Take that, Fox. UPN knows how to keep things short and simple.

While Fox’s three-tiered, multi-season roster requires more footnotes than “Infinite Jest,” UPN’s schedule is simple enough to even be understood by the cast of “The Mullets.” The network has two new dramas, a new comedy and all the episodes of “America’s Next Top Model” most casual viewers will be able to stand.

UPN’s only real bubble drama was “Star Trek: Enterprise” and genre fans won’t have to contemplate life without a single franchise. The Scott Bakula drama will be back, even if it means the death of UPN’s mostly unsuccessful Friday night movie series.

With only five nights of programming and two hours of offerings per night, UPN’s schedule could hardly be clearer, although several of the network’s popular Monday and Tuesday comedies have changed homes.

Monday night now begins with “One on One,” which replaces the departing “The Parkers.” “Half and Half” moves up to 8:30 p.m., with “Girlfriends” remaining in its 9 p.m. home. The night concludes with the new romantic sitcom “Second Time Around,” featuring real-life couple and “Soul Food” veterans Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Parker.

Tuesday sees “All of Us” move up to the 8 p.m. anchor spot, followed by Monday night transplant “Eve.” The network has pulled two comedies to schedule the Joel Silver produced private eye drama “Veronica Mars” in the 9 p.m. slot.

UPN’s strong Wednesday night begins with the return of the network’s smash reality show “America’s Next Top Model.” Without the distraction of “American Idol,” “ANTM” should provide a strong lead-in to “Kevin Hill,” a new drama featuring Taye Diggs and Jon Seda. Thursday nights should remain just as strong for UPN with the return of “WWE Smackdown!” for two hours.

In the place of an often random selection of theatrical bombs, UPN is starting Friday nights with a repurposing of “America’s Next Top Model.” “Star Trek: Enterprise” will find a new 9 p.m. Friday home.

UPN also announced that “The Missy Elliott Project,” featuring the Grammy winning superstar, will premiere after the conclusion of the “America’s Next Top Model” season. The network has a second cycle of “ANTM” ready to begin after the conclusion of the “Missy Elliott” show.



(c) 2004, Zap2it.com.

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Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

AP-NY-05-20-04 1213EDT



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