Excerpt from ShadowGram--
Number 116. May 17, 2004.
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Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,
ShadowGram (SG) announces the following breaking news for Dark Shadows (DS).
--- NEW DS IN JEOPARDY
Unfortunately, after all the anticipation and publicity, the WB Network is not expected to pick up the proposed new DS series for the fall schedule. The 1-hour pilot was screened by the network executives, who have apparently decided to take the network in another direction this fall with more family-oriented dramas such as their existing programs "7th Heaven," "Everwood," and "One Tree Hill." The WB makes the official announcement of its fall schedule tomorrow, May 18, though it has already been confirmed they are picking up a couple of other new dramas for the fall.
The pilot-making process utilized by the television networks is an often-frustrating situation for those involved with creating the programming. Networks order one sample episode -- a pilot -- of more shows than their schedule will allow and then decide which ones they feel have the strongest potential. As a result, many promising programs never even get on the air.
The WB can still order DS as a mid-season replacement, but that is not expected. The producers of the pilot -- Warner Bros TV/Dan Curtis Productions/John Wells Productions -- will pursue all available options, including the possibility of placing the program on another network.
SG will provide updates as soon as they become available.
The complete update is available here:
ShadowGram Update #116