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View Full Version : Breaking: UPN chucking degrading WWE Smackdown!!


HereticPB
01-27-2005, 03:26 AM
SAD NEWS: UPN won't be bringing another installment of "Amish in the City" into your living room.
In fact, the network that blazed new trails in questionable taste from "Homeboys in Outer Space" to primetime wrestling — not to mention exploiting the religious beliefs of the Amish — offered a relatively tame presentation during the winter press tour.

That was in keeping with the news that UPN is going for respectability in the future, and in that future there's no room for senseless degrading of the Amish or for smackdowns.

That's right. There's only one year left on the contract for World Wrestling Federation's "Smackdown!" and the network has decided to let it go.

"It still makes us a decent amount of money," says Leslie Moonves, co-president and co-chief operating office for Viacom, which owns both CBS and UPN. "When you think about the powerhouses of CBS and NBC on Thursday night, it's great counter-programming. (But) it doesn't fit into the overall (programming) strategy."

That strategy includes getting more women to watch UPN by putting on series such as last fall's "Veronica Mars" and "Kevin Hill" and the midseason replacement "The Bad Girl's Guide."

The network is also keeping African-American programming as a key part of its goals.

"There's no question we've been very successful in African-American programming, and we will continue to do that," Moonves said. "We want shows that appeal not only to African Americans, but to everyone."

To that end, the other midseason replacement series will be "Cuts," which is sort of a "Barbershop" comedy.

The fall comedy "The Second Time Around" has been shelved for a while, and the veteran series "Half & Half" will come back in the 9:30 p.m. time slot.

And while neither Moonves nor UPN Entertainment President Dawn Ostroff would come right out and say it, each hinted that this could be the final season for the latest "Star Trek" franchise, "Enterprise."

"The last movie didn't do very well, and the series is struggling," Moonves said. "No decision has been made (yet about canceling the series)."

Yet somehow we believe UPN will be boldly going on without what was once the network's flagship property.

The future of the promising "Veronica Mars" is still murky, with the network looking for a "little bump" in the ratings. Here's yet another plea to give this great show a peek if you haven't already.

Source: (http://www.insidebayarea.com/searchresults/ci_2532085)

What a dumbass big big big mistake! I wonder if they will sling it to SpikeTV the supposed man channel?

Of course with alternate news of WWE possibly going to another channel after there contract expires probably back to the USA Network. But first the ratings have to improve to make a better deal and supposedly Vince is on it being more involved with the production of the Shows.

Michael
01-27-2005, 03:54 AM
LOL, I think upn just wanted to get rid of the show because they think it's gonna go downhill even faster then it is now.

Mach
01-27-2005, 03:59 AM
Lifetime, WE, Oxygen, and now UPN? Geez, we only have a so-so Spike.

HereticPB
01-27-2005, 04:32 AM
Mach Don't forget Lifetime Movie Network and the Soap Opera Channel.

What do guys have? ESPN, Fox Sports, and Spike. Scary

I see a problem though. It says degrading Smackdown which means they don't like it. Which in turn would mean that sooner or later Raw will get the same treatment and WWE will more than likely go towards USA Network as I stated. USA Network is going to arrange their channel to a Guy channel. Which will leave Spike TV as a weak attempt at making a channel for guys. I believe it was Barry Dillard that let WWE then WWF do all kinds of crazy crap. He is no gone from USA.

Maybe I'm wrong? Somebody knows the info better than me.

I think what set UPN and the Moonves off was 2 weeks ago Joy Giovanni being, gagged and tied up and thrown in a trunk. Probably something about violence against Women.

Viacom is not doing so well. MTV Superbowl Janet Jackson Sunshine nipple, CBS forgeries, SpikeTV guy channel collapsing, Spongbob is gay, etc, etc.

C.J.
01-27-2005, 05:20 PM
http://forums.e-mpire.com/showthread.php?t=23500

HereticPB
01-27-2005, 11:56 PM
UPDATE: Smackdown not cancelled.

Despite rumors to the contrary, WWE Smackdown! is not about to be cancelled. Both UPN and WWE have stated that any rumors indicating that the show will be cancelled when its contract ends later this year are false. The story basically came to light after a reporter misinterpreted something but if it were indeed true, every major news and TV outlet would have already reported it.

wrestlingobserver.com

dork
01-28-2005, 07:15 AM
who gives a flying c0ck about wrestling! Save Enterprise!

HereticPB
01-28-2005, 07:51 AM
Enterprise sucked (excuse me sucks) majory donkey balls nothing will live up to the standards of ST and ST:NG.

disrupter006
01-28-2005, 11:20 PM
Just because its not being cancelled...doesnt mean it wont be moved to a different channel.