Variety Confirms Show Renewal

WB uncovers more “Roswell” episodes

By Josef Adalian

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) – The WB believes in aliens.

The network has ordered nine additional episodes of its sophomore sci-fi
drama “Roswell,” giving the show a full season run of 22 episodes.

“Roswell” garnered solid reviews last season and decent ratings but still
barely managed to get renewed for a second year. The WB ultimately ordered 13
episodes, spurred in part by a strong fan-based campaign to save the show and
a decision to emphasize more of the show’s sci-fi elements. Jason Behr,
Katherine Heigl and Brendan Fehr star.

So far this fall, “Roswell” has given the WB its best 9 p.m. Monday Nielsen
numbers since “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” moved out of the slot in January
1998. The show’s core strength lies with young femmes: It averages a 5.4
rating/18 share in female teens and a 3.6/10 in females 12-34.

Among adults 18-49, “Roswell” has been averaging a 2.0/5 — an 82% increase
over the network’s slot average last season. It has posted similar gains in
other key demos.

Not surprisingly, “Roswell” creator-executive producer Jason Katims said he
is “extremely excited” about the full-season order.

“This is just a great feeling, a great boost of confidence for all of us at
the show,” Katims told Daily Variety. “We’ve just gotten a lot of great
support from the WB and (producer) 20th Century Fox.”

Reuters/Variety