Angel picked up by WB for the 5th Season

NBC extends 'ER' deal, 'Angel' stays aloft
Medical drama scheduled through 2006

By JOSEF ADALIAN

Warner Bros. TV's "ER" will remain open on NBC until at least May 2006, while 20th Century Fox's "Angel" -- with new cast addition James Marsters-- is taking flight for a fifth season on the WB.
Peacock has struck a new deal with WBTV and John Wells Prods. guaranteeing "ER" two more seasons beyond the show's current pact, due to expire in May 2004. This means the hit medical drama, which remains a Nielsen powerhouse after 200 episodes, is guaranteed to be a part of NBC's sked through the 2005-06 season -- the show's 12th.

NBC Entertainment prexy Jeff Zucker will announce the deal today at the web's annual upfront presentation to advertisers.

Neither NBC nor WBTV would confirm details, though industry insiders said the Peacock won't pay any more than it had been shelling out. Peacock's last license fee deal, inked in 2000, was for roughly $8 million per seg; it's possible the new deal is worth a tad less.

Whatever the pricetag, losing "ER" wasn't an option for Zucker.

Strong season

"It's been No. 1 in adults 18-49 every season it's been on the air," Zucker said Sunday. "It's had a fantastic season this year, with both a creative renaissance and in the ratings. It's truly amazing how strong the show still is."

While CBS has been chipping away at "ER" in total viewers with its Jerry Bruckheimer-produced "Without a Trace," "ER" remains dominant in the key demo of adults 18-49. Its 200th episode last week outdrew both "Trace" and ABC's "PrimeTime Live" combined among younger viewers.

Nothing that "from the day ('ER') went on the air . . . it hasn't looked back," Zucker said "ER" and the "Law & Order" mothership have proven to be enduring hits because of the auspices behind them.

"You have two incredible visionaries running these shows, both of whom have masterfully navigated the ups and downs of the last decade and kept their shows humming at a higher level than anything else on TV," he said.

WBTV prexy Peter Roth said his studio was "thrilled to be part of the phenominal success that is 'ER.'"

"This two-year pick up is yet another affirmation of the enormous value that this show holds to our studio, the network and to our audience," Roth said.

'Angel' wings in

As for "Angel," Frog has ordered another full season of the Joss Whedon-creative skein and will air the show Wednesdays at 9 p.m., with relocated hit "Smallville" as its lead-in. Frog has an option for a sixth season.

What's more, Paradigm-repped Marsters has signed on to reprise his "Buffy" role as punker vamp Spike. Other "Buffy" regulars may also make guest appearances next season, while Whedon has vowed to write several scripts and direct episodes of the show.

Jeffrey Bell and Tim Minear will be exec producers/showrunners.

Charisma Carpenter, who plays Cordelia, is not expected to return as a series regular.

"Angel's" recent ratings perfomance should have made it a shoo-in for a renewal.

Still, WB execs wanted to see how their drama development turned out, and, more importantly, needed to hammer out a new license fee deal with 20th. While "Angel" isn't a particularly expensive skein to produce, it doesn't do very well in repeats, making it tougher for the Frog to turn a profit on the show.

"Until we knew at what price we could close a deal for the series, as well as what the rest of our schedule cost, we couldn't make the call," WB Entertainment chief Jordan Levin said.

Still, unlike the rancorous Frog-20th negotiation over "Angel" sibling "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," Levin said the "Angel" talks repped "a cordial, non-emotional negotiation.

"It's a deal that's acceptable for both of us, and also ultimately respects the fans of the collective 'Buffy' and 'Angel' mythologies," Levin said.

Date in print: Mon., May 12, 2003, Los Angeles

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"Smallville" as its lead-in

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Other "Buffy" regulars may also make guest appearances next season, while Whedon has vowed to write several scripts and direct episodes of the show.

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Sibling revelery works for WBTV, Frog net
Levin vertically integrates sked

By JOSEF ADALIAN

With its most synergistically minded sked yet, the WB will add a quartet of comedies and a pair of dramas to its primetime lineup this fall -- all from sister studio Warner Bros. TV.
Additions, to be announced today at the WB's upfront presentation, are part of an ambitious scheduling play that calls for changes on five of the six nights the Frog programs.

Highlights include revamped comedy blocks on Thursday and Friday nights and the move of Frog hit "Smallville" to Wednesday nights, where it will lead into the returning "Angel" (Daily Variety, May 12).

Replacing "Smallville" will be the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced actioner "Fearless," a move that creates a femme-focused Tuesday.

Net also is making a bold move on Sundays by scheduling one of its most buzzworthy newcomers -- "Tarzan and Jane" -- Sundays at 9 p.m. First-season repeats of "Smallville" lead off Sunday, with "Charmed" remaining at 8 p.m.

The Frog's reliance on WBTV for all of its new product is likely to raise eyebrows.

WB Entertainment prexy Jordan Levin made no apologies for the vertically integrated bent of his sked.

"I know it sounds completely disingenuous, but we picked the best shows we had," he said.

Given that the bulk of the Frog's pilots were produced by WBTV, it was all but a given that the net's fall lineup would be heavy on inhouse fare.

"We were aware this would happen," Levin said.

Inside laughs

The WB's four new laffers all originated with the net's comedy development team. Frog has a tradition of nurturing shows inhouse before laying them off on studios. This year, the net placed those projects at WBTV.

"In this economic environment, I have no shame putting our internal development over at Warner Bros.," Levin said. "They're the most supportive in terms of deficit-financing, and they're also creatively supportive."

Synergy worked both ways: Frog's two frosh dramas originated with WBTV producers and the studio's development team.

Levin said WBTV prexy Peter Roth also deserves credit for creating an environment that makes vertical integration a natural.

"Peter's a throwback to an old era where studio chiefs were passionately supportive of their producers. He's a strong advocate for the WB, while also creating shows for other networks."

As for the specifics of the sked, Frog made some interesting choices on its two comedy nights.

'Reba' spark?

Established success "Reba" will kick off Friday nights rather than anchor at 9 -- a bit of a risk given that the Frog's Friday is working pretty well. Still, execs believe returning laffer "Grounded for Life" will work in "Reba's" old slot.

Thursdays will kick off with a reality/variety block, leading into a young-female-targeted 9-10 p.m. block of comedies.

Laffers not returning for second seasons include "Greetings From Tucson," "Do Over," "Family Affair" and "On the Spot"; long-delayed "The O'Keefes" debuts this month but likely won't be back.

Dramas on the outs include "Birds of Prey" and "The Black Sash"; "Dawson's Creek" ends its storied run next week.

Date in print: Tue., May 13, 2003, Los Angeles

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