"NewsRadio" will be off the air next fall on NBC

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Tuesday, May 18, 1999 6:18:51 PM EST

In this story: NBC: More 'Jesse,' no 'Homicide What ad buyers say ABC: New 'Spin' on Tuesday lineup CBS: Court not quite in session WB: More drama, every night Still under wraps RELATED STORIES, SITES

(CNN) -- Advertisers are getting a look this week at what the United States' major broadcast networks plan for their Fall 1999 lineups. In a series of announcements, defending ratings champ NBC has gone first with news of what it intends to add -- and ax.

The network has granted a reprieve to two sitcoms that had been in question -- "Jesse" and "Veronica's Closet." Others aren't so lucky. NBC has canceled "Caroline in the City," "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "NewsRadio."

"NewsRadio" has been critically well-received but plagued with low ratings, the shooting death of actor Phil Hartman and, most recently, Saturday's arrest in Los Angeles of actor Andy Dick on drunk-driving and drug-possession charges.

NBC is announcing five new dramas and two new comedies. Counting on the strength of "Law & Order," it's ordering a spinoff that's to depict particularly heinous crimes. The new show is to be titled "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Actors from the original show are expected to figure prominently in it.

INTERACTIVE:

Ready your remote! Check out the fall season TV lineup!

"ER" creator John Wells -- whose "Trinity" last year was a failure -- is adding two dramas to his workload. "The West Wing" is to star Martin Sheen as the President of the United States and Rob Lowe as a White House staffer. "Third Watch," à la "ER," is about rescue workers in New York City. That's scheduled to air on Sunday nights. NBC West Coast president Scott Sassa says he considers "Third Watch" the best series the network has to offer.

Citing a desire to replace "Homicide" with a show that might appeal more to women, NBC has chosen "Cold Feet" -- a comedy-drama about three couples in various stages of relationships.

The fifth drama, "Freaks and Geeks," is an hourlong show about two teen-age siblings at a suburban high school.

In comedy, NBC is picking up "The Mike O'Malley Show," the story of a 30-year-old bachelor who realizes his party days are about over. And "Stark Raving Mad," a series about a horror writer and his editor, is to be aired between "Frasier" and "ER" on Thursday nights.

NBC's hoping advertisers for new shows like "Freaks and Geeks" don't beat them up for their lunch money

NBC executives say stability is the key to their upcoming schedule. They say they're making few changes, in order to minimize confusion for viewers. It's something they can ill afford following a recent ratings downturn -- caused in part by the end of "Seinfeld."

While Madison Avenue insiders are withholding judgment on the lineup, some say they applaud the end of what they perceive as cookie-cutter comedies. Advertisers are looking for "concepts that are different, off the beaten path. We don't need to see anymore formulaic sitcoms," says Steve Grubbs, executive vice president of national broadcast buying for BBDO, a major advertising firm.

Some marketers also praise NBC for counter-programming in many slots, instead of directly taking on established competition. The only decision drawing sharp questions is the plan to put the new "Law & Order" spinoff on Mondays at 9 p.m.

"Who do they think is going to watch it (at that time)?" asked Stacey Lynn Koerner, vice president of broadcast research for TN media. "All the men will be watching football, and all the women will be watching 'Ally (McBeal)' (on FOX) or 'Safe Harbor' (on WB). Unless they're expecting to get an older crowd, I think it's a curious choice."

ABC has disowned "Brother's Keeper"

Stability isn't a catchword for ABC. Network executives are changing their 8 p.m. shows on six of seven nights.

To reinforce its Tuesday night lineup, the network has announced plans to replace "Home Improvement" -- which airs its last episode on May 25 -- with "Spin City." That's to be followed by "Dharma & Greg," then probably by "It's Like, You Know ..." and "Sports Night."

Wednesday nights are to feature "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place." "The Norm Show" and "Oh, Grow Up" are expected to follow.

ABC will make a foray into the Thursday night comedy business, putting the improvisational show "Whose Line Is It Anyway" in direct competition with NBC's "Friends." The new comedy "Then Came You" is to follow, as is "Wasteland," a new drama by Kevin Williamson, creator of WB's "Dawson's Creek."

Many Friday night shows didn't make the cut, including "Brother's Keeper," "Two of a Kind" and "Vengeance Unlimited." Friday's ABC lineup is likely instead to feature "Hughleys," "Boy Meets World," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," a new comedy titled "Odd Man Out" and the perennial "20/20."

David E. Kelley, producer of FOX's "Ally McBeal," has created a new detective drama called "Snoops." It's to do battle on Sundays at 9 p.m. with FOX's popular series "The X-Files."

In all, ABC has ordered two new comedies and three new dramas.

"The King of Queens" will still reign on CBS

It's three and three for CBS -- three new comedies, three new dramas -- for the Fall '99 season. And half those shows have themes that involve the legal professions. But the network doesn't plan to announce the order of its schedule until Wednesday.

On the humorous side, there's to be "Ladies' Man," a comedy about a lone guy in a house full of women. That one is to star Alfred Molina. CBS also has turned its eye favorably on "Love or Money," a story of a residential superintendent having an affair with the daughter of a wealthy family living in his building. The third new comedy being ordered is "Work with Me," starring Nancy Travis and Kevin Pollack as married lawyers who working together.

CBS's three new dramas are "Now and Again" -- the story of a man killed in an accident and given a new, younger body by the government; "Judging Amy," about a single mother and judge who moves back into her mother's house with her own daughter; and "Family Law," about an attorney's struggle to rebuild her law firm, after her husband leaves with all their clients.

Of the seven shows CBS ordered last fall, only two will return for a second season -- "Martial Law" and "King of Queens."

"Felicity"

WB's fall lineup strategy entails moving two dramatic series in their second seasons and adding a sixth night of programming on Fridays.

In September, "Felicity" is to shift to Sunday night and "Charmed" to Thursday. The network has ordered six new hourlong series -- one for every night of programming. The one that's to appear on Friday nights is an animated comedy called "The Downtowners."

"Roswell," "Angel," "Jack and Jill," "Safe Harbor" and "Popular" are the other five new series -- all dramas. WB picked up "Roswell" after FOX determine it won't have room for the show about high-school life. WB ordered a full season and plans to air it after "Dawson's Creek" on Wednesdays.

Shows that won't be coming back on WB in the fall include "Smart Guy," "Sister, Sister," "The Wayans Bros." and, perhaps aptly named, "Unhappily Ever After."

UPN isn't scheduled to reveal its lineup until Thursday. But it's been considering a plan to air a two-hour wrestling block on Thursday nights. The comedies "Mo'Nique" and "The Grown Ups" are said to be strong candidates for the network's lineup.

FOX still is working on its lineup. Possible show announcements are likely to involve "Get Real," "Manchester Prep," "Time of Your Life," "Harsh Realm," "Ryan Caufield" and "Action."

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.