The WB’s Primetime Season Kicks Off Friday, September 14 As “Sabrina, The Teenage Witch” Is Joined By Three New Comedies – “Maybe It’s Me,” “Reba” And “Raising Dad”

(August 10, 2001 – Burbank, CA) — The WB Television Network announced its premiere schedule for the 2001-02 broadcast season beginning with the debut of a line-up of Friday night comedies on September 14 and culminating with the much-anticipated debut of “SMALLVILLE” on October 16. The staggered rollout will also include the new comedies “MAYBE IT’S ME”; “REBA”; “MEN, WOMEN & DOGS”; “OFF CENTRE” and “RAISING DAD,” and new reality series “LOST IN THE USA” and “ELIMIDATE DELUXE.” Highlights of the premiere season are special events for “CHARMED” and “GILMORE GIRLS.” On Thursday, September 27, “CHARMED” will make its season debut with a two-hour special and a new series regular, screen siren Rose McGowan (“Scream”), joining Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs as The Charmed Ones. The sophomore series “GILMORE GIRLS,” which last month was named television’s best new series by the Television Critics Association, will bow on Tuesday, October 9 with a special two-hour event as well. Each night that The WB broadcasts is anchored at 8:00 p.m. ET with a veteran series: “7TH HEAVEN” on Monday, “GILMORE GIRLS” on Tuesday, “DAWSON’S CREEK” on Wednesday, “POPSTARS 2” on Thursday, “SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH” on Friday and “THE STEVE HARVEY SHOW” on Sunday. This strategy provides the stability necessary to aggressively premiere eight new shows during the fall. The WB will get an early start on the fall season, kicking off on Friday, September 14 with a revamped all-comedy line-up that features three new series to complement returning veteran “SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH” at 8:00-8:30 p.m. ET. Following “SABRINA” is the single-camera comedy from Suzanne Martin (“Frasier”) “MAYBE IT’S ME” at 8:30-9:00 p.m. ET, which stars newcomer Reagan Dale Neis as a teenager stuck in a wacky family, with Fred Willard (“Best in Show”) and Julia Sweeney (“Saturday Night Live”) starring as her parents. Country music legend and recent Broadway sensation Reba McEntire brings her star to The WB at 9:00-9:30 p.m. ET with her new eponymous comedy “REBA.” “RAISING DAD,” a family-friendly comedy starring Bob Saget from Jonathan Katz (“Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist), caps off the night at 9:30-10:00 p.m. ET. The following week will see the season premiere of The WB’s acclaimed family drama and highest-rated show, “7TH HEAVEN,” on Monday, September 24 in its familiar 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET time slot. The action-adventure franchise “ANGEL” (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET), follows “7th HEAVEN,” moving from its previous Tuesday night berth. The rollout continues on Sunday, September 30 with the network’s new reality series that hits the open road, “LOST IN THE USA” (7:00-8:00 p.m. ET) from Bunim/Murray (“The Real World”). “LOST IN THE USA” will be one of three reality shows to air in the time period throughout the season. The second will be the outdoor adventure series “NO BOUNDARIES,” debuting this winter. The third series will be announced at a later date. The Wednesday combination of “DAWSON’S CREEK” (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) and “FELICITY” (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET), which enjoyed both a creative and ratings resurgence last season, begin their second season as a pair on Wednesday, October 3. Freshman series “GLORY DAYS,” from ‘Dawson’s’ creator Kevin Williamson, will debut in January at 9:00 p.m., replacing “FELICITY,” which will return to finish the season. This strategy was a success last year in the time slot and again delivers an all-original, repeat-free hour on Wednesdays at 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET. On Thursday, October 4, “POPSTARS 2” begins its search for the next “it” group with a special one-hour premiere episode (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET). This new incarnation combines both guys and girls on the road to pop superstardom. The Thursday roll out concludes on Thursday, October 11 when the new reality-based “ELIMIDATE DELUXE” begins its matchmaking ways at 8:30-9:00 p.m. ET. The WB’s Sunday comedies begin their season on October 7 as NAACP Image Award winner “THE STEVE HARVEY SHOW” (8:00-8:30 p.m. ET) is followed by new relationship series “MEN, WOMEN & DOGS” (8:30-9:00 p.m. ET), which stars Bill Bellamy and was created by Emmy-nominated writers Dan Staley and Rob Long (“Cheers”). Sophomore comedy “NIKKI” (9:00-9:30 p.m. ET) then leads into “OFF CENTRE” (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET), a bawdy new comedy from brothers Chris and Paul Weitz (“American Pie”). After the special two-hour “GILMORE GIRLS” premiere on Tuesday, October 9, The WB’s “New Tuesday” will officially launch on Tuesday, October 16 with the debut of “SMALLVILLE,” an exciting new action series chronicling a teenage Clark Kent’s coming of age in a small Midwestern town, at 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET. # # #