TVSquad

Even before I caught Twilight on the big screen, I was comparing it to Roswell, the great teen sci-fi/romance series that aired on The WB (and later The CW UPN) from 1999-2002. The Twilight ads and trailers seemed to tell the same story Roswell told more than nine years ago: A sensitive girl is saved by a supernatural hunk who makes it his mission to protect her at all costs. The two fall in love, but the relationship is complicated by his other-worldly circumstances.

It's not exactly the most original story in the world. This sort of thing goes back to Bram Stoker's Dracula, (and probably further back than that). Still, after watching Twilight, I was a bit shocked by its similarities to Roswell, especially since Roswell wasn't half as popular as Twilight. I haven't read the Twilight or Roswell book series, so I can't tell you if the similarities persist in print (but my friend Stephanie can). I can only compare the big screen and TV versions.

From major plot points to character motivations, these two franchises have a lot in common, but one clearly stands above the other. Let's compare, and you'll see what I mean:

Okay, I'm a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, but not a normal one. I've read all the comic books for both properties and seen the original movie that launched the phenomenon about three times over the years. And yet, for some reason I've never seen a full episode of either show.

When Buffy first came out, I lived in a city that didn't have The WB. And by the time it was available to me I was already several years behind, and I hate coming into the middle of something. Then, for whatever reason, it has remained on my "to do" list over the years.

So where does that leave me for the Retro Squad Buffy/Angel week? I want to participate, but in a way I'm a newbie to the show. So how about you guys tell me a good episode to immerse myself into the world of the Buffy-verse? In fact, maybe one from each show? I'm hearing from the Squad that 'Hush' is a good candidate.

I know, I know -- a lot of you are shrugging and saying "so?"

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that if ratings don't improve for the last place network, buzz is that The CW could actually vanish next year. Ratings in the 18-49 demographic are down 28%, and the ratings for the May sweeps are down 22%. I guess Gossip Girl just isn't enough to prop up an entire network, and they just lost Friday Night Smackdown, not to mention that Smallville, Supernatural, and Reaper are probably going into their last seasons.

The coffee at Luke's Diner is perking again. Well, sort of. The WB television network is being resurrected it as a new web site. The WB, tentatively called wb.com, will offer free streaming episodes of Gilmore Girls, Everwood and What I Like About You, to start.

Those are all shows that were WB-produced during 1995-2006, before the WB merged with UPN to become the CW. It has yet to be determined if other series, including Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Felicity and Dawson's Creek are slated for the wb.com stream. Like other online streaming venues that allow people to watch for free, the shows will be paid for by ads. In addition to the shows, the site is also going to create new, short (approximately five minute) vignettes targeting the old WB audience, primarily women 12-34.

What's happening on other blogs via the interweb.

• FOX gives JJ Abrams $10 million to make a sci-fi pilot for the network titled Fringe.
• There are 26 crime dramas on TV right now. Radar helps you pick which one to watch.
• Jerry Seinfeld gives 30 Rock a slight ratings boost.
• Something Old, Something News has video of the classic SCTV parody The Cisco Kid.
• More evidence that Jimmy Fallon will take over Conan's spot in 2009.
• Oh, this is funny. Remember I told you about the hot women of Fox Business Network? They've changed the site!
• Hey, remember UPN and The WB? Ah, the olden days.

I am about to do something that is against all of my beliefs: I am going to give The CW network some credit. Not for the way they have handled their first season on the air, because it frankly stunk. I'm going to give them credit for keeping the Saturday morning block of cartoons that used to air on the WB, aptly named Kids' WB!, after that network and UPN merged to become one. Not only did they keep it but they added new programs such as Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue that have become favorites.

Now, they are about to add another animated program that will probably become an instant favorite. According to Betsy McGowen, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Kids' WB!, a new Spider-Man cartoon will be gracing Saturday morning television screens in early 2008. Titled Spectacular Spider-Man, the series will focus on a 16-year-old Peter Parker has he juggles his new role as super-hero with the daily pressures of teenage life. The series will be produced by Culver Entertainment, a division of Sony Pictures Television.

(Part 5 of 5) In the winter of 2006 CBS and Warner Brothers got together to create a new 5th network . . . The CW. You read right, I said 5th network. That's probably confusing you right now since you thought there were six major broadcast networks on the air last winter: ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, WB, UPN. Yes, that's true, but The CW was to do something unique to make it the 5th network. It was going to combine the programming of both the WB and UPN, eliminating those networks completely.

It sounded like a good idea at first. Take the best programming from both WB and UPN and put it on one network. No more jumping between the two networks to find the show you wanted to watch. No more confusion as to whether Veronica Mars was on WB or UPN. Plus, there was elimination of much of the mediocre crap that filled their weeknight schedules.

Like I said, it sounded like a good idea.

Whether you think the whole shorter mystery arc is working for Veronica Mars or not, the CW has ordered three more scripts of the cult fav. Also eluding the chopping block this week is soapy One Tree Hill, which also received a three script order.

I'd love to see Veronica Mars stick around so long as it doesn't head down that strange, slow death path that took the life out of Alias when the creators were pressured to make its twisty plotlines more accessible to newcomers. It's hard for me to care about the continuation of One Tree Hill only because I'm old and do not understand the ways of these so-called teenagers -- at least teenagers who aren't also noirish super sleuths. It's great news for the fans, however, who couldn't even be sure they'd see their favorite shows back post-WB and UPN merger.

Now we'll just have to keep our eye on the Gilmore Girls to see whether The CW will issue a mercy killing on behalf of Team Palladino.

If you were a fan of the UPN series One on One and bummed it didn't make the transition to The CW, here's a bit of good news for you. Starting on October 27, teen network The N will begin airing reruns of the defunct UPN series which focused on Breanna Barnes (Kyla Pratt), who lives with her father after her parents divorce. The series will premiere on The N as part of the "Fresh One Weekend," which will also include episodes of Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Twelve One on One episodes will air back to back starting at 6 pm. The series will then fall into its regular timeslot Monday through Thursday with two back to back episodes airing at 7 and 11 pm starting on October 30.

There were 156 TV shows on this season. It's no surprise that American Idol was #1 (and, actually, #2), but I was kinda surprised Veronica Mars was waaaaaaaay down at 145. Sure, I knew all the worst rated shows would be on the WB and UPN, but I thought Veronica Mars would be up higher than that. But it's coming back, whereas Everwood (#130) and Heist (#96) have both been canceled.

The top 10 are fairly predictable (Idol, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, CSI, etc), but it's cool to see exactly where your favorite show stands in the grand scheme of things.

Surface was #53, ahead of Prison Break, The Simpsons, America's Funniest Home Videos, Bones, and The Office, all of which are returning.

[via TV Tattle]

Last week it was announced that The CW had passed on Aquaman, but now it looks like, officially, it's not dead yet. It is still in contention as a mid-season replacement. The superhero show is from the Smallville people, and many thought the show was a shoo-in to make the fall schedule.

And for those of you who were ticked that Reba had been canceled, it too might come back mid-season. So I guess all you Reba/Aquaman fans (can't wait for that crossover episode) will have just pray that one of the new shows does really badly.

There's been no official word yet (ABC unveils its new fall schedule this Tuesday), but SyFy Portal is reporting that they have heard from inside sources that Invasion will not be renewed by ABC and that the new CW network might be interested in picking it up. I wonder if this would have any effect on Supernatrual or Smallville. Nah, I'm sure there's more than enough room on the network for all three.

Whatever happens, if it turns out that Invasion sticks around for another year and Surface doesn't, I'll be pissed.

From the many e-mails and comments we've gotten here at TV Squad, we know that you really want to see Veronica Mars be one of the shows that survives the merger of UPN and the WB into the CW. Many are worried, the show won't be renewed, but not star Kristen Bell:

"We've gotten phone calls and optimism from the people that we need to get it from [CW President of Enertainment] Dawn Ostroff and Les Moonves have been very involved, saying 'don't worry.' They have never hidden their support."

It looks like Love Monkey, which was yanked off of the CBS Tuesday night schedule after only three episodes, is really and truly dead, according to E! Online.

According to the Watch With Kristin column the potential talks with UPN and then the CW did not pan out. In addition, it seems that the lead Love Monkey, Tom Cavanagh, is up for a new pilot, while Larenz Tate, who played Shooter, will be starring with Joe Pantoliano in a new CBS drama series called Waterfront.

With Pantoliano's luck in television lately (the cancelled CBS dramas Dr. Vegas, and The Handler) Mr. Tate may be looking for another series sooner than he thinks.

Product Invasion, the Web site created by members of the Writers Guild of America (West) that pokes fun at the surfeit of product placement in reality programming has yet another video up on their site, this time taking more than a few potshots at America's Next Top Model and its use of product placement. But then, these are "models" aren't they? Isn't their job to serve as spokespeople for corporate products? I'm just saying. Anyway, check out the video here. I know the phrase "I can poop it out, Tyra" is going to be in my head the rest of the day.