Thirteen years ago today signaled the beginning of a unique era in television history.  On Jan. 11, 1995, The WB Network debuted against all odds (only five days prior to UPN’s launch) and went on to dramatically change the industry.  The remarkable birth of one-time rivals WB and UPN—and their eventual merger to become The CW—is chronicled in a fascinating new book, Season Finale, co-authored by “the frog’s” longtime head of programming, Susanne Daniels.  While offering insight into the studio business and Hollywood “players,” the tome also shares loads of tidbits that’ll interest fans of pop-culture hits the nets spawned.  For instance, Beau Bridges was the original choice to play the father on 7th Heaven; Selma Blair nearly won the role that Katie Holmes was born to play; and Gilmore Girls was conceived as a half-hour sitcom, not an hour-long dramedy.  The WB came thisclose to picking up teen fave My So-Called Life when ABC cancelled it; Fox coveted Smallville; UPN passed on American Idol; and “there was delirium around the building” when ratings showed nearly half of all female teen viewers were glued to Dawson’s Creek.  Daniels goes into detail about the development, casting, success and eventual studio drama involving signature hit Buffy The Vampire Slayer.  Offbeat programming was a hallmark of The WB, whose lineup one season included Buffy, Angel, 7th Heaven, Dawson’s Creek, Felicity, Gilmore Girls, Charmed, Roswell, Popular and comedies which have since become syndication staples.  Several of those series are routinely listed among TV’s best-ever.  The UPN story is also recounted in detail, its greatest success coming with Star Trek: Voyager, Top Model and SmackDown.  The two networks combined forces in 2006 as The CW, with the same passion to deliver great entertainment for a new generation.  But the history behind it all is well-told and worth the read.

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