Even that couldn't kill it. No less significant, ABC executives are tacitly admitting the fact. The network has ordered no fewer than 34 pilots for the 2001-2002 season, three times the number it ordered last year. The shows in development include 18 comedies and 10 dramas, with headlining stars including Sally Field, Jason Alexander and John Stamos. As an unusual sign of optimism about their development roster, ABC Entertainment Television co-chairmen Lloyd Braun and Stu Bloomberg have said they will send the scripts of the pilots to any media buyers interested in seeing them.
Buyers usually have to wait until the pilot has been completed to get their first glimpse.
Dramas were ordered with a mind to having at least a few that could be slotted at the 8 p.m. hour. That's down 11 percent from where it was at the beginning of the season but represents a 37 percent fall from the 1999 season, when the game show averaged 27.9 million viewers. The result has been a 6.4 percent decline for ABC's household ratings this season, although its still tie with CBS for the lead. The network's and the show's problems, however, have been more pronounced among the 18-49 demo. ABC's rating for the demo is down over 16 percent compared to this time last year.