Television
May 7, 2002
The WB Gets A Jump On The Upfront
(May 7, 2002 – Burbank, CA) - In an unprecedented move, The WB Network has officially picked up a series, “EVERWOOD,” for the coming fall season more than a week before its upfront announcement, it was announced today by Jordan Levin, President, Entertainment of The WB. The network will announce its entire fall schedule on Tuesday, May 14 at the Sheraton New York.
“I am so passionate about this pilot and see so many time periods where it could do well for us that I wanted to continue the momentum of this project,” said Mr. Levin, who said the decision to pick up the series came shortly after screening the pilot in a rough-cut form. “Everyone who has watched it so far has been moved by the storytelling and the resonant theme of an estranged father trying to build a relationship with his teenage son by choosing his family over his career.”
“EVERWOOD” joins an illustrious group of hit dramas The WB has launched in its seven-year history including “7TH HEAVEN,” “GILMORE GIRLS,” “SMALLVILLE,” “DAWSON’S CREEK,” “FELICITY,” “CHARMED,” “BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER” and “ANGEL.”
The WB is enjoying a strong second half of the season with its New Tuesday of “GILMORE GIRLS,” the fastest-growing show on television, and “SMALLVILLE,” the breakout drama hit of the season. The network has also established itself as a destination for young women and female teens on Friday nights, led by new comedy hit “REBA.”
“Despite letting our third-highest-rated show go, we have maintained our audience from a year ago,” Mr. Levin said. “This is a tremendous accomplishment and, coupled with one of our strongest development seasons ever, puts us in an excellent position coming into next season.”
The WB is building momentum this season as the current May sweep is outperforming the February sweep in all 12-34 and 18-34 demos as well households and total viewers.
The WB’s regularly scheduled programming is on pace with the previous season in the networks target demos of persons 12-34 and adults 18-34, despite the departure of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
“EVERWOOD” is the story of world-renowned brain surgeon Dr. Andrew Brown (Williams, "The Late Shift," "Hair"), whose life changes forever after his wife dies. He uncharacteristically packs up his two kids, 9-year-old Delia (Vivien Cardone, "A Beautiful Mind") and 15-year-old Ephram (Gregory Smith, "The Patriot"), leaving glamorous Manhattan and his prosperous medical practice for the gorgeous snowy vistas of the Rocky Mountains to settle in the idyllic small town of Everwood, Colorado. There he becomes a small-town doctor, offering his services for free. Tom Amandes ("Brokedown Palace"), Debra Mooney ("Domestic Disturbance"), Chris Pratt, Emily VanCamp ("Glory Days") and John Beasley ("Brewster Place") also star. The series is from executive producers Greg Berlanti ("Dawson's Creek") and Mickey Liddell ("Go") and directed by Mark Piznarski ("Once & Again," "Relativity"), "Everwood" is produced by Warner Bros. Television. # # #