• by Paul Gough , May 13, 2003

It may not be "the power of three" as evidenced every week its hit, Charmed. But The WB has another power it highlighted during Tuesday's upfront: The power of stability.

Tuesday's presentation showed that stability with the renewal of ten shows and the introduction of six in the 10-year-old network's six primetime nights. Critical favorites like Everwood, Seventh Heaven and Smallville were renewed and vampire drama Angel didn't join sister show Buffy The Vampire Slayer on the list of the dead.

The WB spent a little time talking about its recent past - the best November sweep of its history, a record February sweeps and one of two networks this year to show year-to-year gains. It publicly thanked Dawson's Creek creator Kevin Williamson and its young cast for the years and emotion that the show brought to the then-fledgling network. Williamson returned to the show he created for the final episode, which will be aired this week on The WB. But most of The WB's upfront presentation focused on the future, which it outlined in slick, well-produced vignettes of its new programs and brief remarks by some of the stars of its existing shows.

Bill Morningstar, EVP of media sales, said that The WB remains committed to being the network of teens and young adults, one of the few that target the under-34 demo. (Its median age is 31, one of the youngest among all networks, broadcast and cable. And he said its focus on scripted programming differentiates itself from the competition and the rest of TV. "The WB is not trying to be like everyone else," Morningstar said.

For next season, The WB outlined the following schedule:

Mondays will remain two strong, critically acclaimed family comedies: 7th Heaven and Everwood.

Tuesdays will see Gilmore Girls move to 8 p.m. (a spot previously held by Smallville) and then premiere a new hourlong drama, Fearless, which focuses on three young FBI agents, including a young woman who was born without the gene for fear.

Wednesdays will be anchored by out-of-this-world programming, with Smallville moving to the 8 p.m. time slot (replacing Dawson's Creek) and Angel.

Thursdays will have four comedies, including two new projects. Comedian/radio host Steve Harvey will return to the network with a half-hour called Steve Harvey's Big Time, showcasing real people doing amazing things. The Jamie Kennedy Experiment returns at 8:30 p.m., and What I Like About You starring Amanda Bynes moves to 9 p.m. A new comedy, Run of the House, follows as three 20-something siblings return to their house to help raise their teenage sister.

On Fridays, Reba moves to 8 p.m. and another comedy, Like Family, moves between it and the 9 p.m. Grounded for Life, which moved to The WB from Fox earlier this year. At 9:30 p.m., All About the Andersons is a new sitcom about a young struggling actor and single father who moves back in with his parents.

On Sunday, the network will return to the two-hour "Easyview" block, which will feature Fearless and Everwood from 5-7 p.m. Episodes from the first two seasons of Smallville will air at 7 p.m. and Charmed goes on at 8 p.m. and a new version of a classic, called Tarzan and Jane takes place on the streets of Gotham.

No reality programming will be airing during the first part of the season, although two old series, High School Reunion and The Surreal Life, are being held in reserve.