• July 18, 2001

According to Jordan Levin, the WB network's entertainment president, unlike in past years, there will be no crossovers between the shows "Angel" and "Buffy The Vampire Slayer." The WB lost "Buffy," and its star Sarah Michelle Gellar, to UPN in a bidding war, but kept the spin-off "Angel," which stars David Boreanaz. UPN had aggressively pursued "Buffy" and reportedly ordered 44 episodes for about $102 million.

Levin said the absence of crossovers is to firmly establish "Angel" in its own creative universe. Of course, last season ended with a character from "Buffy" being on "Angel," so a complete absence of crossovers would take some interesting writing.

Jamie Kellner, who oversees the WB as CEO of Turner Broadcasting System Inc., said they didn't regret losing "Buffy." Despite the general downturn in advertising, Kellner said the WB has more advertising revenue coming in at higher rates than last year.

- Adam Bernard