'Enterprise' Set To Beam In At 8pm This Fall

With UPN's upfront presentation just over a week away, insider previews indicate that the network will then be announcing a Wednesday 8pm timeslot for the latest Star Trek series, Enterprise.

Tom Nunan, UPN's Vice-President in charge of programming, is already optimistic about the new fall line-up. "We really have our best opportunity in almost four years to take off at the upfronts," he told Broadcasting and Cable. "If we have the next Star Trek and Buffy going in, the wind is really going to be at our back."

According to the trade paper, UPN's Wednesday night line-up is already looking strong, with the new series Dead Zone expected to air at 9pm, following Enterprise. Dead Zone is based on the Stephen King novel, and was created by former Trek writer/producer Michael Piller.

Noted Trek reviewer Michelle Erica Green was privileged enough to see a rough cut of the pilot episode. "I thought it was great," she told TrekToday. "I think Stephen King purists and movie fans will be pleased -- most of the changes work very well, and the end of the first episode was very suspenseful even though I think I know who the bad guy is based on those previous versions." Green added that "it is definitely a series I'd watch."

The network might not be acquiring Angel, Buffy The Vampire Slayer's sister series, after all. If Angel is dropped by the WB, The network committed itself to buying two seasons of Angel if the WB were to cancel it, but sources are now saying it is increasingly likely the show will remain on the WB. At this stage, the fate of Roswell, which was also rumoured to be moving to UPN, is unknown.

UPN is also looking to make scheduling alterations to other key nights, with the possible departure of the long-running Monday-night comedy, Moesha. A previously produced comedy series, One on One, is looking a likely candidate to fill that timeslot.

Reality programming also seems to figure highly on UPN's agenda. The new series Chains of Love, although on shaky ground, is set to be renewed, and five new reality shows are in development, although not all of them will end up on the fall schedule. These include AmbushTV, Rebuild Your Life, Manhunt and a battle of the sexes talk show, to be hosted by radio celebrity Tom Leykis.

The fate of Voyager's current lead in, Seven Days, it still undecided, but Paramount is reportedly pushing for a fourth season. The network's current top-rated programme, WWF Smackdown, which airs on Thursday nights, will be reduced to 90 minutes and the extra 30 minutes will be used as a launching pad for new sitcoms. The Friday night timeslot, which has always been a problem for the network, is expected to be filled with movies.

Full details not only of UPN's development slate, but also those of the other networks, can be found in this Broadcasting and Cable article. Thanks to Jose Gonzalez for letting us know about this.

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