 UPN Affiliates Staying in the Fold
Wed Jul 23, 2:38 AM ET
By Nellie Andreeva
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - UPN executives are starting to breathe a little easier now that one of the big uncertainties about the network's future is about to be resolved.
Viacom and News Corp. are negotiating a new affiliate deal for the News Corp.-owned UPN affiliates, which include crucial outlets WWOR New York and KCOP Los Angeles, CBS chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves said Tuesday during UPN's portion of the Television Critics Assn. summer press tour.
The question of whether those stations would remain in the UPN fold was raised when News Corp. filed a $108 million lawsuit against Viacom this year in a dispute over affiliation fees that News Corp. claims Viacom owes to its UPN stations.
UPN's current contracts with WWOR, KCOP and seven other News Corp.-owned stations are set to expire at the end of the 2003-04 season.
"The News Corp.egotiation is going extremely well," said Moonves, who also oversees UPN. "We expect to have a (new) deal. We don't expect there to be any problems, notwithstanding the $100 million lawsuit that is going on between the companies."
Talking to reporters after the session, Moonves said both sides have agreed to set the lawsuit issue aside in their ongoing negotiations.
"We're talking and (having) all positive discussions," he said.
UPN also said Tuesday that it will roll out its fall schedule during the week of Sept. 10-16.
The network's new comedy "The Mullets," about two wrestling-loving, blue-collar brothers who sport mullet haircuts, will premiere Thursday, Sept. 11 -- following a 90-minute "WWE Smackdown!" -- before moving to its regular Tuesday 9:30 p.m. time slot Sept. 16.
Moonves said the network's executives "looked at the pros and cons" of premiering the low-brow comedy on the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks but ultimately decided that the night, heavy on news coverage, "would be a good opportunity" to launch the new show.
"We don't think the average viewer turns to UPN for news," Moonves said.
On Sept. 12, UPN will air "The 2003 Essence Music Festival," a two-hour special hosted by Steve Harvey and featuring R&B stars Ashanti, Erykah Badu, Patti LaBelle and Stevie Wonder as well UPN comedy series stars.
Despite a 16 percent ratings decline in UPN's target audience of adults 18-34 this past season, Moonves said the network is in "far better shape than it was a year ago," pointing to UPN's strongest-ever upfront sales and the success of the reality series "America's Next Top Model."
Addressing criticism from the audience that UPN's schedule continues to be a hodgepodge of programs ranging from wrestling to urban comedy, sci-fi and a movie, Moonves said the current regime is working with the schedule they inherited.
"Anybody who thinks that they can overturn a network in one year only has to look at ABC," he said.
[ Click here to read more. ]
|  WWE Magazine
August 2003
The passing of WWE legend "Classy" Freddie Blassie was felt by many. Reminisce on the life and times of this amazing man and performer in a tribute for one of the greatest Superstars ever.
Also in this month's issue, check out Tazz's Tales From the Hook when he describes the feeling you get right before you walk through the curtain.
 TOMB RAIDER: CRADLE OF LIFE [PG-13]
Now Playing!
Angelina Jolie again plays Lara Croft, the video-game vixen brought to the big screen in the first Tomb Raider film. In the sequel, Croft travels across the world in hopes of finding an ancient underwater temple called the Cradle of Life, which, as legend has it, is the resting place for Pandora's Box. [Paramount Pictures]
How is this movie UPN related?
It's Paramount!!!
LAST WEEKEND BOX OFFICE TOP 10
July 25 - July 27, 2003 |
1. Spy Kids: 3D (Miramax) - 33.4m
2. Pirates of the Carribean (Walt Disney) - 23.1m
3. Bad Boys II (Columbia Pictures) - 22.1m
4. Tomb Raider 2 (Paramount Pictures) - 21.8m
5. Seabiscuit (Universal) - 20.9m
6. League of... (20th Century Fox) - 5.1m
7. Terminator 3 (Warner Bros.) - 5.1m
8. Finding Nemo (Walt Disney) - 4.4m
9. Johnny English (Universal) - 4.3m
10. Legally Blonde 2 (Metro Goldwyn-Mayor) - 2.7m
Weekend box office data by ACNielsen EDI ©2003
The Incredible Hulk (Animated Series) (2003) (NEW!)
The DVD compiles the first four episodes of the 1996-97 animated series, which outline the Hulk's origins, as well as the struggles of his human alter ego, Bruce Banner, to rid himself of the creature. The episodes also make fine use of Marvel's rosters of heroes and villains; in the two-part "Return of the Beast," the Hulk tangles with the Leader, the Gargoyle, and the hideous Abomination, while in "Raw Power," he's up against the malevolent ZZZAX; and in "Helping Hand, Iron Fist," he goes mano-a-mano with Iron Man and War Machine. Terrific performances (TV Hulk Lou Ferrigno provides the creature's voice) and extensive extras make this DVD a must-have for comic and cartoon aficionados. --Paul Gaita
|
|
1. WWE SmackDown! - 4.2/7
2. The Parkers (R) - 2.6/4
2. One on One (R) - 2.6/4
2. Girlfriends (R) - 2.6/4
2. Half & Half (R) - 2.6/4
6. Enterprise (R) - 2.1/4
7. "Accidental Spy" - 2.0/4
8. Twilight Zone (R) - 1.8/3
-. Abby (R) - n/a
-. Buffy (R) - n/a
Compiled by Nielson Media Research
5th - Loni Anderson "The Mullets"
8th - Countess Vaughn "Moesha, Parkers"
| 
Former PLATINUM star Jason George will be starring in EVE this fall. What actor played his character in the original pilot?
Send your answer along with your name to feedback@....
LAST WEEK:
Guy Torry didn't only call THE STRIP his home. In what other UPN series did he star?
ANSWER: Guy Torry co-starred in the 1997 soulful sitcom GOOD NEWS.
CONGRADULATIONS: Mandy St. Jean.
|
