The Sad, Sad Legacy of UPN & WB

Now that both UPN and WB are winding themselves
down into extinction, the question that should be
asked is: were they even worth being on the air over
the last 11 years? Going over all their lineups, I've

hancock4...

That's a business question for the owners to decide. It's not easy to
evaluate since both networks had multiple goals: 1) Make money in
their own right from commercials and product promotions; and 2) provide
an outlet for shows the owners made so as to make future money off of
them in syndication. Others may know of additional business goals.

only been able to come across 7 UPN shows and 7
WB shows that were of any kind of worth or appeal
in creative or entertaining terms. To come up with

hancock4...

The profit or loss of any individual show must be evaluated in concert
with other factors per above. In addition, a show could serve as a
"loss leader", that is, bringing in viewers to the network so they'll
watch other shows.

The "creative and entertainment" value of a show counts only towards
its ability to bring in desirable viewers for the sale of ad time.
Positive publicity from critics is nice, but it matters only when it
draws in viewers. Critics loved B/VS and VM but ratings were weak and
inadequate to pay for the shows over the long haul.

As to your personal opinions about various shows, remember that this is
broadcast TV and a _mass medium_; the goal remains to attract the most
number of viewers possible, hopefully within the desired demographic.

only 14 shows - and not even great ones at that - out
of the nearly 180 both networks produced, by my
quick count, makes one feel that the networks
wouldn't've been missed at all if they had never aired.
Anyway, these are the best 14 the two seemed to
have come up with in all the time they've been on,
along with their debut years and grades - and I'm
being pretty liberal with some of the grades, too:

UPN
1995 Star Trek Voyager - C+
1998 Seven Days - B
2000 Level 9 - B-
2001 All Souls - C+
2002 The Twilight Zone - B-
2002 Haunted - B+
2005 Everybody Hates Chris - C+

Laddy...

You left out:
Veronica Mars A+
Special Unit A-
Kevin Hill B-

WB
1997 Buffy the Vampire Slayer - B-
1997 Alright Already - B+
1999 Popular - B+
2000 Nikki [1st season only] - B

Captain Infinity...

What are you, blind? Nikki is definitely 2 C's, if not D's.

**
Captain Infinity

Ken from Chicago...

That is just not right. Hang your head in shame.

2004 The Help - C+
2005 Living with Fran - B
2006 Modern Men - B-

Laddy...

You left out:
Angel B-
Roswell B+
Smallville B
Everwood B-
Supernatural B

videonovels...

.

I'm not sure why, but you missed quite a few good shows. Like Buffy's
spinoff Angel. And also Enterprise (all good except season 3). And
Gilmore Girls which is funny to watch. Ditto Veronica Mars.

I'm not surprised you didn't like GG or VM given your tastes, but how
could you leave off Angel???

Major ChrisB...

WB had Buffy and Angel and Charmed which were all good shows, Buffy is
certainly an A and Angel i would give an A- to. Charmed had its ups and
down but maintained a huge fanbase...UPN had buffy too during my favourite
seasons and I didn't realise Seven Days was on UPN but that was probably the
best time travel show since Quantum Leap.

Not an A show in the bunch. I guess it can also be
naturally assumed by that "Best 14" that everything
else is pretty well graded at D or less. What a waste
of two networks it's been.

Ken from Chicago...

Your judgement is way suspect if you're grading LEVEL 9 and HAUNTED over
EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS--and totally omitted VERONICA MARS, ANGEL, GILMORE
GIRLS, EVERWOOD--but you have LIVING WITH FRAN and MODERN MEN and NIKKI on
the list.

Larry Smith...

I like the CHRIS show. I'd give it an A or A- easy.

Ian Galbraith...

Networks that have produced Buffy, Angel and Veronica Mars have not been a
waste.