BroadcashoggCable BROADCASTING Warner Bros. goes to court Syndicator is developing show with Detroit judge being developed as a half-hour, stand- alone series rather than as a companion By Joe Schlosser Brown, Judge Mills Lane and The Peo- to its People's Court, which is a full ple's Court) have all fared well in the hour. The People's Court, renewed on a Get ready for Judge Greg. Warner ratings so far this season. number of stations for next season as an Bros. Domestic Television exec- Sources say Warner Bros., the studio hourlong series, averaged a 2.5 rating utives have developed a new that originally brought The People's nationally in the latest Nielsen Media syndicated court series and are current- Court to syndication in the early '80s Research figures. ly out selling the show, which features and has the program back on stations "If I were Warner Bros., I would Detroit district court judge Greg Math- again, already has developed a pilot take this opportunity to shorten Peo- is. Sources say the show is being sold with Mathis. The syndicator put Math- ple's Court to a half -hour and pair the for a fall 1999 launch. is in front of the cameras this past sum- two together," says Dick Kurlander, With Twentieth Television's mer, using the set of Animal Planet's vice president and director of program- announced plans for a remake of new court show, Animal Court. Warner ming at Petry Television. "An hour is Divorce Court for next fall and Warn- Bros. executives, saying they have a too long. I would encourage them to er Bros.' new entry, there are six syn- policy of not talking about shows in package them together." dicated court series on the air or cur- development, failed to comment on the Mathis, who grew up in the inner- rently in development. The four series new court show. city area of Detroit, is said to be a street- on the air (.fudge Judy. .fudge Joe Sources say the Mathis court series is wise judge with a no- nonsense style. Sewing up off-net plans St lhlirators prepare newest round of comedies, dramas By Joe Schlosser at a more ethnic market." With the annual NATPE shopping A number of top sitcoms are return - season just around the corner, ing for second attempts in syndication, the top Hollywood studios are programs like Home Improvement and putting the final touches on marketing Married With...C/rildren. And there are plans fora number of off -net sitcoms and others just hoping to get a chance at the dramas that will soon be making their riches that off -network sales can bring way into the syndication marketplace. to producers, talent and studios. There may not be a Se infeld or X- Here's a look at what some of the top Files in the group, but there is plenty Hollywood studios will be showcasing for broadcast stations to chose from. in New Orleans come next January. Top sitcoms on the verge of cracking the syndication marketplace include Twentieth Television Dharma & Greg, Everybody Loves The Fox syndication unit has one of the Eyemark's 'Everybody Loves Raymond' Raymond. Just Shoot Me and Cosby. top selections of potential off -net sit - is expected to be sold in syndication for Not one of those shows have been offi- corns and dramas. Twentieth execu- three years. with a cable deal to follow. cially entered into the syndication tives are currently working on off -net- cable outlet FX starting in fall 2001. It sweepstakes, but their distributors are work plans for Ally McBeal, The Prac- also has been licensed to the 22 Fox currently testing the waters for the right tice, Millennium, Dharma & Greg, The owned -and -operated stations for week- time and place to bring them out. Pretender and possibly Two Guys, a end double runs and is being sold to In the drama department, Ally McBe al. Girl and a Pi.-..:a Place. King of the Hill other stations across the country for Early Edition and The Practice are being and Buff y, the I umpire Slayer are similar weekend runs. prepped for station consideration for air already on the market. Dharma & Greg is still being con- beyond 2(00. "It's a multitiered off-net- The animated sitcom King of the Hill sidered for either the 2001 or 2002 work market this year," says Bill Carroll, is cleared in more than 150 markets broadcast season, and sources say vice president and director of program- representing 90% of the country for an Twentieth executives will likely begin ming at Katz Television Group. "There off -network debut in fall 2001. Sources rolling it out right after NATPE (Jan. are some shows that would fall into the say the series will likely bring in close 25 -28). Cable and broadcast play are more all -purpose category, the blue chip to $3 million an episode when barter being considered. category, and then there is another group- and other elements are factored in. Pretender and Millennium will like- ing of specific usage shows, like pro- Cult hit Buffv. the Vampire Slayer ly be available for fall 2000, while grams geared at teens and kids and others will air five days a week on Fox -owned Twentieth executives are still trying to 22 BROADCASTING & CABLE / NOVEMBER 2, 1888