Buffy The Vampire Slayer

The four broadcast networks that held development meetings last week — ABC, Fox, the WB and UPN — gave media buyers some welcome news about their programming plans for the start of next season: Reality programming will take a back seat to scripted shows.

"Going into the meetings, I was concerned that the networks would be placing too much emphasis on reality for next season, but what they discussed put me at ease," said Andy Donchin, senior vp and director of national broadcast for Carat North America, echoing the sentiment of several other buyers who attended the sessions. "The networks’ commitment to scripted programming seems to be as strong as ever, and that is encouraging."

The two networks buyers were most concerned about were ABC and Fox, which carried the most reality shows this season. But the entertainment chiefs of both nets assured buyers reality would be used sparingly next season, with proven shows like American Idol, Joe Millionaire and The Bachelor/Bachelorette airing as lead-ins to new scripted shows targeting women.

"One of the benefits of our reality shows this season is that they have drawn in more female viewers, so we are developing several dramas geared to them," said Gail Berman, Fox entertainment president. Fox’s drama projects include The O.C., about a city kid who moves to the affluent California suburbs; No Place Like Home, about two families from different backgrounds who must learn to co-exist when their teenage kids get married; and Still Life, a family drama narrated by a deceased 20-year-old son.

Fox will launch a drama leading out of a reality show on June 3, when it will follow Junior American Idol with Keen Eddie. The network also plans to premiere several programs from its fall 2003-04 schedule during the summer, since it will again pre-empt a large portion of its prime-time schedule in October to air postseason Major League Baseball playoffs. Berman said the network has accelerated production of several of its expected fall series to have them ready for air in the summer.

ABC has also reached more sobering conclusions about the role of reality on its schedule. "What we realized this season is that reality can work when it is truly good and original, and when it is just a limited part of the schedule," said Susan Lyne, ABC entertainment president. Lyne added that while reality may be cheaper to make, it is also harder to monetize.

"The reality universe has just gotten too big and too messy, and it is too hard to introduce distinctive programming, so we are planning to run more comedy blocks and will make scripted shows the core of our schedule," Lyne said. In retrospect, Lyne said she is disappointed the network did not take better advantage of strong ratings for The Bachelor/Bachelorette at 9 p.m. on Wednesdays to launch a new 10 p.m. drama. "We wanted to turn the network around by starting with the 8 p.m. hour and came up short with the number of dramas we had for 10 o’clock," she said.

Lyne promised that next season will be different for ABC, citing several drama pilots the network has ordered. The FBI drama Lines of Duty has already received a 13-episode pickup. Lyne is also high on 111 Gramercy Park (see sidebar); Karen Sisco, about a female federal marshall; Street Lawyer, based on a John Grisham novel; and Better Days, developed for last season, about a recovering alcoholic lawyer who sets up shop in a mall. Lyne said she regretted "not having picked up [Better Days] for this season."

Buyers mentioned two ABC sitcoms they believe hold promise: Hench at Home, a Michael J. Fox-produced project about a retired hockey player, and Hope & Faith, about a soap opera star who comes to live with her housewife sister. Lyne said she has "high hopes" for both but noted that they are among six sitcoms vying for spots on ABC’s fall schedule.

Jordan Levin, WB entertainment president, told buyers that reality shows are just "support programming," and that scripted shows are "the staple of television" and "what network television does best." Sitcom pilot Sweet Potato Queens, based on the popular book series and starring Delta Burke, could lead out of returning hit Reba on Fridays next fall, Levin said. Several other comedies — including The Help, All About the Andersons, Are We There Yet?, Trash and Sixteen to Life — could make the schedule.

In dramas, Levin said the Monday lineup of 7th Heaven and Everwood will return in the fall, while Tuesday’s Gilmore Girls and Smallville may also return intact. Angel could return next season on either Wednesday or Sunday, and discussions are underway with show creator Joss Whedon to possibly include some characters from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, which ends its run on UPN this season. Tarzan and Jane — about an NYPD detective and her relationship with the king of the jungle, who’s the new vigilante in town — could get a Sunday 9 p.m. slot, following Charmed. MacGyver, a remake of the original series with the nephew of the original character as the show’s star, is also vying for that Sunday slot. Other drama pilots under consideration include Fearless, One Tree Hill and an untitled Gilmore Girls spinoff.

Buyers said UPN has more and better new programming in development than last year. Dawn Ostroff, UPN entertainment president said that "one of our goals was to get into business with more A-list talent" on both sides of the camera. UPN has at least three hours to fill on its schedule. Ostroff said no decision has been made on whether the Friday movie will return, which could add two hours. Among sitcoms in development: All of Us, based loosely on the lives of actor Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett; and Rock Me Baby, about a shock jock who must balance his outrageous on-air behavior with a more subdued home life. Dramas include Hotel, centered around a South Beach resort, and The Edge, about three FBI rookies.