Squeaky-clean but in the basement

by Andrew Wallenstein

      Touting a less-than-whopping 1.0 household rating, upstart network Pax TV disclosed plans at its upfront presentation yesterday to introduce original primetime programming on every weekday for the 1999-2000 season.
      Speaking to a half-empty ballroom of advertisers in Manhattan, Pax president and CEO Jeff Sagansky appealed more to moral than financial concerns, citing the network's squeaky-clean shows. But with its 1.0 rating-- considered an overestimate by most analysts--Pax did little to dissuade buyers who believe its audience is too old and narrow. It's easy to say there's a huge upside when there's nowhere to go but up.
      The network relied on primetime reruns of CBS chestnuts like ''Touched By an Angel'' and ''Diagnosis Murder'' this season to win over soccer moms but barely made a dent in other demographics. Which makes it all the more odd that Pax has decided to fill its 8 p.m. weekday slots with original shows that haven't done as well as the reruns. ''Touched'' and ''Diagnosis'' will now air Monday through Friday at 9 and 10 p.m., respectively.
      It would have been wiser to sandwich the new shows, including a spin-off of the best-selling book series ''Chicken Soup for the Soul,'' between the reruns. Rounding out the original primetime programs are: ''Little Men,'' based on the works of Louisa May Alcott; ''Hope Island,'' a remake of the British hit ''Ballykissangle''; ''The Star Machine,'' a rip-off of ''Star Search''; ''Twice in a Lifetime,'' a drama about getting a second chance at life from ''Cagney & Lacey'' producer Barney Rosenzweig; and ''It's a Miracle,'' a chronicle of real-life wonders featuring host Richard Thomas of ''The Waltons.''
      Pax is also making changes in other day parts, including ''Adventure Afternoons,'' featuring classic Westerns like ''Bonanza'' and ''Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.'' There's also shopping-themed game shows in the early evening aimed at older women. With an impressive array of old series including ''Life Goes On,'' ''The Love Boat'' and ''Eight is Enough,'' it's puzzling why Pax TV even tries to create series of its own.