The end of a ratings sweep period usually means a sudden flood of repeat episodes for most of television’s best shows (which have to hoard most of their remaining episodes for use in the next sweep month, in May). But ABC finds itself in a difficult position with its drama “NYPD Blue,” because the first five episodes this season all involved the illness and eventual death of the character played by Jimmy Smits.
Stu Bloomberg, the chairman of ABC Entertainment, said Tuesday that the network felt it would be awkward to repeat episodes with Smits, and besides, that repeats of “NYPD Blue” never did very well anyway. So ABC is replacing “NYPD Blue” on Tuesday (9 p.m., WMAQ-Ch. 5) starting on Tuesday with a new series, “Strange World,” an “X-Files”-like look at an alien invasion of Earth.
The show was always intended as a regular series, and ABC committed itself to making 13 episodes. But the network, looking to kick up interest, is promoting the show as if it were a miniseries, calling it “an exclusive limited series from a producer of `The X-Files.’ ” The network hopes to give the impression that the show is a special event and to let “NYPD Blue” fans know that their show is in no danger of being replaced.
But if “Strange World” shows any signs of life in this trial run, it will continue after its “limited run” concludes in five weeks.
– “The Big Moment,” an hourlong comedy/variety show hosted by Brad Sherwood (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?”), debuts April 3 in the 7 p.m. Saturday slot.
Based on Tokyo’s “Happy Family Plan Show,” “Moment” sends a correspondent to some unsuspecting person’s home. They are given an absurd challenge, which one week later they try to pull off in front of a studio audience. Winners get big bucks and other prizes.
– NBC has picked up another animated show — “Sammy,” loosely based on David Spade’s (“Just Shoot Me”) life. Spade will exec-produce and voice the two lead characters.
