The WB Sweeps Into February

(January 25, 2001 – Burbank, CA) — On the heels of record-breaking fall ratings, The WB Network will roll out a line-up of not-to-be-missed original episodes and primetime specials during February sweeps. The WB’s biggest sweeps news will be revealed on Friday, February 16, when in a special one-hour episode of “POPSTARS” (8:30-9:30 p.m. ET), the five women are finally chosen from the thousands that auditioned. As the drama unfolds, it’s not just the popstar-wannabes that are in for a surprise, but the judges must grapple with new developments. The episode will be followed by “GROSSE POINTE” (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET) airing on a special night and featuring a provocative guest-starring appearance by Sarah Michelle Gellar (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”). The Darren Star comedy “GROSSE POINTE” (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET) boasts a bevy of other guest stars this February playing themselves in surprising predicaments, including Kristin Davis (“Sex and the City”) as a strip club madam on Sunday, February 4; Jason Priestley (“Beverly Hills, 90210”) as a sex addict on Sunday, February 11; and Elizabeth Berkley (“First Wives Club”) and Dweezil Zappa as members of a bizarre wedding party in the season finale airing on Sunday, February 25. The WB’s long-running comedy “THE STEVE HARVEY SHOW” celebrates its 100th episode on Sunday, February 4 (8:00-8:30 p.m. ET), featuring a performance by Steve Harvey with platinum-selling 13-year-old rap artist Lil’ Bow Wow and Ron Isley of The Isley Brothers (“It’s Your Thing”). The big news on “7th HEAVEN” is the return of Mary (Jessica Biel) back into the Camden fold on Monday, February 19 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) when she convinces her parents that she is ready for a visit home, but underhanded plans are afoot. The drama continues at 9:00 p.m. with “ROSWELL,” which airs the dramatic conclusion to the four-episode story arc in which the aliens find out about their human origins. “DAWSON’S CREEK” features a memorable guest appearance by television icon Andy Griffith on Wednesday, February 7 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET) in an episode that also marks a major decision for the next stage of Joey (Katie Holmes) and Pacey’s (Joshua Jackson) love affair. Storylines that have been developing throughout the season will come to a dramatic head this month, such as not-to-be-missed episodes of “BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER” (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) in which Dawn discovers she is The Key on Tuesday, February 6 and Spike (James Marsters) professes his true love to Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) on Tuesday, February 13. “BUFFY’s” Tuesday night companion, “ANGEL” (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET), delivers a memorable two-part story airing on Tuesday, February 20 and 27 in which Angel (David Boreanaz) succumbs to Darla’s (Julie Benz) wiles but his descent into darkness ultimately drives him back to his crew who he finds may not want him back. Romance is alive on The WB in February with the primetime special “KISS THE BRIDE: THE ULTIMATE VALENTINE” airing on Monday, February 12 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET). Hosted by Chuck Woolery (“Love Connection”), “KISS THE BRIDE” blends the romance of surprise, large-scale marriage proposals with the fast-paced competition of a game show. Special Valentine’s episodes are also scheduled of “SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH” on Friday, February 9 (8:00-8:30 p.m. ET), the sketch comedy show “HYPE” on Sunday, February 11 (8:30-9:00 p.m. ET) and “7th HEAVEN” on Monday, February 12 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET). Another primetime special airing in February is “TEEN PEOPLE’S 20 TEENS WHO WILL CHANGE THE WORLD” on Friday, February 9 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET). Profiling well-known faces like tennis superstar Serena Williams, music sensation Mandy Moore and acclaimed actress Kirsten Dunst, the special also introduces non-celebrity teens who are trying to fight global warming, the death penalty and unfair treatment of gays. Emmy Award nominee Lisa Ling (“The View”) hosts the special. For the first two weeks of sweeps, the critically acclaimed drama “GILMORE GIRLS” will be pre-empted on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET while “Survivor” and “Friends” battle to the finish for viewers -- a bonus episode of “CHARMED” will air in the timeslot. On Thursday, February 15, “GILMORE GIRLS” returns with a new episode featuring a guest appearance and performance by musical group The Bangles. The “foamation” animated comedy “THE PJs,” which first premiered on The WB last September, will debut all new episodes beginning on Sunday, February 4 (7:30-8:00 p.m. ET). There will be compelling new episodes of all the series on The WB, with additional one-hour series highlights: WCW wrestlers Slammer, Thunder and Mega-Man guest-star on “CHARMED” on Thursday, February 1 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET) when the Charmed Ones risk their lives in an underground wrestling ring to save the soul of an innocent. Thursday, February 22 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET) marks the day of Piper’s (Holly Marie Combs) wedding but Prue’s (Shannen Doherty) wild late-night escapades may wreck the big day. On “POPULAR,” Mary Cherry (Leslie Grossman) loses all her money and Brooke (Leslie Bibb) puts the moves on Harrison (Christopher Gorham) on Friday, February 2 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET); and Jack (Amanda Peet) and Jill (Ivan Sergei) move in together on “JACK & JILL” on Wednesday, February 7 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET). Half-hour comedy series highlights include a guest-starring appearance by wrestler Randy “Macho Man” Savage on “NIKKI” on Sunday, February 11 (9:00-9:30 p.m. ET); Frankie Avalon and pop singer Aaron Carter on “SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH” on Friday, February 23 (8:00-8:30 p.m. ET); and all-new episodes of the sketch comedy show "HYPE" (Sundays, 8:30-9:00 p.m. ET), which airs its season finale on Sunday, February 25. # # #