Title fight off as WB redubs
Clash with MTV ends amicably
Frog net's Friday contender will now be slugged "Mission Hill," a reference to the fictional neighborhood where the show is set. Castle Rock and WB opted to change the name to avoid confusion with "Downtown," a Gotham-set ani series premiering on music cabler MTV in August.
Adding to the potential confusion is the fact that both series feature younger characters and are set in semi-grungy urban environments.
MTV execs had called WB honchos to express concern about the similar names, but the issue was apparently settled with a minimum of legal saber-rattling, insiders said.
"Given all that we've put into this series and the very high hopes we have for it, it would have been a shame if viewers had somehow confused the two shows," said WB Entertainment prexy Susanne Daniels.
"I always liked 'Mission Hill' better anyway," Castle Rock topper Glenn Padnick said.
Separately, WB skedders are seriously considering a new timeslot for "Mission," which is currently set to run Fridays at 9 p.m., sandwiched amid the net's urban comedy block. Frog execs may move the toon to 8 p.m., reasoning it stands a better chance of thriving if it leads off the night.
One concern is that "Mission" may be too adult-oriented for an 8 p.m. timeslot. Two recurring characters on the show are gay, and episodes in production include references to masturbation and condoms.
A decision on a timeslot is expected within the next few weeks.
