KGMB, KHON pick up UPN shows formerly on KFVE, now the new WB

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Confused and frustrated because you can't find your favorite UPN shows — "Enterprise," maybe, or "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" — in the familiar time slots anymore? There's a reason.

KFVE-5 has dropped its hybrid affiliation with UPN, and is now the "Hawai'i's WB." This means the station that used to air "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "WWE Smackdown" isn't doing it anymore.

While retaining its commitment to University of Hawai'i sports (that's the source of the "home team" slogan for KFVE), Channel 5 has become the exclusive Warner Bros. affiliate here, dropping current UPN programming, which went into effect Sept. 2.

Once KFVE disassociated from UPN, Emmis Communications of Indianapolis picked up the option to televise a few UPN shows for broadcast on its two island stations, KHON-2, the Fox affiliate; and KGMB-9, the CBS station.

But wrestling is not on the agenda — at least for now.

Here's where you'll find UPN programming — but not in prime time, since both KHON and CBS have normal network commitments to fulfill.

On KGMB-9

• "Star Trek: Enterprise" has a back-to-back airing Saturday, launching a new season. From 1 to 2 p.m., the season's finale will be shown, and from 2 to 3 p.m., the first show of the new season premieres. Beginning Sept. 28, "Star Trek: Enterprise" will be shown from 10:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturdays.
• "Twilight Zone" premieres from 3 to 4 p.m. this Saturday; its regular slot will be 12:30 a.m. Sundays, effective Sept. 29.
• "Haunted," a new bit of sleuthing with grave implications starring Matthew Fox, debuts 11:30 p.m. Sept. 28. This will be its usual late-night Saturday slot.

On KHON-2

• "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" will debut at 2 p.m. Sept. 28, with the gang reunited for comedy and horror; Sarah Michelle Gellar is Buffy Summers.

To add to the confusion, KFVE — which had 10 hours of UPN programming in the past — will continue showing "Star Trek: Voyager" in re-runs. With UPN content moving elsewhere, station program director Dan Schmidt said KFVE has placed "Star Trek: Voyager" in a 9 p.m. weekday slot, pre-empted only by sports coverage.