UPN hopes big names broaden its appeal

UPN, seeking to increase the momentum established by its freshman comedies “All of Us” and “Eve,” and its unscripted series “America’s Next Top Model,” is developing projects with several major stars including Mel Gibson, Queen Latifah, Kate Hudson, Samuel L. Jackson and Lisa Kudrow.

Leslie Moonves, chairman of CBS, which oversees UPN, and Dawn Ostroff, UPN entertainment president, on Sunday told a gathering of national television writers in Hollywood that they were pleased with UPN’s progress in establishing credibility with A-list talent and producers. They expressed confidence the network’s appeal could broaden beyond its core audience of African Americans.

“This is a slow process,” said Moonves. “It doesn’t happen overnight.”

The executives hope to create more audience flow throughout the week, particularly on Wednesdays, where “Enterprise” and “Jake 2.0” have struggled, leaving the future of both series up in the air.

Still, Moonves said he was encouraged by the diverse appeal of “Eve,” which stars rapper Eve, “All of Us,” which is executive-produced by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, and “America’s Next Top Model,” which is executive-produced by supermodel Tyra Banks. All three shows have been renewed for next season.

Ostroff said she was optimistic about two upcoming unscripted shows: “The Player,” a dating show described as a competition to find “America’s smoothest operator,” and an untitled project focusing on a group of young Amish adults experiencing the religious coming-of-age experience known as rumspringa.

During the rite of passage, young Amish men and women leave their community to explore the outside world and determine whether they want to join the Amish church.

The working title of that show, Ostroff joked, is “Amish in the City.” The series would follow five Amish youths as they come to a major city and live in a house with five “mainstream” adults.

Also planned for midseason is “Game Over,” which executives said is prime time’s first CGI-animated comedy. The series revolves around a family of videogame characters and their everyday life away from the game.

Responding to reports that the producers and cast of “Girlfriends” were unhappy with what they characterized as a lack of promotional support, Moonves said: “There isn’t a show on the air that doesn’t want more promotion.”