Struggling with a weak lineup

by Andrew Wallenstein

      With a new two-hour wrestling showcase ready for primetime, UPN is setting its sights on the young-male demographic for the 1999-2000 season.
      ''WWF Smackdown,'' an extension of the World Wrestling Federation's popular empire, will keep UPN competitive on Thursday, from 8 to 10 p.m. The network's strong sci-fi slate will also help on Wednesday, but every other night of the week could be as problematic as last year, when UPN suffered serious ratings erosion (November saw a 40 percent drop-off).
      While the network is much more focused this season, its weak lineup will probably continue struggling to find its target audience. Unlike its competitor the WB, UPN will not add a sixth night of programming. In addition to ''Smackdown,'' which was made into a series after well-received May sweeps special aired, four new series will be introduced. The network also made sure this year to plant returning programs as weeknight 8 p.m. anchors; last season, new shows were in that time slot on four of five nights.
      To make room for the new additions, the following series were canned: ''The Sentinel,'' ''America's Greatest Pets,'' ''Home Movies,'' ''Love Boat: The Next Wave,'' ''Clueless,'' and ''Between Brothers.'' To strengthen ties with its African-American audience, which comprises 40 percent of its total viewership, UPN has transferred its urban-oriented sitcom block from Tuesday to Monday. ''Moesha'' and ''Malcolm & Eddie'' will sandwich the new ''Moesha'' spin-off ''Mo'Nique'' and ''Grown Ups.'' ''Dilbert'' moves to Tuesday at 8 p.m., where it will help launch pilots ''Shasta McNasty'' at 8:30 p.m. and ''Secret Agent Man'' at 9 p.m.
      It will be a tough assignment considering ''Dilbert's'' ratings have not matched the hype UPN has given it. However, it should benefit from the absence of FOX's ''King of the Hill,'' which is moving back to Sunday.
      The network is also moving and revamping its Thursday-night sci-fi movie as ''Blockbuster Video's Shockwave Cinema'' on Friday night. The tie-in to the video-store chain will provide additional promotional support. Curiously, UPN produced no new sci-fi series, which are its strongest asset.
      For specials the network has lined up a big event for the beginning of the fall season. ''The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards,'' scheduled for August 20th, will bring together the hottest acts in urban music.
      The midseason holds promise of possible hits: Hollywood mega-producer Joel Silver will executive produce the action drama ''The Strip,'' and Academy Award-winning director Barry Levinson is teaming up with ''Homicide'' creator Tom Fontana on a cop drama, ''The Beat.''

Andrew Wallenstein is a New York-based writer.