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[01/21/04 - 12:00 AM]
2004 Natpe Wrap-Up Report
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- The 41st Annual National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) conference wrapped on Tuesday in which syndicators peddled their programs to station managers from across the country.

Here's a breakdown of the latest news from the event, listed by series:

AMBUSH MAKEOVER (20th Television) - The national rollout of the makeover series kicked into full gear at the event as the series has now been cleared in 70% of the country beginning this fall. Several Fox owned-and-operated stations have been testing the series since last spring. New clearances include stations in San Francisco (KNTV-TV), Miami (WTVJ-TV), Indianapolis (WXIN-TV/FOX), Pittsburgh (WPGH-TV/FOX), San Diego (XETV-TV/FOX), Green Bay (WGBA-TV/NBC), Wichita (KAKE-TV/ABC) and Ft. Myers' (WINK-TV/CBS).

ANDROMEDA (Tribune) - The fifth and final season of the syndicated drama has been given a green light on more than 140 local stations covering 85% of the country. Among those renewing the series are the Tribune-owned stations in New York (WPIX), Los Angeles (KTLA), Chicago (WGN), Philadelphia (WPHL), Boston (WLVI) and Denver (KWGN). "Andromeda's" fifth season however will originate on Sci Fi Channel with local stations carrying the encore 7-10 days after its premiere on the cable network.

BOSTON PUBLIC (20th Television) - Local stations across the country will begin airing repeats of the series beginning this fall. Since no cable run deal is known to have been made for the series, it's not clear if the package is limited to weekends like most off-network dramas.

CELEBRITY JUSTICE (Warner Bros.) - The show's distributor has yet to reveal whether the series will return for the 2004-05 season.

THE CHRIS MATTHEWS SHOW (NBC Enterprises) - The "Hardball" host's syndicated offering has been cleared through 2005.

C.S.I.: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS Prods./Alliance Atlantis) - The top-rated drama will be available for weekend syndication beginning this fall. Cable channel Spike TV previously purchased the exclusive weekday rights to the series and will begin airing it five nights a week starting this fall. Currently Spike's deal is limited to a once a week play, much like A&E's for spin-off "C.S.I.: Miami" which begins this fall as well.

DIRTY LAUNDRY (Paramount) - No deals were mentioned as being made for the series, which would be based in an actual Laundromat in the Chelsea section of New York City. The show would then have people enter a "confessional" similar to those used in "The Real World" and "Big Brother" to share secrets and problems in their lives.

EBAY TV (Sony) - No clearance deals were announced for the series, which has been in the works for some time by Sony Pictures Television.

THE ENEMY WITHIN (Sony) - The Jay Thomas-hosted game show appears to be dead in the water as no deals were announced at NATPE. The quiz show has contestants answering questions, one of whom knows them all ahead of time. The other contestants then have to guess who is the "enemy within" and split the cash if they correctly identify him or her. If the "enemy" fools them though, he or she wins the cash.

FEAR FACTOR (NBC Enterprises) - The reality series is a go for a syndicated run beginning this fall. No specific clearance rate or major station clearances were announced however.

GILMORE GIRLS (Warner Bros.) - Warner Bros. didn't pitch the series to local stations, despite having sold the show's cable run to ABC Family for fall 2004.

GIRLFRIENDS (Paramount) - The veteran UPN comedy's off-network run has been cleared in 80% of the country beginning this fall. Viewers can also catch the series on cable's BET, also beginning this fall.

HOME DELIVERY (Universal) - The reality series jumped from a 40% to a 70% clearance rate over the course of the conference where it's expected to replace "The Sharon Osbourne Show" on Tribune-owned stations across the country beginning this fall, including WPIX-TV in New York, KTLA-TV in Los Angeles and WGN-TV in Chicago as well as eight of the top 10 and 13 of the top 20 markets.

HOT TICKET (Paramount) - The movie review show has been cleared for next season on stations covering 80% of the country.

HOT TOPICS (Litton Syndications) - The national launch of the WSB/Atlanta "Inside Edition"-esque series appears to have hit a stumbling block as no clearances were announced at NATPE. Kimberley Kennedy hosts the series, which is being pitched for late nights on weekends.

THE INSIDER (Paramount) - The "Entertainment Tonight" spin-off is now up to a 90% clearance rate, where it's being eyed as a replacement for the departing "Hollywood Squares."

THE JANE PAULEY SHOW (NBC Enterprises) - The "Dateline" anchor's talk show has been upped to 95% of the country, making it the most cleared new program of the 2004-05 season thus far. Beyond NBC owned-and-operated stations in 48 of the top 50 markets, NBCE added stations in San Antonio (KSAT), Erie (WJET) and Anchorage (KXD).

LIFE & STYLE (Sony) - Sony's version of "The View" didn't make a splash at NATPE meaning the series isn't expected to go forward. Jules Asner, Cynthia Garrett, Lynne Koplitz and Kimora Lee Simmons host the series which reviews trends and contemporary issues from a "younger perspective."

LIVING IT UP WITH ALI & JACK (King World) - Despite rumors of its impending death, King World reportedly will revamp the series for its second season. The new version plans to emphasize services and features and downplay the celebrity guest aspect. Like "Sharon Osbourne" however, the series might be shuffled away in favor of Warner Bros.' offerings from Steve Harvey and/or Larry Edler.

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE (20th Television) - "Malcolm" is a firm go for a syndicated run beginning this fall. In addition to the FOX owned-and-operated stations, the series has also been cleared on KBHK in San Francisco, KCPQ and KTWB in Seattle, WNPA in Pittsburgh, WXIN and WTTV in Indianapolis and WWHO in Columbus, Ohio.

MARTHA STEWART LIVING (King World) - Martha Stewart's legal troubles obviously are putting a dark cloud over the series, which has yet to be picked up for the 2004-05 season.

MUTANT X (Tribune) - The syndicated drama has been picked up for a fourth season, making it the only first-run drama series airing exclusively in syndication in the U.S. The series will continue on Tribune stations and other outlets in more than 140 markets, representing more than 85% of the country.

ON AIR WITH RYAN SEACREST (20th Television) - The "American Idol" host's talk show saw its clearance rate upped to 95% at NATPE.

THE OUTER LIMITS (MGM) - Despite being out of production, MGM was seen trying to clear repeats of the series through the 2004-05 season.

PAT CROCE: MOVING IN (Sony) - No clearances were announced for the series despite a splashy effort by Sony.

REAL PEOPLE (Tribune) - Producer George Schlatter is looking to update the 1979-84 NBC series for syndication beginning in fall 2005. The show would again focus on amusing and unusual slice-of-life stories. Schlatter and Phil Gurin ("The Weakest Link") are the executive producers of the new version, which is still in the early development state. Gurin however is hoping for a five night a week strip where it could be paired with sitcoms.

THE RICKI LAKE SHOW (Sony) - The show's future remains up in the air as host Ricki Lake is hard at work on a potential sitcom for CBS.

THE SHARON OSBOURNE SHOW (Warner Bros.) - Warner reps continued to deny that the show is on its way out in favor of separate talk shows fom comedian Steve Harvey and radio commentator Larry Elder. The company however reportedly pitched both projects to executives with the Tribune Broadcasting station group, among other major station groups.

SHE SPIES (MGM) - MGM is looking to clear the series for a third season however no official pick-up announcement was made.

SOUTH PARK (Debmar Studios) - Debmar Studios has quietly cleared the animated series on local stations covering 40% of the country for a September 2005 launch. Those clearances include eight of the top 10 markets where KCAL in Los Angeles, WPSG in Philadelphia, WSBK in Boston, KBHK in San Francisco and WCIU in Chicago have all signed on. The deal includes access to all 111 episodes produced so far of the series but 15 or so installments are expected to be kept out due to content issues. In addition, the remaining episodes will be edited to meet broadcast standards. The pacts are for four years beginning in September 2005 with an option for an additional year should Comedy Central renew the series beyond its ninth season.

STARGATE SG-1 (MGM) - The veteran sci-fi drama is expected to continue its syndicated run during the 2004-05 season.

STARTING OVER (NBC Enterprises) - The show's second season clearance rate has been upped to 55% of the country, with recent pick-ups coming from stations in Cincinnati (WXIX), Jacksonville (WTLV) and Kansas City (KMBC).

STREET SMARTS (Warner Bros.) - The show's distributor has yet to announce whether the series will return for fifth season.

THAT'S FUNNY (October Moon) - The Rondell Sheridan-hosted clip show didn't announce any clearances at NATPE however it's expected to roll out this fall.

THE TONY DANZA SHOW (Buena Vista) - Danza's talk show is now cleared in 45 percent of the country including WABC-TV in New York, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, KGO-TV in San Francisco, and WDIV-TV in Detroit.

THE TWILIGHT ZONE (New Line) - The short-lived UPN series' off-network run has been cleared in 91% of the country for a fall 2004 start date.

UNEXPLAINED MYSTERIES (Paramount) - Paramount announced the series will return for the 2004-05 season with clearances in 80% of the country.

UNTITLED LARRY ELDER & STEVE HARVEY PROJECTS (Warner Bros.) - The company reportedly is looking to launch talk shows this fall from both men as possible replacements for such struggling series as "Living It Up With Ali & Jack" and "The Sharon Osbourne Show." No official announcements were made however of any clearances.

UNTITLED LYNDA LOPEZ PROJECT (Sony) - The Jennifer Lopez-produced talk show appears to be dead in the water as no clearances were announced for the 2004-05 season.

YES, DEAR (20th Television) - The veteran comedy is expected to begin its syndicated run this fall however no clearance numbers were released.

PREVIOUS RENEWALS

TALK SHOWS: "Dr. Phil" (through 2005-06), "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," "Good Day Live," "The Jerry Springer Show,"* "Live With Regis & Kelly,"* "The Maury Povich Show,"* "The Montel Williams Show,"* "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (through 2007-08)

COURT SHOWS: "Divorce Court," "Judge Hatchett," "Judge Joe Brown" (through 2005-06), "Judge Judy" (through 2005-06), "Judge Mathis,"* "People's Court,"* "Texas Justice"

GAME SHOW/DATING SHOWS: "Blind Date,"* "Elimidate,"* "Ex-treme Dating,"* "Family Feud," "The 5th Wheel,"* "Jeopardy" (through 2006-07), "Wheel of Fortune" (through 2006-07), "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"*

NEWSMAGAZINES: "Access Hollywood,"* "Entertainment Tonight" (through 2009-10), "Extra,"* "Inside Edition"*

* denotes pick-up was confirmed at NATPE





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· ACCESS HOLLYWOOD (SYNDICATION)
· AMBUSH MAKEOVER (SYNDICATION)
· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)
· ANDROMEDA (SCI FI)
· BIG BROTHER (CBS)
· BLIND DATE (SYNDICATION)
· BOSTON PUBLIC (FOX)
· CELEBRITY JUSTICE (SYNDICATION)
· CHRIS MATTHEWS SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS)
· CSI: MIAMI (CBS)
· DATELINE NBC (NBC)
· DIRTY LAUNDRY (SYNDICATION)
· DIVORCE COURT (SYNDICATION)
· DR. PHIL (SYNDICATION)
· EBAY TV (SYNDICATION)
· ELIMIDATE (SYNDICATION)
· ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· ENEMY WITHIN, THE (SYNDICATION)
· ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT (SYNDICATION)
· EXTRA (SYNDICATION)
· EX-TREME DATING (SYNDICATION)
· FAMILY FEUD (SYNDICATION)
· FEAR FACTOR (MTV)
· FIFTH WHEEL, THE (SYNDICATION)
· GILMORE GIRLS (CW)
· GIRLFRIENDS (CW)
· GOOD DAY LIVE (SYNDICATION)
· HOLLYWOOD SQUARES (SYNDICATION)
· HOME DELIVERY (SYNDICATION)
· HOT TICKET (SYNDICATION)
· HOT TOPICS (SYNDICATION)
· INSIDE EDITION (SYNDICATION)
· INSIDER, THE (SYNDICATION)
· JANE PAULEY SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· JEOPARDY! (SYNDICATION)
· JERRY SPRINGER SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· JUDGE HATCHETT (SYNDICATION)
· JUDGE JOE BROWN (SYNDICATION)
· JUDGE JUDY (SYNDICATION)
· JUDGE MATHIS (SYNDICATION)
· LARRY ELDER SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· LIFE & STYLE (SYNDICATION)
· LIVE WITH KELLY AND MARK (SYNDICATION)
· LIVING IT UP! WITH ALI & JACK (SYNDICATION)
· MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE (FOX)
· MARTHA STEWART LIVING (SYNDICATION)
· MAURY (SYNDICATION)
· MONTEL WILLIAMS SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· MUTANT X (SYNDICATION)
· ON AIR WITH RYAN SEACREST (SYNDICATION)
· OPRAH WINFREY SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· OUTER LIMITS, THE (SCI FI)
· PAT CROCE: MOVING IN (SYNDICATION)
· PEOPLE'S COURT, THE (SYNDICATION)
· REAL PEOPLE (SYNDICATION)
· REAL WORLD, THE (FACEBOOK)
· RICKI LAKE (SYNDICATION)
· SHARON OSBOURNE SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· SHE SPIES (SYNDICATION)
· SOUTH PARK (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· STARGATE: SG-1 (SCI FI)
· STARTING OVER (SYNDICATION)
· STREET SMARTS (SYNDICATION)
· TEXAS JUSTICE (SYNDICATION)
· THAT'S FUNNY (SYNDICATION)
· TONY DANZA SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· TWILIGHT ZONE, THE (UPN)
· UNEXPLAINED MYSTERIES (SYNDICATION)
· UNTITLED LYNDA LOPEZ PROJECT (SYNDICATION)
· UNTITLED STEVE HARVEY PROJECT (SYNDICATION)
· WEAKEST LINK, THE (NBC)
· WHEEL OF FORTUNE (SYNDICATION)
· WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? (ABC)
· YES, DEAR (CBS)





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