Upfronts 2005: WB

Abgesetzte Serien
Big Man On Campus
Drew Carey’s Green Screen
Grounded For Life
Jack & Bobby
Summerland
The Mountain

Verlängerte Serien
7th Heaven
Blue Collar TV
Charmed
Everwood
Gilmore Girls
Living with Fran
One Tree Hill
Reba
Smallville
What I Like About You

Neue Serien
Just Legal: Mittlerweile das dritte neue Jerry Bruckheimer Drama in dieser Season, diesmal bei WB. Don Johnson als ehemals ausgebrannter Anwalt, der den jungen Anwalt David (Jay Baruchel (‘Undeclared“)) unter seine Fittiche nimmt. Gemeinsam übernehmen sie Fälle von Menschen, die zu Unrecht verurteilt wurden.
Pepper Dennis (Midseason): Drama um eine TV-Reporterin (Rebecca Romijn) in Chicago.
Related: Drama um vier italienisch-stämmige Schwestern (u.a. mit Laura San Giacomo und Jennifer Esposito) und ihre Erlebnisse in Beziehungen. Von Marta Kauffman und Mimi Leder.
Supernatural: SciFi Drama um zwei Brüder (Smallvilles Jensen Ackles und Gilmore Girls‘ Jared Padelecki) , die von Ort zu Ort reisen, auf der Suche nach ihrem Vater und mysteriösen übersinnlichen Geschehnissen.
The Bedford Diaries (Midseason): Jesses, da übernehme ich einfach mal den Wortlaut aus der WB PR — das ist so schlimm, dass es schon fast wieder gut ist: “The Bedford Diaries” explores contemporary New York City-based college life through the unique prism of a provocative Human Behavior and Sexuality class. Controversial and charismatic Professor Macklin will challenge and inspire the show’s youthful ensemble of students as they explore their identities, relationships and sexuality in the most exciting city in the world. Eine „provocative Human Behavior and Sexuality class“ … aber klar doch…

Misconceptions (Midseason): Comedy mit Jane Leeves („Frasier“) als alleinerziehende Mutter, die ihrer Tochter beichten muss, dass sie das Resultat einer Sperma-Spende ist. Doch der angeblich gut erzogene, intelligente biologische Vater stellt sich als das genaue Gegenteil heraus.
Modern Men (Midseason): Eine Comedy um eine Gruppe junge Männer, die auf der Suche nach Sex oder Liebe sind — am besten beides. Von: Jerry Bruckheimer. Again.
Twins: Comedy mit Melanie Griffith um … klar, Zwillinge. Die eine ist süss (Molly Stanton, “Passions”), die andere ist schlau (Sara Gilbert, “Roseanne”). Kennen wir ja spätestens aus „8 Simple Rules“. Beide müssen sie nun das Geschäft ihrer Eltern übernehmen.

Programmplan

Tag	20 Uhr	20:30 Uhr	21 Uhr	21:30 Uhr
Montag	7th Heaven		Just Legal
Dienstag	Gilmore Girls		Supernatural
Mittwoch	One Tree Hill		Related
Donnerstag	Smallville		Everwood
Freitag	What I Like About You	Twins	Reba	Living With Fran
Samstag	Spielfilm
Sonntag	Charmed		Blue Collar TV

(Neue non-Reality Serien in Fettdruck)

Mein Senf
Auch dieses Jahr fehlen beim WB wieder die Highlights und Innovationen. Dem Network gehen eindeutig die guten Autoren und Konzepte aus. Das zeigt sich schon an der Verlängerung von „Charmed“, eine Maßnahme die ich in die Rubrik „Verzweiflungsaktion“ einordnen würde. Auch die Verlängerung von „One Tree Hill“ zeigt, dass das WB zur Zeit nicht wählerisch sein kann. Die „Gilmore Girls“ hält man vernünftigerweise auf dem bewährten Sendeplatz – die Serie hat trotz der immensen Konkurrenz durch den „American Idol“-Koloss erstaunlich gute Quoten eingefahren.

Die Teenfraktion soll dieses Jahr mit „Supernatural“ zufrieden gestellt werden. Es ist das übliche Schema, das auch schon bei „Roswell“ und „Smallville“ zumindest am Anfang funktionierte: Gut aussehende Jungs, ein Touch Mystery — und ein paar attraktive Mädels werden sicherlich auch schon irgendwie in die Serie eingebaut. Die Story dürfte eher flach sein. Gelinde gesagt verblüffend sind aber so manche Scheduling Entscheidungen. Man vertraut wirklich ganz und gar auf das „Lead-In“ Prinzip für die neuen Serien, die allesamt um 21 Uhr starten. Dafür muss dann auch „Everwood“ Platz machen und wandert hinter „Smallville“. Und in einer auf Anhieb erstmal nicht nachvollziehbaren Entscheidung setzt man „Supernatural“ hinter die „Gilmore Girls“ anstatt hinter „Smallville“. Da fällt mir im Moment wirklich keine plausible Erklärung ein. Immerhin hat man „Smallville“ aus der Konkurrenz mit „Lost“ herausgelöst, obwohl das nach der überraschenden Programmänderung von ABC gar nicht mehr notwendig gewesen wäre.

Noch ein Drama (und noch eine Comedy) von Jerry Bruckheimer!? Jesses, der Mann hat genug Material um sein eigenes Network aufzumachen. Aber Don Johnson in einer WB-Serie („Just Legal“)!? Ichweissnicht. Irgendwann geht auch einem Jerry Bruckheimer die Luft aus.
„Pepper Dennis“ könnte was werden, sagt zumindest mein Bauchgefühl. „Related“ klingt für mich wenig interessant, scheint eine Art „Sex an the City light“ zu sein. Die Beschreibung von „The Bedford Diaries“ klingt wiederum so klischeehaft und am Reissbrett entworfen, dass ich irgendwie schon wieder gespannt bin, was sich wirklich dahinter verbirgt. Manchmal gehören ja die übelsten Taglines zu den besten Shows…

Die neuen Comedies klingen wenig faszinierend — nichts neues beim WB. Interessanter sind da die Lobpreisungen, die manche Reporter für die Reality Show von Aston Kutcher namens „Beauty and the Geek“ übrig haben.

Ingesamt gesehen fehlt dem Network dringend a) frisches Blut und b) eine neue Kultserie à la „Buffy“. Die Sache mit dem frischen Blut versuchen sie zumindest schon mal in Ansätzen: Montag, Dienstag und Mittwoch neue Dramen um 9. Ein Must-See-Hit sehe ich aber derzeit nicht.

Die komplette Pressemeldung

THE WB ANNOUNCES 2005-06 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

THREE NEW DRAMAS AND A NEW COMEDY FROM POWERHOUSE PRODUCERS INCLUDING JERRY BRUCKHEIMER, MARTA KAUFFMAN, DAVID KOHAN AND MAX MUTCHNICK, McG AND DAVID NUTTER

MIDSEASON SHOWS INCLUDE TWO COMEDIES AND TWO DRAMAS: REBECCA ROMIJN IN “PEPPER DENNIS” AND JANE LEEVES IN “MISCONCEPTIONS, ” “MODERN MEN” FROM JERRY BRUCKHEIMER AND “THE BEDFORD DIARIES“ FROM PEABODY AWARD-WINNING WRITER TOM FONTANA

STRONG RETURNING HITS ANCHOR EVERY NIGHT OF WB SCHEDULE AT 8:00

ON MONDAYS AT 8:00, “7TH HEAVEN” BECOMES LONGEST-RUNNING FAMILY DRAMA IN TELEVISION HISTORY, JOINED BY NEW PROCEDURAL DRAMA FROM JERRY BRUCKHEIMER, “JUST LEGAL, ” STARRING DON JOHNSON AND JAY BARUCHEL FROM ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING BEST PICTURE “MILLION DOLLAR BABY”

ON “NEW TUESDAY, ” THE SUPERB “GILMORE GIRLS” RETURNS FOLLOWING ITS MOST ACCLAIMED SEASON EVER, PAIRED WITH CHILLING NEW DRAMA “SUPERNATURAL, ” STARRING JARED PADALECKI AND JENSEN ACKLES, FROM McG AND EMMY-WINNING DIRECTOR DAVID NUTTER

SOPHOMORE SENSATION “ONE TREE HILL” MOVES TO WEDNESDAYS AT 8:00, FOLLOWED BY FOUR ADULT SISTERS NAVIGATING CAREER, ROMANCE AND LIFE IN “RELATED, ” FROM MARTA KAUFFMAN, THE EMMY AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER OF “FRIENDS“

A RETURN TO QUALITY DRAMAS ON THURSDAY WITH “SMALLVILLE” LEADING OFF THE NIGHT, WHILE THE ACCLAIMED “EVERWOOD” MOVES TO THURSDAYS AT 9:00 FOR ITS FOURTH SEASON

NEW COMEDY “TWINS” FROM PRODUCERS KOHAN AND MUTCHNICK, STARRING ACADEMY AWARD-NOMINEE MELANIE GRIFFITH, SARA GILBERT, MARK LINN-BAKER AND MOLLY STANTON, JOINS THE FRIDAY NIGHT LINEUP FOLLOWING “WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU, ” STARRING AMANDA BYNES

TWO COMEDY STARS CONTINUE TO SHINE WHEN “REBA” RETURNS TO FRIDAYS AT 9:00 FOR ITS FIFTH SEASON AND THE INIMITABLE FRAN DRESCHER RETURNS WITH HER HIT COMEDY “LIVING WITH FRAN” AT 9:30

“CHARMED” RETURNS FOR ITS 8TH SEASON SUNDAYS AT 8:00, WHILE JEFF FOXWORTHY, BILL ENGVALL AND LARRY THE CABLE GUY GIT-R-DONE WITH A FULL HOUR OF BLUE COLLAR TV AT 9:00

THE WB’S EASY VIEW SUNDAY FROM 5:00-7:00 FEATURES A DOUBLE DOSE OF “WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU” AND “ONE TREE HILL, ” LEADING INTO ENCORES OF HIT COMEDY “REBA” FROM 7:00-8:00

MIDSEASON DRAMAS INCLUDE 20TH CENTURY FOX TELEVISION’S “PEPPER DENNIS, ” STARRING REBECCA ROMIJN AS A TV NEWS REPORTER JUGGLING WORK, LOVE AND FAMILY, AND TOM FONTANA’S “THE BEDFORD DIARIES, ” A SMART, SEXY COLLEGE ENSEMBLE TO BE FILMED ENTIRELY IN NEW YORK CITY

MIDSEASON COMEDIES INCLUDE “MISCONCEPTIONS, ” STARRING JANE LEEVES AS A SINGLE MOM WHO MAKES A SHOCKING DISCOVERYABOUT THE SPERM-DONOR FATHER OF HER CHILD, AND “MODERN MEN, ” FROM BRUCKHEIMER AND COMEDY VETERAN MARSH McCALL, ABOUT THREE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS IN THEIR 20s WHO SEEK ROMANTIC ADVICE FROM A FEMALE LIFE COACH

The WB’s Entertainment President David Janollari and network Chairman Garth Ancier unveiled the network’s 2005-2006 primetime schedule today at Madison Square Garden before more than 4,000 advertisers, affiliates and national media.

The new schedule includes three new dramas and a new comedy from a battery of heralded stars, writer/producers and directors, with programs directly targeted at young adults. Janollari also announced two comedies and two dramas for midseason with equally impressive creative auspices.

The WB will use established hit shows on all six nights of the week to lead off the 8:00 hour and provide strong lead-ins for the new series. “7th Heaven, ” “Gilmore Girls, ” “One Tree Hill, ” “Smallville, ” “What I Like About You” and “Charmed” will serve as 8:00 anchors across the schedule.

“Our goal was to develop distinct and original series from the top producers working in the medium today, ” said Mr. Janollari. “Finding the next group of hot buzz-worthy WB shows has been the guiding mission of our development season. The blend of A-list executive producers that have come to the network for the first time, along with our homegrown superstars, form the creative backbone of our new schedule. More importantly, these top producers are bringing us shows that work perfectly in The WB’s wheelhouse and will capture our coveted young adult demo to which we remain committed. ”

MONDAY

“7th Heaven” will become the longest-running family drama in television history when the Camdens return for a tenth season this fall. The series, from Spelling Television, continues to rank as the network’s top-rated show in total viewers (5.4 million) and actually grew year-to-year in The WB’s crucial women 18-34 demographic, an astounding accomplishment for a ninth-year program in an extremely competitive timeslot. “Just Legal, ” starring Don Johnson and Jay Baruchel, fresh off his unforgettable performance in the Oscar-winning “Million Dollar Baby, ” centers on the relationship between a young prodigy lawyer and his mentor, a jaded defense attorney who has fallen from the big leagues.

“To call ‘7th Heaven’ an amazing success story would be an understatement, ” said Mr. Janollari. “Aaron Spelling, Duke Vincent and Brenda Hampton have done a truly remarkable job continuing to bring this unique family drama to adoring viewers, while Stephen Collins and the cast have been equally wonderful.

“As a companion piece, we are bringing our first procedural drama to the network in ‘Just Legal. ’ Jerry Bruckheimer is the master of the genre, and the pairing of Don Johnson, who is renowned for playing tough guys in buddy comedy roles, with Jay Baruchel, one of the most accomplished young actors of his generation, is the foundation for a great series. ”

TUESDAY

“Gilmore Girls” has been a standout for The WB this season, showing tremendous ratings growth across all key ratings measurements, fueled by a creative renaissance helmed by executive producers Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino. It will begin its sixth season paired with “Supernatural, ” a series revolving around two brothers, played by Jared Padalecki (“Gilmore Girls”) and Jensen Ackles (“Smallville”) searching for the evil unknown creatures lurking in spooky small towns along the back roads of America. Tuesdays at 9:00 has been the launch pad for many signature WB dramas, including “Smallville, ” “Felicity, ” “Angel, ” “One Tree Hill” and “Dawson¿s Creek. ”

“ ‘Gilmore’ not only endured the onslaught of the ‘American Idol’ juggernaut in the same time period, it thrived, regularly finishing second in all our key demographics, ” said Mr. Janollari. “As for ‘Supernatural, ’ this is one wild ride of a pilot, and this show is going to scare the living daylights out of people every week. McG and Eric Kripke have crafted a genuinely frightening hour of television with two hot young leads familiar to our audience. It flat out delivers the goods. ”

WEDNESDAY

“One Tree Hill” is the fastest-growing show on all of television and The WB’s number one series with women 18-34 and persons 12-34. With this kind of momentum, a rising star like Chad Michael Murray and a successful soundtrack, viewers are sure to follow the series to a new night. Following “One Tree Hill” on Wednesdays is the new drama “Related” from “Friends” producer Marta Kauffman and “Sex and the City” writer Liz Tuccillo. “Related” stars Jennifer Esposito, currently burning up the screen in the hit film “Crash, ” as well as Laura Breckenridge and Lizzy Caplan.

“As we watched the amazing surge in the popularity of ‘One Tree Hill, ’ we realized that viewers can’t get enough of this show, ” said Mr. Janollari. “We’ve ordered 26 episodes for next season, and we know that the producing team of Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola and Mark Schwahn will continue to deliver a first-rate drama each week.

“After the unprecedented success of ‘Friends, ’ we’re thrilled to have Emmy Award-winning Marta Kauffman producing a one-hour family drama for us, based on the lives of four adult sisters. ‘Related’ is an insightful, funny, touching drama full of complicated relationships and heartwarming family moments, with a great young cast to which our core female audience will instantly relate. ”

THURSDAY

About to begin its fifth season on The WB, “Smallville” is coming off a great year that continued to explore the mythology of the early days of the Clark Kent character. More exciting pieces of the puzzle will be revealed next season when Clark finds himself transported to the Fortress of Solitude. Starring Tom Welling as the Kansas farm boy who grows up to be Superman, the series is The WB’s number one show with men 18-34 and third highest-rated series in adults 18-34.

“This season, we’re making a bold statement on Thursday nights by moving one of our signature hits, ‘Smallville“ to 8:00,” said Mr. Janollari. “The show faced some of the toughest competition of any series on television this season, going up against ‘Lost’ every week, yet it continued to deliver great ratings, ” said Mr. Janollari. “With the critically acclaimed drama ‘Everwood’ moving into the 9:00 timeslot, we think Thursday will be one of the most compelling nights of the upcoming season. Led by Treat Williams, “Everwood” features one of the strongest ensemble casts and some of the best writing on television. ”

FRIDAY

Amanda Bynes returns to kick off The WB’s Friday night lineup with the hit comedy “What I Like About You, ” followed by the new comedy “Twins, ” from two of television’s most talented and successful writer/producers, David Kohan and Max Mutchnick. With a star-studded cast including Melanie Griffith in her sitcom premiere, Sara Gilbert in her first regular series role since “Roseanne, ” Mark Linn-Baker of “Perfect Strangers” fame and newcomer Molly Stanton, the series focuses on twin sisters who could not be less alike. Comedy star Reba McEntire returns for the fifth season of “Reba, ” and the night’s newest hit, “Living With Fran, ” starring Fran Drescher, moves to 9:30.

“We’re delighted with the entire Friday night lineup, starting with the wonderful comedy team of Amanda Bynes and Jennie Garth starring as sisters in ‘What I Like About You, ’ said Mr. Janollari. “Our newest comedy, ‘Twins, ’ from Kohan and Mutchnick, is a perfect companion for ‘What I Like About You,“ with its theme of sisters who don’t have much in common. Melanie Griffith and Sara Gilbert lead an incredible cast. Rounding out the night, we have two of the best comediennes working today with Reba McEntire and Fran Drescher. ” SUNDAY

Returning for its eighth season, “Charmed, ” starring Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs, has been a success story for The WB from day one. Sure to shake things up for the Charmed Ones, actor and “Extra” host Mark McGrath will join the cast next season. Taking a comedic turn at 9:00, Sundays will feature back-to-back episodes of the increasingly popular sketch comedy show, “Blue Collar TV, ” starring Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy.

“ ‘Charmed’ is appointment television for millions of fans who love the show’s combination of danger and humor and have become attached to these three young women, ” said Mr. Janollari. “’Blue Collar TV, ’ has gained amazing traction this year, and we think this show is just beginning to build on its loyal fan base. Moving the show to Sundays is a perfect counter-programming move in this competitive time period. ”

MIDSEASON

Just as the fall schedule boasts powerhouse names, the midseason lineup continues the trend with two comedies and two dramas with top stars and producers. Rebecca Romijn stars as “Pepper Dennis, ” with Josh Hopkins (“The Perfect Storm, ” “Ally McBeal”) and Brooke Burns (“North Shore, ” “Baywatch”) in a lighthearted drama about an ambitious television news reporter looking for love. Tom Fontana’s “The Bedford Diaries” focuses on college students in a human sexuality class and features a diverse ensemble cast including Emmy Award-nominated Matthew Modine (“And the Band Played On, ” “Any Given Sunday”), Milo Ventimiglia (“Gilmore Girls, ” “American Dreams”) and Audra McDonald (“Wit, ” “Law & Order”). The midseason comedies are equally impressive, starting with “Misconceptions, ” which stars Jane Leeves (“Frasier”) as a single mother who finds that the sperm donor who fathered her child was not the sophisticated, educated man she had been led to believe he was. “Modern Men, ” from producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Marsh McCall is about friends in their twenties, Tim (Josh Braaten, “Less Than Perfect”), Kyle (Max Greenfield, “Veronica Mars”) and Doug (Eric Lively, “The L Word”), who are just desperate enough to seek the help of a renowned life coach to solve their relationship issues.

THE WB’s 2005-2006 PRIMETIME PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (All times ET)

Sunday
5:00-5:30 p.m. Easy View presentation of “What I Like About You”
5:30-6:00 p.m. Easy View presentation of “What I Like About You”
6:00-7:00 p.m. Easy View presentation of “One Tree Hill”
7:00-7:30 p.m. “Reba” (encore presentation)
7:30-8:00 p.m. “Reba” (encore presentation)
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Charmed”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Blue Collar TV”

Monday
8:00-9:00 p.m. “7th Heaven”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “JUST LEGAL”

Tuesday
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Gilmore Girls”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “SUPERNATURAL”

Wednesday
8:00-9:00 p.m. “One Tree Hill”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “RELATED”

Thursday
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Smallville”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Everwood”

Friday
8:00-8:30 p.m. ‘What I Like About You”
8:30-9:00 p.m. ‘TWINS”
9:00-9:30 p.m. ‘Reba”
9:30-10:00 p.m. ‘Living With Fran”

CAPS AND BOLD DENOTE NEW SERIES Italics denote returning show with a new day and/or time period

Monday

8:00-9:00 p.m. “7TH HEAVEN“

Returning for its record-breaking tenth season on The WB, the series stars Stephen Collins, Catherine Hicks, David Gallagher, Beverley Mitchell, Nikolas & Lorenzo Brino, George Stults and Tyler Hoechlin. Brenda Hampton, Aaron Spelling and E. Duke Vincent serve as executive producers on the series produced by Spelling Television, Inc.

9:00-10:00 p.m. “JUST LEGAL“

“Just Legal” is a fast-paced procedural drama with humor starring Jay Baruchel (‘Undeclared,“ ‘Million Dollar Baby”) and Don Johnson (“Miami Vice, ” “Nash Bridges”) as lawyers who save their clients, and in the process, save themselves. David “Skip” Ross (Baruchel), 19, a brilliant legal prodigy, dreams of becoming a great trial lawyer. When he can’t land a job at a prestigious L.A. firm because he’s too young, Skip ends up working for Grant Cooper (Johnson). Once a great lawyer, now burnt-out by the realities of life, Cooper is barely scraping by in his beachfront law office. Together, Skip and Cooper become defenders of the accused and crusaders for the unjustly wronged. Their cases vary from stories ripped from today’s headlines to clever mysteries with procedural twists. Skip’s middle-class parents, Deborah (Veanne Cox, “Erin Brockovich”) and Lenny Ross (Raphael Sbarge, “The Guardian”), and his under-achieving younger brother Tom (newcomer Michael Mitchell), are all extremely proud of Skip’s accomplishments, but are also concerned for his well-being, especially when his first case involves proving the innocence of a young woman named Paradise (Peyton List, “The Greatest Game Ever Played”) who has been falsely accused of a gang-related murder. Always the underdogs, forced to do the gritty work of finding clues and tracking down witnesses in the beautiful, but often dangerous world of Southern California, Cooper teaches Skip to be a lawyer and a man, while Skip renews Cooper’s faith in the law and himself. Jerry Bruckheimer (“CSI, ” “Cold Case, ” “Without a Trace”), Jonathan Littman (“CSI, ” “Cold Case, ” “Without a Trace”) and Jonathan Shapiro (“The Practice, ” “Boston Legal”) are executive producers for Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

Tuesday

8:00-9:00 p.m. “GILMORE GIRLS”

Returning for its sixth season on The WB, the series stars Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Melissa McCarthy, Scott Patterson, Keiko Agena, Yanic Truesdale, Liza Weil, Sean Gunn, Kelly Bishop and Edward Herrmann. Amy Sherman-Palladino, Daniel Palladino and Gavin Polone serve as executive producers on the series produced by Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Hofflund/Polone in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

9:00-10:00 p.m. “SUPERNATURAL”

The WB has a long tradition of interweaving character dramas and the world of the supernatural. It began with “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and continues with hits like “Smallville” and “Charmed. ” This fall, The WB will take viewers on a completely new kind of thrill ride; a journey into the dark world of the unexplained that will deliver the terror of films like “The Ring” and “The Grudge. ” Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki, “Gilmore Girls”) has done his best to escape his family’s eerie history, but, along with his older brother Dean (Jensen Ackles, “Smallville”), Sam is bound by tragedy and blood to a dangerous, other-worldly mission. Criss-crossing the mysterious back roads of the country in their `67 Chevy Impala, the Winchester brothers search for their missing father – and hunt down every evil supernatural force they encounter along the way. From Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, with executive producers McG (“Charlie’s Angels” “The O.C. ”), writer/executive producer Eric Kripke (‘Boogeyman“) and director/executive producer David Nutter (“Without a Trace, ” “Smallville, ” “Roswell, ” “Band of Brothers, ” “The West Wing, ” “ER, ” “The X Files”).

Wednesday

8:00-9:00 p.m. “ONE TREE HILL”

Returning for its third season on The WB, the series stars Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton, Bethany Joy Lenz, Paul Johansson, Sophia Bush, Barbara Alyn Woods, Barry Corbin, Craig Sheffer and Moira Kelly. Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola and Mark Schwahn serve as executive producers on the series produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

8:00-9:00 p.m. “RELATED”

The four Sorelli sisters are a bundle of contradictions. These quirky young women are best friends one minute and bitter enemies the next. They confide in one another, yet manage to keep a lot of secrets. They worry about each other, give advice and push each other’s buttons. First-born sister Ann (casting TBD) is a 33-year-old legal aid lawyer and the nurturing mother hen of the group. Ann works out of a run-down office, helping people who have no voice, while her closest sibling, Ginnie (Jennifer Esposito, “Crash” “Spin City”), also an attorney, spends her days in a high-powered law firm working for huge corporations. While Ann worries about her long-time relationship with chef and restaurant-owner Danny (Jon Hamm, “The Division” “Kissing Jessica Stein”), Ginnie is trying to figure out how to tell her husband Bob (Callum Blue, “Dead Like Me” “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement”), her bosses and her family that she is pregnant. Next in line is 23-year-old Marjee (Lizzy Caplan, “Mean Girls”), a special events coordinator who stresses out over her demanding celebrity clients while secretly yearning for respect and approval from her older sisters. The youngest sister, Rose (Laura Breckenridge, “Boston Public”), is a 19-year-old college student who just switched her major from pre-med to experimental theater and is afraid to deliver this news to her over-achieving family. A comedic ensemble drama, “Related” is a poignant reminder that family is what life is all about. From Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. and Class IV Productions with executive producers Marta Kauffman (“Friends”), Steve Pearlman, Andrew Plotkin, director/executive producer Mimi Leder (“ER, ” “Pay It Forward”) and writer/co-executive producer Liz Tuccillo (“Sex and the City” and the best-selling book, “He’s Just Not That Into You”).

Thursday

8:00-9:00 p.m. “SMALLVILLE”

Returning for its fifth season on The WB, the series stars Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Allison Mack, John Glover, Annette O’Toole and John Schneider. Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Greg Beeman, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola and Ken Horton serve as executive producers on the series produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

9:00-10:00 p.m. “EVERWOOD”

Returning for its fourth season on The WB, the series stars Treat Williams, Gregory Smith, Emily VanCamp, Debra Mooney, John Beasley, Vivien Cardone, Chris Pratt, Stephanie Niznik, Merrilyn Gann, Scott Wolf, Sarah Drew and Tom Amandes. Greg Berlanti, Mickey Liddell and Rina Mimoun serve as executive producers on the series produced by Berlanti/Liddell Productions, Everwood Utah, Inc. in association with and distributed by Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

Friday

8:00-8:30 p.m. “WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU”

Returning for its fourth season on The WB, the series stars Amanda Bynes, Jennie Garth, Wesley Jonathan, Nick Zano, Leslie Grossman and Allison Munn for Tollin/Robbins Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

8:30-9:00 p.m. “TWINS”

Having explored the hilarious complexities of sexuality with the wildly successful “Will & Grace, ” Emmy Award-winning producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick bring their unique take on contemporary relationships to The WB. This time, they’re targeting societal stereotypes and perceptions of brains vs. beauty with a bitingly funny comedy about twin sisters. Mitchee (Sara Gilbert, “Roseanne”) has the intelligence and the determination of a successful businesswoman. Her twin sister Farrah (Molly Stanton, “Passions”) is a stunningly perfect lingerie model. Mitchee and Farrah are about to inherit their parents‘ undergarment business, which gained world-renown for form-fitting inventions that make every woman look and feel like a goddess. These anything-but-identical twins are true reflections of their parents. Mitchee takes after their father, Alan (Mark Linn-Baker, “Perfect Strangers”), a brilliant designer who built the company up from nothing, while Farrah is the image of their mother, Lee (Melanie Griffith, “Working Girl”), a beautiful former lingerie model who is not a deep thinker. There are loyal staff members, especially the flamboyant Neil (Chris Fitzgerald, “Personal Velocity”) and hot new marketing exec, Jordan (Steve Braun, “True Calling, ” “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”), but with Mitchee and Farrah in charge, this business – and this family – are going to need a lot of, um, support. From KoMut Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. with executive producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick (“Will & Grace, ” “Boston Common”).

9:00-9:30 p.m. “REBA”

Returning for its fifth season on The WB, the series stars Reba McEntire, Christopher Rich, Melissa Peterman, JoAnna Garcia, Steve Howey, Scarlett Pomers and Mitch Holleman. Kevin Abbott, Mindy Schultheis, Michael Hanel and Matt Berry serve as executive producers. Chris Case, Pat Bullard, Reba McEntire, Patti Carr & Lara Runnells and Don Beck are co-executive producers on the series produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Acme Productions.

9:30-10:00 p.m. “LIVING WITH FRAN”

Returning for its second season on The WB, the series stars Fran Drescher, Ben Feldman, Ryan McPartlin and Misti Traya. Robert Myer, Jamie Kennedy, David Garrett & Jason Ward and Fran Drescher serve as executive producers on the series produced by Regency Television.

Sunday

8:00-9:00 p.m. “CHARMED”

Returning for its eighth season on The WB, the series stars Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs, along with Brian Krause and Dorian Gregory. Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent and Brad Kern serve as executive producers on the series produced by Spelling Television, Inc.

9:00-10:00 p.m. “BLUE COLLAR TV”

Returning for its second season on The WB, the series stars Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Larry the Cable Guy, Brooke Dillman, Ashley Drane, Ayda Field, Heath Hyche, Peter Oldring and Gary Anthony Williams. Fax Bahr, Adam Small, Jeff Foxworthy, J.P. Williams, Garry Campbell and Brian Hartt serve as executive producers on the series from Bahr/Small Productions and Parallel Entertainment in association with Riverside Productions, Inc., distributed by Warner Bros. Television.

MIDSEASON SERIES

“PEPPER DENNIS”

Feature film star and supermodel Rebecca Romijn (“X-Men, ” ‘Just Shoot Me”) stars as Pepper Dennis, a beautiful and ambitious reporter with her sights set on anchoring Chicago’s top-rated evening news broadcast. Pepper’s career is her top priority, but she does have close friends, especially the station’s makeup artist Kimmy (Lindsay Price, “Beverly Hills, 90210”) and cameraman Chick (Rider Strong, “Boy Meets World”), who has a secret crush on Pepper. Complicating Pepper’s daily life is the fact that her spoiled, needy and recently separated sister Kathy (Brooke Burns, “North Shore,“ ”‘Baywatch”) has moved in with her. Worst of all, the hot guy Pepper woke up with this morning, Charlie Bishop (Josh Hopkins, “The Perfect Storm, ” “Ally McBeal”), just showed up in the newsroom, grabbed her dream job and is now practically her boss. She’s trying to despise him, but Charlie is smart, handsome, funny, available and interested. Office romances can be so complicated. From 20th Century Fox Television and writers/executive producers Gretchen J. Berg & Aaron Harberts (“Wonderfalls, ” “Roswell, ” “Beverly Hills, 90210”) and director/executive producer Shawn Levy (“The Pink Panther, ” “Cheaper by the Dozen, ” “Big Fat Liar”).

“THE BEDFORD DIARIES”

“The Bedford Diaries” explores contemporary New York City-based college life through the unique prism of a provocative Human Behavior and Sexuality class. Controversial and charismatic Professor Macklin (Emmy Award-nominated Matthew Modine, “And the Band Played On, “ “Any Given Sunday”) will challenge and inspire the show’s youthful ensemble of students as they explore their identities, relationships and sexuality in the most exciting city in the world. Among the students is the smart and attractive Sarah (Tiffany Dupont, “Cheaper by the Dozen”). Sarah has everything going for her until her brother Owen (Penn Badgely, “The Mountain”) walks into class. It’s one thing to share in class, but Sarah hadn’t planned on discussing her sexuality in front of a sibling. Owen’s new class partner is Natalie, “The Jumper” (Corri English, “The Dale Earnhardt Story”). Two years ago, Natalie had a change of heart mid-dive off the roof of the Student Union. Now physically recovered, she has to face the gossip mill and her ex, Richard (Milo Ventimiglia, ‘Gilmore Girls, ” ‘American Dreams”). The quintessential Park Avenue bad boy up until the moment his girlfriend jumped, Richard is now a semi-changed man – sober, attending class and editor-in-chief of The Bedford Bugle. In stark contrast is the working-class Lee (Ernest Waddell, ‘As the World Turns”), who has a noble heart, an artistic soul, a serious girlfriend and a fascination with Zoe (Victoria Cartagena, ‘Baby Fat”). Zoe talks a fast, flirty and kinky game, but despite her brash veneer, she’s still a virgin. Also starring Audra McDonald (‘Wit, ” ‘Law & Order”) and Peter Gerety (“The Legend of Bagger Vance”). From HBO Independent Productions, Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. and The Levinson/Fontana Co. with executive producers Tom Fontana (“Oz, ” “Homicide: Life on The Street”), Jim Finnerty (‘The Jury,“ “Oz“) and Julie Martin (‘Homicide: Life on the Street”), along with executive producer Barry Levinson (“Rain Man, ” ‘Diner”).

„MISCONCEPTIONS“

Amanda Watson (Jane Leeves, ‘Frasier“) was more than a little shocked to find out that all her teenage daughter Hopper (Taylor Momsen, ‘Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams“) wanted for her birthday was to meet her biological father. After all, Hopper has always heard that her dad is well-bred, handsome, athletic, well-educated and a successful doctor. The only problem is Amanda never actually met him, she only knows him from the profile she was given at the Ivy League sperm bank. After discussing the situation with Horace (French Stewart, „3rd Rock From the Sun“), her best friend and co-worker at an art museum in Chicago, Amanda decides it’s time to track down the father of her child and is mortified to discover that her supposedly ideal donor was not the Olympic medalist, Yale-educated surgeon that she has imagined all these years. Meet Eddie Caprio (Adam Rothenberg, ‘Coyote Beach“), a man who needed a little cash after junior college and lied about his identity. Eddie has a certain undeniable charm, yet he’s too scattered and immature for Amanda’s taste. He can’t hold a job, he prefers beer to fine wine, and his idea of dressing up is wearing a clean baseball cap. In Amanda’s eyes, Eddie is barely capable of taking care of himself, let alone Hopper. However, when Eddie tracks her down, Hopper falls head-over-heels for her fun-loving dad, and Amanda is forced to allow him to be part of their lives. Could Eddie’s appeal be getting through to Amanda, too? Apparently, they’re going to have plenty of time to find out. From Imagine Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television with executive producers Brian Grazer (‘Arrested Development,“ ‘24, ‘A Beautiful Mind“), David Nevins (‘Arrested Development,“ ‘24,“ ‘Miss Match“), Jeff Kleeman (‘Titanic,“ ‘Golden Eye,“ ‘Sleepy Hollow“) and Michael Saltzman (‘The Pink Panther,“ ‘The Naked Truth,“ ‘Murphy Brown,“ ‘Wings“).

‘MODERN MEN”

Tim (Josh Braaten, ‘Less Than Perfect“), Kyle (Max Greenfield, ‘Veronica Mars“) and Doug (Eric Lively, ‘The L Word“) are childhood friends who are at different stages in their lives when it comes to women. Doug can’t move on from his ex-wife, Kyle is a womanizing bachelor, and Tim’s relationships keep falling apart due to…well, he doesn’t actually know. Tim’s sister Tina (Marla Sokoloff, ‘Desperate Housewives,“ ‘The Practice“), a confident young law student, tries to make him understand that today’s career-minded, self-sufficient women don’t need a man for support, they’re looking for a deeper and more meaningful connection. Though their situations are different, each of these guys has come to the same realization — it takes a lot more than they expected to keep a woman happy and satisfied. After getting no help from Tim’s dad Tug (George Wendt, ‘Cheers“), who’s stuck in the Stone Age when it comes to the opposite sex, Tim, Kyle and Doug are just desperate enough to seek the help of Dr. Stangl (guest star Wendie Malick, ‘Frasier,“ ‘Just Shoot Me“), a renowned life coach. Now the question is whether these guys are capable of taking Dr. Stangl’s advice and applying it to their every day situations. This fresh, male perspective on modern relationships is from Emmy Award-winning executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer ‘CSI,“ ‘Cold Case,“ ‘Without a Trace“). Joining Bruckheimer are executive producers Jonathan Littman (‘Without A Trace,“ the ‘CSI“ and ‘The Amazing Race“ franchises) and Marsh McCall (‘Just Shoot Me,“ ‘The Naked Truth“), along with co-executive producers Ross McCall and Aaron Peters (‘Just Shoot Me,“ ‘The Simple Life“). From Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

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