2 dramas, laffer set for UPN fall lineup

'Zone,' 'Haunted,' 'Half' added to netlet sked

By JOSEF ADALIAN

NEW YORK -- As UPN prepares to announce its first fall sked under the management of Leslie Moonves and Dawn Ostroff, it seems likely the net will add two new dramas and a fresh half-hour laffer to its primetime mix.

Moonves also has locked in a sked for CBS, but as usual Eye sources refused to confirm or deny any potential scenarios. Net also has locked in an exec producer for its new Michael Mann drama, snagging "X-Files" vet Frank Spotnitz for the post.

UPN pickups had been expected since the net had only a handful of projects in the works.

Milking the laffs

On the comedy side, net will add "Half and Half," a laffer from Yvette Lee Bowser ("Living Single") that revolves around two half-sisters and features sitcom vet Telma Hopkins. It will land a slot on UPN's Monday urban comedy night, most likely displacing "The Hughleys."

Execs from the Greenblatt-Janollari Studio, which produces "The Hughleys," didn't return a call seeking comment.

New dramas set to bow include an update of "The Twilight Zone," from Trilogy Entertainment and New Line Television, and the supernatural detective hour "Haunted."

It seems likely UPN would pair "Haunted" with "Buffy" on Tuesdays and put "The Twilight Zone" on after "Enterprise." But the same "cone of silence" that surrounds the CBS sked now has been extended to UPN.

UPN also has ordered the romantic laffer "Abby" for midseason.

Eye buzz

As for CBS, there continues to be buzz that "Becker" will shift from Mondays to either Wednesday or Sunday nights, most likely paired with the new half-hour "Bram & Alice." Of course, there's buzz every year that "Becker" is moving.

Eye officially announces its new sked today.