Angel

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - The WB’s latest strategy for successfully launching a comedy involves rolling out its new offerings just ahead of the competition. The network’s four fresh comedies will begin launching the week of Sept. 8, two weeks before ABC or CBS premiere their first laffers and well in front of FOX’s staggered fall comedy start.

With only two new dramas, The WB can afford to wait on the premieres since "One Tree Hill" has an established lead-in with "Gilmore Girls" and "Tarzan" will arrive on a wave of "next-big-thing" hype for beefy star Travis Fimmel and has a recognizable name and pedigree. Among returning dramas, The WB’s Monday night shows will start a week earlier than most network dramas, though fans of "Smallville" and "Angel" will have to wait for the beginning of October.

In the midst of its premieres, The WB also has high hopes for the special "Pepsi’s Play For a Billion," which features Drew Carey, Jamie Kennedy, a monkey and the chance for a billion dollar prize.

Following is the rundown for The WB’s rollout (new shows in bold, all times Eastern): Friday, Sept. 5

9 p.m.: "Grounded For Life" (new timeslot, one-hour premiere)

Thursday, Sept. 11

8 p.m.: "Steve Harvey’s Big Time" (one-hour premiere) 9 p.m.: "What I Like About You" (new timeslot) 9:30 p.m.: "Run of the House"

Friday, Sept. 12

8 p.m.: "Reba" (new timeslot, one-hour premiere) 9 p.m.: "All About the Andersons"

Sunday, Sept. 14

8 p.m.: "Pepsi’s Play For a Billion" (two-hour special)

Monday, Sept. 15

8 p.m.: "7th Heaven" 9 p.m.: "Everwood"

Thursday, Sept. 18

8:30 p.m.: "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment" (new timeslot)

Friday, Sept. 19

8:30 p.m.: "Like Family"

Tuesday, Sept. 23

8 p.m.: "The Gilmore Girls" 9 p.m.: "One Tree Hill"

Sunday, Sept. 28

8 p.m.: "Charmed" (two-hour premiere)

Wednesday, Oct. 1

8 p.m.: "Smallville" (new timeslot) 9 p.m.: "Angel"

"Sunday, Oct. 5

9 p.m.: "Tarzan"