ABC Remains Undecided on the Future of ‘Ellen’

Although the network “couldn’t be more thrilled” with the program creatively, ABC has yet to decide whether to renew the controversial sitcom “Ellen” for next season, officials told a gathering of reporters in Pasadena Thursday.

The network--buffeted by criticism on a variety of fronts in recent months--also fielded questions about a dearth of minority characters in its prime-time lineup, its widely discussed “TV is Good” ad campaign, the controversial drama “Nothing Sacred” and what ripple effect, if any, NBC’s blockbuster renewal of “ER” will have on television.

Sources say “Ellen’s” namesake, Ellen DeGeneres, has pressed the network for early notification so she can make plans regarding either ending the series or charting its course through another season. But ABC Entertainment President Jamie Tarses said the network will wait and monitor the program’s ratings performance before making a decision. The networks announce their schedules for next fall in May.

“Ellen” has won critical praise since its star came out as a lesbian both on the show and in real life, but the ratings remain marginal, losing more than 20% of the audience that views the lead-in “The Drew Carey Show” during an average week.

Because third-place ABC has few desirable time periods in which to introduce new series, the network hasn’t ruled out temporarily resting “Ellen” in March, when ABC will try out a number of mid-season programs.

ABC has yet to air a “Nothing Sacred” episode featuring a gay priest dying of AIDS, with Tarses saying that particular show “hit some real hot buttons” but that it’s “likely it will turn up at some point.” Some Catholic groups have already objected to the series about a faith-questioning priest, though the show has won support in other corners.

The network also said it is actively developing programs featuring minority characters and is “profoundly aware” of a shortage in its current lineup, which ABC Entertainment Chairman Stu Bloomberg called an unintended function of the development process.

“You don’t set out and say, ‘I want an all-white schedule,’ ” he said.

According to Tarses, it’s premature to gauge ramifications of the “ER” deal, for which NBC agreed to pay an unprecedented $13 million per episode. She also said that ABC will continue its much-lampooned advertising campaign--featuring pithy slogans against a bright yellow backdrop--but that the format will continue to evolve.

“Anything that has generated the kind of attention and controversy this campaign has [must] be a good thing,” she said.

ABC has several specials planned for February to counter the Winter Olympics on CBS, including a two-hour tribute to actor Christopher Reeve, a four-hour history of Motown Records and “The Wedding,” a miniseries starring Halle Berry produced under the “Oprah Winfrey Presents” banner.

Bloomberg also said ABC will air more original programs this summer--a period when network ratings have swooned playing reruns against original cable programming. ABC will offer a one-hour series hosted by model Cindy Crawford, a game show and “Maximum Bob,” a quirky drama starring Beau Bridges produced by Barry Sonnenfeld, the director of “Men in Black.” The network follows Fox, which ran several new shows (without much success) last summer.