ABC Loves Its ‘Millionaire’; UPN’s Up With ‘Smackdown!’

Quiz show backlash? What quiz show backlash?

That was the final answer Saturday from ABC’s top executives, who insisted that the success of the prime-time game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” isn’t coming at the expense of the network’s drama and comedy development--or, for that matter, at the expense of the country’s collective brain cells.

“It just seems that there is no stopping it,” Stu Bloomberg, ABC entertainment co-chairman, told a semiannual gathering of television reporters in Pasadena.

All the talk of “Millionaire” was derailed earlier in the morning, when ABC Television Network President Patricia Fili-Krushel opened the session by addressing the network’s decision to stop participating in part of a federal program offering financial credit for anti-drug story lines in network shows.

That program, started by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy two years ago, has stirred controversy since coming to light last week. ABC took the most vocal stand to date among the participating networks to distance itself from the program.

In a statement that came several hours after Fili-Krushel detailed ABC’s participation in the program and the decision to drop out of part of the program, retired Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, who heads the drug policy office, said it would “reexamine the media campaign’s processes for assessing program content to ensure that there is absolutely no suggestion or inference that the federal government is exercising any control whatsoever over the creative process.”

Meanwhile, the “Millionaire” craze isn’t that insidious--at least not to those basking in its reflective glow at ABC. “Millionaire,” hosted by Regis Philbin, drew 33.7 million viewers last Wednesday, becoming the most-watched episode of prime-time programming this season. ABC is not only gleefully airing the show three nights a week now, but it has another game show on the near horizon--”Mastermind,” a British import from “Millionaire” executive producer Michael Davies.

Bloomberg said “Mastermind” should debut later this spring or in the summer. That will bring to five the number of prime-time game shows, with Fox’s “Greed: The Series,” CBS’ “Winning Lines” and NBC’s “Twenty One” all performing respectably in the Nielsen ratings.

In unveiling plans for drama and comedies next fall, Bloomberg and co-chief Lloyd Braun sought to deflect criticism that ABC is living on the borrowed time of the “Millionaire” phenomenon.

With the exception of the drama “Once and Again,” a modest success in its first season, the network’s fall 1999-2000 line-up produced no hits and several flops, including the much-hyped dramas “Snoops,” from writer-producer David E. Kelley, and “Wasteland.”

In development for the fall is a drama based on novelist Walter Mosley’s “Easy Rollins” mysteries, and several comedies from established executive producers, including Larry Gelbart (“MASH”), Peter Toland (“The Larry Sanders Show”) and Monty Python alumnus John Cleese.

In addition, the network has signed Stephen King to do the original miniseries “Rose Red,” sometime next season.

On Sunday, the focus switched from millions to might as UPN and its successful “WWF Smackdown!” took center stage.

Network President Dean Valentine was willing to take criticism of the programming strategy, one that has helped turned the fortunes of the struggling network around. This season UPN has experienced a 35% increase in households, adding 1.2 million viewers to its audience. The network is averaging 3.9 million viewers to date this season. Among male teens, viewership has jumped 158%.

“If it has high testosterone, we will air it,” quipped Valentine.

Taking a spot on the UPN lineup will be “I Dare You: The Ultimate Challenge,” premiering Jan. 28. The series from Bruce Nash, producer of many Fox reality shows, will feature color commentary by legendary daredevil Evel Kneivel as top Hollywood stunt performers stage high-risk stunts. In February, the network will air “Great Monster Truck Race,” a onetime special that may become a series.

UPN’s development slate, outlined by Tom Nunan, president of Entertainment, is also geared to “cement our relationship with the young male demographic,” including a new Claymation series from MTV’s “Celebrity Death Match” producer Eric Fogel. The network also has development deals with Ron Leavitt (“Married . . . With Children” and “Unhappily Ever After”); John McTiernan, who directed last summer’s “The Thomas Crown Affair” and the original “Die Hard”; and John Sacret Young (“China Beach”).

As to the implications of the Viacom-CBS merger on UPN, one of the many assets now in play, Valentine said: “I wish I could say what’s going to happen, but I’m not sure what the ultimate outcome will be.” Still, with the network’s current growth, Valentine added that the partners are now fighting over which one will get the network.