Stateside samples show serious bite

Vampires, other fantasies should tempt buyers

By STUART LEVINE

INTENSE INTENTS: New series 'FlashForward' from Disney has drawn buzz that could translate into strong global sales, especially if it fulfills hopes that it can be the dramatic heir to 'Lost.'

With all due respect to the top talent attending Mipcom to promote their shows and the thought-provoking keynote speeches on tap, nothing can inspire the confab like a few hit programs.

And this year, there might be plenty to celebrate.

The opening night of Warner Bros.' "The Vampire Diaries" in the U.S. proved the appeal of blood-sucking immortals remains vibrant. Following the box office smash "Twilight" and HBO's ratings magnet "True Blood," "Vampire Diaries" gave the CW its most-watched premiere ever.

Not all shows that perform admirably Stateside see similar good fortune overseas, but global prospects for "Diaries" could be strong considering the subject matter has no borders.

Warners Bros. also has high expectations for captivating sci-fi drama "V" and the latest Jerry Bruckheimer-produced procedural "The Forgotten" -- about amateur detectives who unite to give names to unidentified victims and bring their murderers to justice -- which will screen often at Mipcom. Latter's pilot was recently reshot, and Christian Slater has been added to the cast.

Whether there is a saturation of procedurals remains to be seen, but WB international TV president Jeffrey Schlesinger says a winning formula depends on storyline.

"To be successful, you can't just turn out a standard procedural," he says. "It needs to have a hook. Each one needs to be unique and distinct."

CBS Studios Intl., which has long relied on procedurals and spinoffs -- think the "CSI" franchise and last year's "90210" -- is going that route again with "NCIS: Los Angeles" (which actually covers both categories) and "Melrose Place," once again borrowing from Fox's treasure chest of demo-friendly angst.

And then there's "The Good Wife," with "ER" alum Julianna Margulies, which straddles the line between serialized and procedural. Even for many who aren't fans of the latter, the series has gotten high marks and received plenty of attention at the May L.A. Screenings.

"Melrose Place" opened marginally on Sept. 8, with both "NCIS: Los Angeles" and "The Good Wife" having debuted Sept. 22.

Early ratings success or failure has repercussions down the line -- starting first with the network and ending with global considerations. But CBS Studios Intl. prexy Armando Nunez says there's no reason to immediately celebrate or become dismayed when a show debuts.

"This is a mature business, and our clients know how it works," Nunez explains. "Cleary, the international component is important, but you don't want to let the tail wag the dog."

Twentieth is high on high school dramedy "Glee" and, like "Vampire Diaries," it came out of the gate well -- though the season premiere Sept. 9 wasn't exactly new to everyone. The pilot ran in May, immediately following reality behemoth "American Idol," to give viewers a taste and create early buzz. The strategy seems to have paid off.

"It's the show people are talking about," says studio international TV topper Marion Edwards. "I've seen all the episodes and it sustains very well. ... What makes the show work is that the music is from different eras and is international. And a cheeky attitude helps."

According to several critics, the studio also has the top sitcom in "Modern Family." Starring Ed O'Neill ("Married ... With Children"), laffer's look at members of an extended clan -- whose members don't often see eye to eye with each other in terms of everything from politics to parenting -- could perform well. However, in an unfortunate situation for Twentieth, "Family" and "Glee" go up against each other at 9 p.m. Wednesdays and could possibly take audiences away from one other.

NBC Universal is entering the fall with fewer network shows than in recent years, but the conglom has plenty of cable offerings on sale as well. In addition to Peacock dramas "Trauma," "Mercy" and "Parenthood" -- the latter hurting with the loss of Maura Tierney, who had to leave the show due to breast cancer treatments -- there's also Syfy skeins "Caprica" (the prequel to "Battlestar Galactica") and "Warehouse 13."

"We've been selling cable shows as part of our portfolio and have had great success with them," says Belinda Menendez, president of NBC Universal Intl. Television Distribution, noting that "Monk" was a big hit in Germany and "Battlestar" in France.

As for Disney, "FlashForward" might be the studio's ace in the hole. Series, about people who temporarily see their future, had been one of the most buzzed-about dramas leading up to its Sept. 24 premiere.

Mouse House is aiming for "FlashForward," which co-stars Brit thesp Joseph Fiennes, to become a natural sci-fi follow-up to "Lost," which ends in May.