http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/s...67p-47792c.html

Buffy's future
is at stake

HOLLYWOOD - A little bit of "Buffy" is better than none at all for UPN.

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" could return next season even if its star, Sarah Michelle Gellar, doesn't appear in every episode, CBS President Leslie Moonves, who also oversees UPN, told reporters yesterday at the Television Critics winter press tour.
UPN is currently in talks with the show producer 20th Century Fox, about keeping the show for another season.

"Buffy" was the first breakout hit for the WB Network. But UPN acquired the series last season, after the WB and Fox could not reach an agreement on a new license fee. Now it's UPN's turn to negotiate and the network is looking at a range of options since Gellar is not signed to the show beyond this season.
"One possibility is she comes back, one possibility is she comes back a couple of times, one possibility is we do a spinoff," Moonves said. "Another possibility is that we have a brand new show on Tuesday at 8 o'clock."

The future of "Buffy" is just one of the challenges UPN executives face as they decide what the 8-year-old network should be. While the focus is on viewers between 18 and 34, the network's personality changes nightly - sitcoms with black casts Monday, "Buffy" Tuesday, sci-fi with "Enterprise" Wednesday, wrestling Thursday and action movies Friday.

After surging with the addition of "Buffy" and "Enterprise" last year, UPN's ratings have lagged this season, with the WB taking over fifth place in the prime-time ratings race.

Moonves said UPN, while still a money-loser, is in better financial shape than it has ever been. Growth targets include black viewers, who not only watch Monday but also tune into "Buffy" and "WWE Smackdown" in large numbers. Future UPN shows will have multi-cultural casts and more contemporary themes, said Moonves and UPN's entertainment president, Dawn Ostroff.

UPN is already headed in the direction, with the addition of the sitcom "Abby," which stars Sydney Tamiia Poitier, and "Platinum," a drama set in the world of hip-hop. The network has projects in the works from Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, and hip-hop artist Eve.

"Diversity is very important to this network," Moonves said. "I think we're serving an audience that is not really served by a lot of the other networks. I'd like us to continue along in that vein."

Stephen Battaglio
Originally published on January 13, 2003

I guess i should start watching WWE Smackdown so i can fit in this demographic. Not.

It will be interesting to see how this all works out. I still think SMG will come back part-time for Buffy. I think she's too burned out to do it full time, but the part time offer (a few shows) will be tempting and UPN will make it worthwhile.

I also doubt she'll stay for a whole season. Maybe, a couple more episodes hopefully. I don't know what i'd do without Buffy. (thank god for Faith and Spike)


*Let's NOT fit into the demographic. WWE is so fake! I believe the demons on Buffy are more real than the wrestlers on there.*

not sure of course here but If sarah does sign I'm sure she'll sign for a full season but maybe ask for less screen time. I think that because if she does sign she doesn't want the the show to go the way of the X-Files were their lead was no longer there. less screen time vs. less EP's. better to have buffy in every EP then maybe half of them.

but who know. it's still up in the air. but like i've said, UPN wants the show to continue. that to me was never in question and again they confirm it.

just let it die gracefully

Very true about X-Files. It got very mixed up at the end, with the producers basically putting out a spin-off complete with 2 brand new leads and essentially a new storyline, but still calling it the original.

Moonves said UPN, while still a money-loser, is in better financial shape than it has ever been. Growth targets include black viewers, who not only watch Monday but also tune into "Buffy" and "WWE Smackdown" in large numbers. Future UPN shows will have multi-cultural casts and more contemporary themes, said Moonves and UPN's entertainment president, Dawn Ostroff.

UPN is already headed in the direction, with the addition of the sitcom "Abby," which stars Sydney Tamiia Poitier, and "Platinum," a drama set in the world of hip-hop. The network has projects in the works from Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, and hip-hop artist Eve.

"Diversity is very important to this network," Moonves said. "I think we're serving an audience that is not really served by a lot of the other networks. I'd like us to continue along in that vein."

very interesting!! maybe a black character should be in a co-lead role in any spin-off. that would be super cool!! buffy could make some appearances in season 8 as the wife of a minority. i would love it!! more buffy!!!

"Let's NOT fit into the demographic. WWE is so fake! I believe the demons on Buffy are more real than the wrestlers on there"

i agree the wrestling is fake, but triple H in those tights is sooo hottttt!! hehe

They better becareful. Their just going to end up ruining the show. The show is called Buffy the Vampire Slayer for a reason. You can't do Buffy, without Buffy. If Sarah is leaving, let her take the show with her. They can always do tv specials where buffy comes back with the gang.