The WB and Beyond

Next month marks the end of an era...a very special era...atleast in the lives of teenagers everywhere. Next month we say goodbye to angst-ridden WB network (and UPN, but who really cares about that).

The fleddling teen-centric network is merging with UPN next month to create the CW network. The merger has been in the works for a couple of months, but the announcement was the biggest shock since Tom announced he was dating Katie. No one really saw it coming.

The fallout was minimal. We lost a few UPN shows (again, who cares?) and we said a sad, untimely goodbye to Everwood. And we still have to put up with 7th Heaven! But most of the power players are there.

As we say goodbye to the WB, let's have a moment of silence for Dawson, Joey, Buffy, Felicity, and even those annoying Camdens. We're taking a moment...and then we're done.

Now let us look to the future of teen television with ABC Family, who is desperately trying to be the next WB network.

They even have reruns of Gilmore Girls and Smallville. And I think they are even getting Everwood...

And then there is their new orginal programming. Wildfire (the first and best of the shows) is starting its 3rd season in January, and their newest Kyle XY did so well that they are rerunning it on ABC! They have their clunkers though. Falcon Beach is trying too hard to be the next 90210 and Beautiful People and Moons over Milford are being undeservingly touted the next Gilmore Girls (The word quirky should be banned from television's vocabulary).

ABC Family's orginal movies are really what helped give this secondary network its first recognition. Though the movies are hit or miss most of the time, they are always entertaining. And some of them are better than most movies at the theater! (re: I want to marry Ryan Banks).

So even though they are small and just starting out, ABC family has a good future. Maybe someday they can merge with the Disney Channel to better reach Tweens and Teens everywhere!