Variety Article on WB Schedule Shift

WB shifts Felicity, Roswell
Updated 2:49 AM ET March 2, 2000
By Michael Schneider

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) – Some of the WB’s teen tenants will be packing their bags and switching addresses this April.

“Felicity,” which saw its fortunes shorn this year after inheriting a hairy Sunday night timeslot, will move to Wednesdays at 9 p.m. beginning April 5.

The Sunday berth had not been popular with “Felicity” fans. Season to date, the show has averaged a 2.4 Nielsen rating and 4 share in households, down from a 3.4/5 last year — when it aired on Tuesdays.

With “Felicity” taking over the post-“Dawson’s Creek” residence, “Roswell” will crash land on Monday nights at 9 p.m. (after “7th Heaven”), which has been inhabited in recent weeks by repeats of “Popular.”

The WB had to get special permission from 20th Century Fox and Regency to relocate “Roswell.” The producers had been guaranteed the Wednesday night timeslot when the network initially negotiated the show’s 22-episode order last year.

WB execs said “Roswell’s” producers plan to juice up the show’s sci-fi elements as it moves to a new night. The last series that worked in the post-“7th Heaven” slot was teen thriller “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

Since the show will lean more toward sci-fi, a jump to Monday also steers “Roswell” out of competition with UPN’s “Star Trek: Voyager.” Season to date, “Roswell” has averaged a 2.8/4.

Meanwhile, with “Felicity” moving to Wednesday and “Jack and Jill” ending its 22-episode run on March 19, the WB also plans to overhaul its Sunday schedule come April 2.

The Dick Wolf drama “D.C.” will air on Sundays at 8 p.m., followed by the return of last summer’s sitcom “Movie Stars” at 9 p.m.

At 9:30, it hopes the third time’s a charm with the re-re-launch of “Zoe.”

In an attempt to spark some extra momentum, the WB will air original episodes of “Felicity,” “Roswell,” “D.C.” and “Movie Stars” for the rest of the season once they debut or are relocated.

“We think these moves strengthen us on all three nights,” WB Entertainment president Susanne Daniels said.

Reuters/Variety