"Angel" Renewed

[LisaM]

According to an article in Variety on Monday, May 12, "Angel" has been renewed for a 5th season:

'Angel' wings in

As for "Angel," Frog has ordered another full season of the Joss Whedon-creative skein and will air the show Wednesdays at 9 p.m., with relocated hit "Smallville" as its lead-in. Frog has an option for a sixth season.

What's more, Paradigm-repped Marsters has signed on to reprise his "Buffy" role as punker vamp Spike. Other "Buffy" regulars may also make guest appearances next season, while Whedon has vowed to write several scripts and direct episodes of the show.

Jeffrey Bell and Tim Minear will be exec producers/showrunners.

Charisma Carpenter, who plays Cordelia, is not expected to return as a series regular.

"Angel's" recent ratings perfomance should have made it a shoo-in for a renewal.

Still, WB execs wanted to see how their drama development turned out, and, more importantly, needed to hammer out a new license fee deal with 20th. While "Angel" isn't a particularly expensive skein to produce, it doesn't do very well in repeats, making it tougher for the Frog to turn a profit on the show.

"Until we knew at what price we could close a deal for the series, as well as what the rest of our schedule cost, we couldn't make the call," WB Entertainment chief Jordan Levin said.

Still, unlike the rancorous Frog-20th negotiation over "Angel" sibling "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," Levin said the "Angel" talks repped "a cordial, non-emotional negotiation.

"It's a deal that's acceptable for both of us, and also ultimately respects the fans of the collective 'Buffy' and 'Angel' mythologies," Levin said.

Source: Variety.com




In a smart move, the WB is moving Smallville to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays as its lead-in. Imagine what BoP could have done with the proper lead-in!

[Jesse321]

SURE !!! now they move Smallville and whats even WORSE to the VERY timeslot that would have preceeded BOP .... BASTARDS !

[Sxygrrl Huntress]

"Angel's" recent ratings perfomance should have made it a shoo-in for a renewal.

There is so much spin I'm getting dizzy. Funny, I recall some of their ratings being LOWER than BOP.

[Jacklyn]

There's hope for the future of television yet....just a little, but still....hope!

Thanks for posting this Lisa....wish they'd thought about moving Smallville sooner.....then, maybe, I could've had both my BOP and my Angel!

[Reese'Girl]

I don't like Angel.

[srfrgrl]

I'm getting Dizzy from all of the spinning! Let me say that Angel hasn't performed well, unless he had help from other Buffy cast coming in for cross over eps! Other than that his ratings were stale. As far as Smallville being the lead in, that is a total smack in the face to all BOP fans. Levin has bent over backwards helping that show stay afloat! Enough, stake him already!

[SevenSlave]

"Smallville" isn't going to help Angel one bit -- they appeal to two entirely different audiences.

Do you really think that the teenyboppers who are tuning in to Smallville's hour of angst are going to stick around to watch Angel?

[HUNTER]

i like angel so thanks for posting that, its made my day thats it been renewed

[Jesse321]

While I don't like or watch Angel ... I have to disagree with you Liz .. I think both shows will benefit for the joined timeslot ... mind you I don't think Angel will acheive STELLAR ratings .. but I definately think it will pick up a few Smallville viewers who wouldn't ordinarily give the show a second thought.

[SevenSlave]

I agree that it might get a FEW "Smallville" viewers; at the same time, I doubt that it'll be the ratings injection that The WB is searching for.

[Frostbite]

Argh!

[JustMike]

I'm with Seven.... Smallville won't really help the show much.
I know I'll probably end up missing an episode or two as I won't watch Smallville (I could deal with Dawson's Creek, actually even kind of liked that show (I've yet to actually miss any eps of Angel to date)). I usually flip to a different station if Smallville does pop on while I'm watching.

I don't know how the season will do without Charisma being on full time either, I know having James Marsters show up on the show will also turn me off quite a bit.... "Spike" coming up in the Buffy Series so much was the reason I stopped watching that show (Buffy)...

[LisaM]

On the other hand, I think that The WB is betting that a lot of Buffy fans will tune into Angel in order to see Spike. In addition, they are hoping that several additional members of the Buffy universe (Willow, etc...) will show up. My guess is that one of the main reasons behind Angel's renewal is the hope to draw Buffy characters and fans back to The WB.

The WB's spin about Angel's good ratings is serious nonsense.

[jrosesimba]

why are they doing this in the first place,do they actually think it will help angel,here's a series thats been moved so many times it amazes me that anyone can even keep up with it.and i don't think it is wise to tamper with one of there top shows!

[BopRockMyWorld]

i dont like angel. i know this is off topic but when will scifi put their new schedule? cause i want to know if they bought the rights to show the 13 epis of bop

[SevenSlave]

^ No one knows yet. :(

[HUNTER]

i hope they bring in gwen! in angel, shes my fav

[Orcat]

Remember Jasmine? Lol, when she jumped off the bridge I started singing the Cleopatra 2525 (I love that show!) theme song. Jasmine was played by Gina Torres, aka Hel(The Voice carrier chick) from Cleo.

[Jacklyn]

Originally posted by The_Vipress
Remember Jasmine? Lol, when she jumped off the bridge I started singing the Cleopatra 2525 (I love that show!) theme song. Jasmine was played by Gina Torres, aka Hel(The Voice carrier chick) from Cleo.

I did the same thing!!!! In the year 2525, there are woman with the will to survive....

[Orcat]

Yeah! Here's the full lyrics for the heck of it:
500 years into the future, she will enter a world where machines
rule the Earth. Mankind has been driven underground and
Cleopatra is about to discover there's no place like home.

In the year twenty-five twenty-five
there are women with the will to survive,
fighting for a brand new today,
nothing's gonna get in their way.

In the year twenty-five twenty-five
three women keep hope alive,
joining forces to reclaim the Earth,
looking ahead, to humankind's rebirth.

That should do it.
~V~

[BopRockMyWorld]

thanks for responding sevenslave

[Jacklyn]

Wow!! The full song! So helpful Vipress :D

[Whitelighter]

Spike is taking over Cordy's regular spot next season, but Cordy is still going 2 be a semi-regular like Giles.

Does any one else here like Charmed?

[Reese'Girl]

Charmed is the best! although I still love my birds!

[Whitelighter]

I think Charmed is very good, Birds of Prey reminders me of them hence 3 women fighting.

[o.Oracle.o]

I'm glad the WB renewed 'Angel'(I watch it every once & awhile, but I was a big fan of Buffy..*Tear* I'll miss that show) But honestly they must not care for it or even have faith in it if they're lying about it's ratings. Can anyone say arrogant? What about ignorant? Ah, the WB's two favorite words, and oddly it sums them up..Go figure.

[SevenSlave]

The "Watcher Beware" Network
The "Where's Buffy?" Network
The "What Bullsh**" Network
The "Why Bother?" Network
The "We're Boring" Network
The "We're Brainless" Network
The "Weep n' Bawl Network" Network (For all of the soapy melodramas that they air: Dawson's Creek, Everwood[en], 7th Heaven, etc.)

[o.Oracle.o]

haha I like the "Where's Buffy?" Network one!

[Jacklyn]

It makes sense, too! The WB has been trying sooo desperately to forget that Buffy is the show that MADE that station. That's why they are staying away from shows like that altogether.

[Kea]

Well I was talking to some died hard Angel fans who are really ticked off that they are no longer going to do the Angel/Cordy romance idea and that Charisma Carpenter will no longer be on the show. Lets just say a lot of them are so far refusing to watch S5 (even if they fought to save the show).
And they don't like the idea of adding Buffy characters like Spike either!

Oh and you have to read what Levin says at http://www.desnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,505035869,00.html

[Jacklyn]

I think that, after such a long and arduous fight to save Angel, these fans are being frivolous when they choose to abandon the show because of a shift in storylines. The twists were always what we loved most about the show. And I was and always will be a die-hard Cordy fan.

[Kea]

Most people who I've talked to has had different reasons for no longer watching the show but those posted above are most of what I've been hearing.
I think one interesting point made by someone is fans put a lot of time and effect emotionally into the story lines and characters that they want to keep the show the way it is. And I know a lot of them hate it when they add new characters. (Take, Lorne, Connor, Gunn or Fred as an example.)

[Jacklyn]

I think that adding new characters just makes things more interesting. One of the best things about Buffy and Angel are that they evolve realistically. To say that people want have new people in their lives over a period of years is completely unrealistic. I think that sometimes, it's time for things to change. For Cordy's character, to me, it was time.

[o.Oracle.o]

Yea... Buffy's Cordy evolved into Angel's Cordy, and well grew up. But to change a character in the way they did was kinda lame. You don't go from being a complete airhead to being a wise woman, just doesn't happen...And as for those fans, that is plain stupid to abandon a show just because of a new storyline. They shouldn't judge until they see the final result. All in all, Buffy is and will always be the best of the two. Angel is good, but it has gotten tired...So having a new storyline works, I guess. In other words, poor Angel...And DAMMIT the WB, bring back BOP! Grrr, damn corporate idiots.

[Revolution]

Originally posted by Jacklyn
I think that adding new characters just makes things more interesting. One of the best things about Buffy and Angel are that they evolve realistically. To say that people want have new people in their lives over a period of years is completely unrealistic. I think that sometimes, it's time for things to change.
Yeah, that's exactly right. I like Gunn and Fred, although Fred is too much of an already used archetype (ie. early Willow). Anyway, I'm glad it's back. I still don't understand how Spike will come back. I know, I know, Joss Whedon's a genius, but I think he's pushing it (ie. waaay too many ressurections in his shows). Then again, he just may turn around and do something totally new with Spike that I'll be impressed.

[shaman]

i'm glad will still continue. sometimes the guys at WB shows signs of intelligence but thats just sometimes.

[HUNTER]

they say there trying to get the girl who plays harmony to become a regular on the show, thats cool i think shes very funny

[Jacklyn]

I think that's a little dopey...I mean, what kind of role would she play on the show?

[Revolution]

I vote to bring Dru back (again). Hmm...how about Oz? That probably won't happen, since Seth Green's now into movies and all that, but I really liked that episode where Oz came to give Angel the ring of Amarra (or whatever it was called). Harmony's funny, but I think Andrew and Anya are funnier.

[Jacklyn]

Angel and Oz are hysterical together! The two worded sentences make for great fun!

[shaman]

I think Oz would be a great addition to the show imagine a vampire and a werewolf working together.