Heaven," "Gilmore Girls" and so on
Among the options being considered according to Levin:
-- a possible move of "Gilmore Girls" or "Smallville" to a different night where they can be paired with more similarly themed dramas: the WB has quite a few "super-hero" projects in the hopper ("Birds of Prey," "The Black Sash," "The Lone Ranger," etc.) that would make good companions for the young Clark Kent series
-- it seems very likely that "7th Heaven" will get a new Monday companion as while "Angel" is posting record highs for the WB in its time slot its lead-in loss from "7th Heaven" could be its undoing (see "Roswell" last season)
-- while less likely, the WB is mulling a complete upheaval on Sunday nights in favor of dramas but with the failure of "Felicity" and "Jack & Jill" on the night two years ago this seems unlikely
-- of the remaining new series out there on the WB, only "The Jamie JFK Experiment" was mentioned as having a shot at returning as fellow freshman series "Glory Days," "Raising Dad," "Maybe It's Me" and "Off Centre" not to mention "Popstars 2" have disappointed executives
-- overall the WB's focus is toward "family and franchise" as they put it, in other words shows like "7th Heaven" and "Smallville"
With these options in mind there's a rocky road ahead for both "Angel" and "Charmed." Consider that if these options come to pass - that being a new companion for "7th Heaven," moving "Gilmore" or "Smallville" to a different night with a new respective drama companion for each, and the four night/eight drama format is preserved - that leaves at least one of these series homeless come the fall:
mondays
8:00 - "7th heaven"
9:00 - (new family drama)
tuesdays
8:00 - "gilmore girls"
9:00 - (new family drama)
wednesdays
8:00 - "dawson's creek"
9:00 - ???
thursdays
8:00 - (new franchise drama)
9:00 - "smallville" (new time slot?)
fridays
8:00 - "sabrina, the teenage witch"
8:30 - (new family comedy)
9:00 - "reba"
9:30 - (new family comedy)
sundays
5:00 - (drama encore)
6:00 - (drama encore)
7:00 - (new young adult comedy or reality program)
7:30 - (new young adult comedy or reality program)
8:00 - "the jamie JFK experiment"
8:30 - (new young adult comedy)
9:00 - (new young adult comedy)
9:30 - (new young adult comedy)
Historically speaking those who have followed the WB know that the network has shown little restraint when it comes to if they think something will work in a new time slot or something new will work better in place of another series (even if it is successful) they can make the move or change and will. While its "Gilmore Girls"/"Smallville" Tuesday experiment brought on a lot of boos (including many from us) they've shown the capacity to surprise us. As for "Angel," UPN still has the contractual obligation to pick up the show for next season should the WB cancel it (unless something has happened we don't know about). In "Charmed's" case the loss of Shannen Doherty may have been too big of a blow to overcome. As always we'll know more when we get closer to May.
You can follow the WB's projects in development in our Showatch section.
monday's overnight ratings
1. "Everybody Loves Raymond" (CBS) - 14.5/20
2. "Becker" (CBS) - 12.0/17
3. "Crossing Jordan" (NBC) - 10.1/15
4. "King of Queens" (CBS) - 9.3/14
5. "Boston Public" (FOX) - 9.2/13
6. "Third Watch" (NBC) - 8.5/12
7. "Yes, Dear" (CBS) - 8.4/12
8. "Fear Factor" (NBC) - 8.0/11
9. "Ally McBeal" (FOX) - 7.9/11
10. "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (ABC) - 7.4/10
11. "Family Law" (CBS) - 7.3/11
12. "7th Heaven" (WB) - 7.0/10
13. "ABC Monday Night Movie" (ABC) - 6.5/9
14. "Angel" (WB) - 4.0/5
15. "The Hughleys" (UPN) - 3.9/6
16. "One on One" (UPN) - 3.8/5
17. "The Parkers" (UPN) - 3.6/5
17. "Girlfriends" (UPN) - 3.6/5
tomorrow on the futon critic...
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"Everthing's just turning out so dark..."
"No, it's okay. Lost is good. Willow and I always know how to find each other!"
[This message has been edited by xita (edited February 08, 2002).]