What the real deal is from the winter edition of the television critics’ dog-and-pony show, held in Pasadena:
– Memo to UPN: Talk to Rick Berman about this whole “Star Trek: Voyager” thing.
No, don’t get the producer to abandon plans to discontinue the series in May. “Voyager” is currently in its seventh season, and it should follow the pattern of “Trek” predecessors “The Next Generation” and “Deep Space Nine,” both of which also ceased production after seven seasons.
What Berman should do is bring the crew of the Federation Starship Voyager back earlier from its wanderings in the faraway Delta Quadrant — like around May 2, as opposed to May 23, the show’s final episode.
It would be more interesting to see how the crew adjusts to life back home, especially Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), who is part Borg, the alien scourge of the Alpha Quadrant.
UPN plans a two-day blowout for its flagship series (no, not “WWF Smackdown!” “Voyager” launched the network in 1995). On May 22, a special hour featuring clips and interviews is followed by a viewer-chosen favorite episode. The next night is the two-hour sendoff, although details haven’t been revealed.
And don’t worry about getting used to calling it The Paramount Network. UPN, which stands for United Paramount Network, was to have a new name after its takeover by Viacom, but has changed its mind, at least, for now.
– Stake the notion that “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is headed for Fox, let alone shifting to ABC.
The series’ contract with the WB ends in May. “Buffy” is produced by 20th Century Fox Television, so the studio might want to keep it all in the family by placing it on the Fox network. ABC is also said to be in the hunt.
But WB head Jamie Kellner didn’t do himself any favors when he said: “We will take all the revenue we can generate with `Buffy’ and we’ll give it to you in a giant wheelbarrow. And if that’s not enough, then take it to somebody else. You’ve demonstrated you’re not the kind of partner we should be doing business with.”
Snotty remarks like that won’t help.
The fact is the WB can’t afford to let go of the Bufferino (Golden Globe nominee Sarah Michelle Gellar), and “Buffy” is perfect right where it is, on the network that best caters to the target audience of young girls.
Besides, what would go in front of “Angel,” “Buffy’s” spinoff and one-half of the most perfectly realized tandem on TV?
Meanwhile, Fox Television Entertainment Group chairman Sandy Grushow took a shot: “They don’t have wheelbarrows at the WB. They have Mercedes.”
Like you drive a Geo, Sandman . . .
– Fox, on the other hand, would do well to acquire “Buffy.” And place it, say, at 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Now.
That way, it wouldn’t have to worry about the grief it’s getting for its current Wednesday night offering, “Temptation Island.” Here’s a show that entices mates to cheat on each other . . . sorry, a show creating human drama by confronting couples with the possibility, through a bevy of good-looking people, that their mates may not be the right ones for them. OK.
“This is a show that endeavors to explore the dynamics of people in serious relationships,” Grushow said. “These are people who very much were interested in exploring the strength of their own relationships.” Wow.
The series has already been blasted for salaciousness because, among other things, it has bathing-suit-clad hotties trying to make time without regard for any ongoing relationship.
While it’s deciding on “Buffy” — and dodging “Temptation” slams — Fox has renewed “King of the Hill” for next season, and is talking about doing another season of “The Simpsons.” Fox is also giving “Star Wars: Episode I” its world television premiere on April 29.
What else is up? NBC’s “The Weber Show” is being pulled for the February sweeps so the network can put on something that people might watch rather than CBS’ “Survivor: The Australian Outback” on Thursdays.
– Chuck Norris is hanging up his spinning heel kicks as Cordell Walker. CBS’ “Walker, Texas Ranger” is gone after eight years with a two-hour finale in May; Norris wants to do other projects for CBS, as well as feature films.
– “Survivor” will be in our future. CBS has worked out a deal for two more installments of the hit, with “Survivor III” planned for this fall, possibly in South America or Africa, if “Survivor” producer Mark Burnett’s reported scouting plans are any indication. Meanwhile, hit rookie series “CSI,” starring Chicago’s Bill Petersen, will follow “Survivor II” at 8 p.m. (on WBBM-Ch. 2) starting Feb. 1.
– Probably because so many dot.com companies, which bought commercials like crazy last year, have gone out of business, CBS still has six 30-second advertising spots available for the Super Bowl, says the Wall Street Journal.
Program notes: Try to check out “Elevator,” WPWR-Ch. 50’s presentation of Chicago writer Gail Parrish’s one-hour drama, which won the DaimlerChrysler Dreambuilder Celebration’s 2001 Scribe Award. Starring Christopher B. Duncan and Elizabeth Berkley, and with several Columbia College students both in front of and behind the camera, it’s set for 7 p.m. Sunday.
– The 100th, and final, episode of the WB’s “The Jamie Foxx Show” is at 6 p.m. Sunday on WGN-Ch. 9. But don’t feel sorry for either Foxx or Garcelle Beauvais, whose characters are to wed in the episode: Foxx will star in an edgy new variety show for the WB, and Beauvais will soon join ABC’s “NYPD Blue” as an assistant district attorney.
