• by Paul Gough , May 16, 2003

UPN plans five new shows - a companion science-fiction drama to lead-out Enterprise and four new comedies - for the fall 2003-04 TV season.

The Viacom-owned broadcast network announced the schedule last week at its annual upfront presentation held in New York City. UPN said the top priorities for the coming year's schedule was to boost ratings from one show to another and to have better flow on its schedule.

"We are confident this year's schedule provides us the right foundation to grow our audience and better define our brand while creating a more seamless audience flow from night to night," said Dawn Ostroff, president of entertainment at UPN. Ostroff said the network had a strong development season.

The new sitcoms are All of Us, inspired by the lives of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith; The Mullets, starring Loni Anderson; Rock Me Baby, about an outrageous radio host whose life changes drastically when his wife has a new baby; and The Opposite Sex, which stars hip-hop artist Eve. The drama is Jake 2.0, about a computer technician who is transformed into someone with super-powers and becomes a secret agent for the U.S. government.

"The new shows we are introducing are all bold, fun and adventurous," Ostroff said.

Returning to UPN's schedule are The Parkers, Girlfriends, One on One, Half & Half, WWE Smackdown and the UPN Friday Movie.

"Our established, signature programming on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday all serve as tentpoles for launching new series, which were developed as companion programs for those respective nights," Ostroff said. Jake 2.0, the new drama, will follow Enterprise at 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Another comedy, One on One, will move to 8 p.m. Tuesdays in an effort to add another night of comedies.

The schedule:

Monday: 8 p.m., The Parkers; 8:30 p.m., Opposite Sex; 9 p.m., Girlfriends; 9:30 p.m., Half & Half.

Tuesday: 8 p.m., One on One; 8:30 p.m., All of Us; 9 p.m., Rock Me Baby; 9:30 p.m., Mullets.

Wednesday: 8 p.m., Enterprise; 9 p.m., Jake 2.0.

Thursday: 8 p.m., WWE Smackdown.

Friday, 8 p.m., UPN Movie Friday.