Finale season has sprung — and with it come plot ploys to save those shows that are anxiously awaiting pickup for next year. Case in point: the kissing-cousins, bleached-puppet lunacy unleashed on the recent season (and possibly series) finale of Fox's Arrested Development. Below, a peek at how other shows are making bids at self-preservation:
Charmed (May 22)
The WB witches have lost a bit of their mojo after seven years,
summoning an average of 3.6 million viewers each week, down from 5.4
million in 1999. Surefire ratings boost: girls gone wild! This season
ends with the trio flirting with black magic after their ancient spell
book goes missing. The outcome is ''absolutely a surprise,'' says exec
producer Brad Kern. ''I withheld script pages from even the crew. I can say that the Charmed Ones will literally never be the same. Literally.''
Jack & Bobby (May 11)
Voted most likely to succeed during pilot season, The WB's coming-of-age
polidrama has seen approval ratings lag (it averages 2.5 million
viewers). The exit strategy: finale cameos from Gore Vidal, Norman Lear,
and Tim Robbins (in a voiceover); an appearance from the boys'
heretofore unseen dad (Lou Diamond Phillips); plus the death of a major
character. Says exec producer Greg Berlanti, who's clearly preparing for
the worst: ''Our decision was to make the best episodes we can, so
there's an amazing boxed set.'' Sniff.
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