Word: smackdowns
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...Going To the Mat WWF Smackdown! The world wrestling federation and the World Wildlife Fund hold something in common besides the welfare of some vicious, hairy animals: their initials. Hence the Internet domain-name battle. The Fund uses wwf.org, but the Federation uses wwf.com, which the people at the Fund claim violates a 1994 agreement. They've taken the tussle to the London courts, but we say settle it in the ring. Here's how the teams match...
...which shall hereafter be known as the "WB Remainder Store," went first, at Madison Square Garden, opening in true Smackdown! fashion with loud music and smoke machines: it was the upfront as Tull concert. It put emphasis first on its second-newest acquisition, the WB's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." "The show that built a network..." the presentation began - was about to rebuild another one! The UPN, which has been a largely minority-aimed network, then a young dudes' network, is now going to become the Young Dudes Who Like to Watch Buffy and The Rock Whup...
...young white viewers. But while the two networks are fierce competitors, they also operate almost opposite universes. The WB built a lineup of dramas and comedy-dramas with young-female appeal ("Felicity," "Dawson's Creek," "7th Heaven"), while UPN settled into a niche heavy on action and testosterone ("WWF Smackdown!," "Shasta McNasty," the XFL). In short, UPN is The Boy Network and The WB is The Girl Network...
...schedule them. Does this "Buffy"-napping mean UPN is going to try to morph into the network of quality? Don't hold your breath - until recently, it was still considering "The Tranny," a transsexual comedy with RuPaul - but it may now have to expand beyond boy magnets like "Smackdown!" if it wants to build on this coup and keep its new viewers...
...Superman's teen years - but losing "Buffy" and possibly "Angel" might eventually shake it out of its pattern, verging on self-parody, of one drama about angsty teens with superpowers after another. Whereas UPN, reaping the benefits of "Buffy," could find that there's life, and ratings, beyond the "Smackdown!" demographic. In which case, in the end, the girls might just win this one after...