- News Archive February 1998 -

UPN PICKS UP SIX PILOTS FOR NEW SEASON - February 23

A drama about two swinger-like detectives in Las Vegas and a female-driven hour mixing 'Cagney & Lacey' with 'Thelma & Louise' top UPN's drama development slate for fall.

Six pilot pickups cap a flurry of activity by executive vp entertainment Tom Nunan, who joined the network in October. The slate provides a stark contrast to last year's development season, which predated the hiring of CEO Dean Valentine. Given the success of Star Trek: Voyager and The Sentinel, no new dramas were created for the network for 1997-98.

"When we looked at the pilots we picked up, we saw many that could serve as companions to Star Trek: Voyager, The Sentinel or The Love Boat: The New Wave," Nunan said. The latter drama, from Aaron Spelling, will bow April 13. "All of them have either somewhat of a fantasy element fulfilled or a franchise of cops shows or a science fiction element to them."

Desert Heat is a cast-contingent drama from Touchstone Television focusing on two detectives, in which "the banter and attitude (are) as important as the crimes they are solving," Nunan said. John Byrum (Winnetka Road) and Stan Rogow (South of Sunset) will executive produce.

Joy Street Station, from All-American TV, is a Boston-based cop show featuring two females in uniform, "along the lines of a younger, hipper `Cagney & Lacey,'" Nunan said. Joel Blasberg (Burke's Law) and Martha Coolidge (Rambling Rose) will executive produce.

Mercy Point, from Columbia TriStar/Mandalay Entertainment, expounds a concept akin to ER in space, Nunan said, with David Simkins (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), Trey Calloway (I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Sequel) and Peter Guber executive producing.

Martian Law, from Rysher Entertainment, is best described as 'Gunsmoke on Mars,' Nunan said, with a U.S. marshal maintaining order on a high-tech frontier. Richard Okie (Renegade) will executive produce.

Seven Days, from Paramount TV and executive produced by Christopher Crowe (The Untouchables), focuses on a man who returns to the past to avert major catastrophes. Legacy, from 20th Century Fox TV, focuses on a post- Civil War family in Kentucky, with Chris Abbott (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) executive producing.

UPN might obtain a seventh drama pilot, but no additional information was available as of presstime.

Nunan said UPN will likely develop for fall as many as eight comedy pilots and 17 specials, some of which could become series. That is apparently the network's hope with Search for Justice With Fred Goldman, a special set to air at 8 p.m. April 22.

The special, a Gold Coast Entertainment production, features Goldman the outspoken father of murder victim Ronald Lyle Goldman as host and producer. The hour will focus on victims' rights.

"In creating this show, Fred saw a unique opportunity to put together a television show that not only exposes injustice but also leads to positive change,'' said David Garfinkle, an executive producer on the special along with Matthew Papish and Jay Renfroe.

(Thanks Barbara)

ROBERT URICH COMES ABOARD AS CAPTAIN OF THE NEW LOVE BOAT - February 18

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE) -- Joan Severance, Corey Parker, Stacey Travis, Phil Morris, Randy Vasquez and Kyle Howard Enlist As New Crew Members for New Romantic Adventures; Production Begins Next Week.

Robert Urich has signed on as Captain of The Love Boat: The Next Wave, the new, updated version of the popular one-hour series from Spelling Television, which will premiere on Monday, April 13 (8-9 p.m. ET/PT), on UPN.

Joining Urich on his weekly voyages to the sea of romantic comedy will be a new cast of characters to be played by Joan Severance, Corey Parker, Stacey Travis, Phil Morris, Randy Vasquez and Kyle Howard.

"We are very fortunate to have landed Robert Urich for the role as Captain and, quite frankly, we're thrilled," commented Tom Nunan, executive vice president, entertainment, UPN. "Robert is an incredible choice as he is a well-recognized and well-liked actor who we expect will attract his many fans to his new project. We also have a very talented and attractive cast joining Robert, and we can't wait to get under way."

The Love Boat: The Next Wave is a contemporary version of the popular series that aired between 1977 and 1986. Topical issues, rarely if ever raised on the previous show, will be woven into parts of this series' romantic storylines.

"The Love Boat: The Next Wave was one of my favorite productions, and I'm very excited to be producing it again," said Executive Producer Aaron Spelling. "We will, however, be making some nods to contemporary audiences, who have come to expect a certain degree of realism in the one-hour format."

Production on the six-episode order begins on Monday, Feb. 23, in both Los Angeles and aboard the show's new ship, Princess Cruises' Sun Princess.

Urich, who has starred in such series as Spencer: For Hire, Vega$ and most recently The Lazarus Man, will play the role of Captain Jim Kennedy, a divorce and retired Navy commander who has opted not to sign up for another stint and instead decided to helm a vacation cruise ship.

Kyle Howard plays Kennedy's 15-year-old son Danny, a troubled teen who is put under his father's custody. Joan Severance (L.A. Law, Wiseguy) plays Chief of Security Camille Hunter; Corey Parker

(Eddie Dodd) plays Ship Physician, Dr. John Morgan; Stacey Travis plays Cruise Director Suzanne Zimmerman; Phil Morris (Mission: Impossible, Seinfeld) plays Chief Purser Will Sanders; and Randy Vasquez (Acapulco H.E.A.T.) plays Bar Manager Paolo Kaire.

(Thanks Barbara)

UPN ORDERS FULL SEASON OF ITS TOP COMEDY SERIES - MOESHA AND MALCOM & EDDIE - FEBRUARY 25 EPISODE - February 17

"Both Moesha and Malcolm & Eddie have performed very well for UPN, greatly aided by their star power in Brandy, Malcolm and Eddie," commented Nunan. "We anticipate that both series will continue to build upon their current popularity on our new fall schedule."

Moesha, to enter its fourth season next fall, stars teen sensation Brandy in the title role of a young girl coming of age.

Moesha premiered on Jan. 23, 1996, and currently anchors UPN's Tuesday lineup from 8 to 8:30 p.m. ET/PT. Season-to-date, the award-winning series has earned a 3.3 rating/5 share and consistently wins its audience among female teens.

Malcolm & Eddie stars Warner and Griffin in their namesake roles as two unlikely friends partnered in both business and a shared apartment. The show, which airs Mondays, 8:30-9 p.m. ET/PT, premiered on Aug. 26, 1996, and has earned a 3.1 rating/5 share this season-to-date.

(Thanks Barbara)

NEWSGROUPS PROPOSAL FOR THE SENTINEL - February 13

The newsgroups proposed are:
alt.tv.sentinel for general discussion of the show; and
alt.tv.sentinel.creative for the posting and discussion of fan fiction.

To support the creation of the newsgroups posts of support and interest should be made on alt.config.

Your subject header should say:
Re: Proposal: alt.tv.sentinel and alt.tv.sentinel.creative

It is important that you post your support to this newsgroup, so that news servers will see that the proper procedures have been carried out and also that there is plenty of support for the creation of these groups.

These newsgroups are not intended to replace the mailing lists, rather to provide an additional, and more publicly accessible forum for The Sentinel.

(Thanks to Shannara and Holly)

UPN NEWS RELEASE - FEBRUARY 25 EPISODE - February 11

Sweet Science - After a sweeping victory in the ring, boxing champion "Sweet" Roy Williams (played by real-life heavyweight boxer Roy Jones, Jr.) is mysteriously found shot to death. The only suspect with a viable motive is Roy's brother, Jamie, who was terribly jealous of his famous sibling and angry with him for allegedly having an affair with his girlfriend. But a detailed investigation by Ellison and Sandburg lead the Cascade Police to the real killer, a counterfeiter worried that Roy would bust his lucrative operation, on The Sentinel airing WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET/PT) on UPN.

Starring are Richard Burgi as Jim Ellison; Garett Maggart (cq) as Blair Sandburg and Bruce A. Young as Captain Simon Banks. Guest starring are Roy Jones, Jr. as ``Sweet'' Roy Williams; Karim Prince as Jamie Williams; Nicole Prescott as Sharita; James Leard as Rock Oldman; Jason Anthony Griffith as Billy Atlas; William Samples as Jeffrey Collins; Brent J.D. Sheppard as Agent O'Hara; Ryf Van Rij as Detective Rafe; Dan Shea as the Fight Announcer and Henri Brown as Detective Brown.

The episode was written by Laurence Frank and directed by Bill Gereghty.

This episode carries a "TV PG" parental guideline.

(Thanks Barbara)

POPULAR "MOESHA"/"CLUELESS" AND REPEAT OF "SPICE GIRLS" SPECIAL DELIVER UPN'S HIGHEST RATINGS IN EIGHT WEEKS - February 5

LOS ANGELES, February 4, 1998 . . . Last night's Moesha and Clueless plus an encore presentation of a Spice Girls special, boosted UPN to its highest Tuesday night ratings (4.6/7) in eight weeks, according to the metered market overnight ratings provided by Nielsen Media Research. The line-up posted a 15% ratings growth and a 17% share growth versus last week (4.0/6).

On UPN's two-week old affiliate in Baltimore, WUTB-TV Channel 24, the 8:00 p.m. hour of Moesha/Clueless (3.0/5) defeated WB's Buffy, the Vampire Slayer (2.9/5) and UPN's 9:00 p.m. hour Spice Girls special repeat (4.0/6) beat Dawson's Creek (3.8/6) airing on WNUV-TV. Previously a UPN affiliate, the Sinclair-owned WNUV-TV experienced a 38% decrease in rating and a 38% decrease in share compared to its final Tuesday airing of UPN's programming on January 13, 1998. The line-up that night, Moesha and Clueless followed by repeat episodes of Moesha and Clueless averaged a 5.5/8.

UPN's comedy line-up and repeat special beat the WB's Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and Dawson's Creek in 11 markets: Philadelphia (5.0/7 vs. 4.1/6), San Francisco (4.0/7 vs. 3.3/5), Washington D.C. (4.6/7 vs. 2.2/3), Houston (6.7/10 vs. 3.1/5), Cleveland (5.3/8 vs. 2.7/4), Minneapolis (4.5/7 vs. 3.0/5), Tampa (5.2/7 vs. 3.0/4), Miami (5.3/8 vs. 4.6/7), Portland (3.1/5 vs. 1.5/3), Charlotte (5.5/8 vs. 4.9/7), and Nashville (4.3/6 vs. 3.4/5).

UPN ranked as Number Two in Memphis (9.1/13) beating ABC (5.4/8), CBS (8.0/11) and tying FOX (9.1/12).

(Thanks Barbara)

FINKLEMAN'S FOLLY NEWS RELEASE - February 3

Starring are Richard Burgi as Jim Ellison; Garett Maggart (cq) as Blair Sandburg and Bruce A. Young as Captain Simon Banks. Guest starring are Shareen J. Mitchell as Sarah Finkelman; Ken Earl as Joel Taggert; Ryf Van Rij as Detective Rafe; April Grace as Amy; Steve Bacic as Joe Brock; Peter Wilds as Rick Brock; and Justin Louis as Arthur Sabin.

The episode was written by Harold Apter and directed by Michael Lacoe.

(Thanks Barbara)

MIRROR IMAGE NEWS RELEASE - January 30

Starring are Richard Burgi as Jim Ellison; Garett Maggart (cq) as Blair Sandburg and Bruce A. Young as Captain Simon Banks.

Guest starring are Lisa Akey as Cassie; Ben Cardinal as Dan Wolf; Brion James as Chapel; Anthony Ulc as Harris; Colin Cunningham as Dr. Burke; Jen Jasey as Alex; Daniel Boileau as Robert; Andre Benjamin as Reggie; Mike Dopud as O'Doyle; and Ben Derrick as Bellini.

Tony Westman directed from a teleplay by David H. Balkan.

(Thanks Barbara)

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