Network wannabe UPN will be adding to the comedy glut in the fall, announcing a three-night, six-hour schedule that's 50 percent sitcoms.
The mini-network increases its sitcom quotient from two to six, adds five new shows and one NBC castoff, and moves its most popular program - "Star Trek: Voyager" - from Mondays to Wednesdays.The United Paramount Network's latest strategy is obvious - it's an attempt to attract urban viewers. All six of its sitcoms are populated with largely (or entirely) black casts.
Whether this emphasis on urban audiences will do local UPN affiliate KJZZ-Ch. 14 much good is questionable, to say the least.
Among the urban comedies is "In the House," the low-rated sitcom headlined by L.L. Cool J that NBC canceled earlier in the week.
Of the nine shows on UPN's fall schedule, only three are holdovers from this season - "Moesha," "The Sentinel" and "Voyager." And only one of the six shows added to the slate is a drama.
Here's a quick look at UPN's new shows:
The Burning Zone (Tuesdays, 8 p.m.) is a one-hour drama about a team of leading virologists and scientists who battle viruses before they get out of control and turn various areas of the world in "The Burning Zone."
Goode Behavior (Mondays, 8 p.m.) stars Sherman Hemsley ("The Jeffersons") and Dorien Wilson as a father and son. The father is a newly paroled con artist who arrives without warning on his son's doorstep, where he must serve out his probation under house arrest.
Homeboys in Outer Space (Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m.) is a futuristic sitcom set in the 23rd century about two "homeboys" who "spend their days hopping from one galaxy to another in their Space Hoopty" picking up odd jobs and encountering "hot space babes." Really.
Malcolm & Eddie (Mondays, 7:30 p.m.) stars Malcolm-Jamal Warner ("Cosby") and stand-up comedian Eddie Griffin as "unlikely roommates" who share an apartment over the neighborhood bar.
Sparks, Sparks and Sparks (Mondays, 8:30 p.m.) is an ensemble comedy set in a walk-in law firm in inner-city Los Angeles. It's managed by two very different brothers who share only one thing - "their mutual desire for the firm's new associate, beautiful Stanford Law graduate. James Avery ("Fresh Prince") and Robin Givens star.
Perhaps the only mild surprise among UPN's cancellations is "Nowhere Man." Other shows getting the ax are "Minor Adjustments," "Paranormal Borderline" and "Swift Justice."
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
UPN's fall schedule
New shows are listed in bold. Returning shows in new time slots are indicated by an asterisk (*).
MONDAY
In the House* 7 p.m.
Malcolm & Eddie 7:30 p.m.
Goode Behavior 8 p.m.
Sparks & Sparks 8:30 p.m.
TUESDAY
Moesha 7 p.m.
Homeboys in Space 7:30 p.m.
The Burning Zone 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
The Sentinel 8 p.m.
Star Trek: Voyager* 9 p.m.