Aiming To Please: A Studion Scorecard

5. Walt Disney Television
Disney's Imagine TV is known for smart, distinctive comedies and dramas. Touchstone Television — in a funk since the glory days of Home Improvement — looks to be coming to life under new topper Lloyd Braun.
Hits: The WB's Felicity; ABC's Home Improvement, The Wonderful World of Disney, and critical fave Sports Night
Misses: Fox's Costello
Mid-season: Zoe Bean could provide The WB with its first sitcom success; Eddie Murphy's edgy Foamation cartoon, The PJs, for Fox.
Downside: The lawsuit brewing with Home Improvement's producers (over whether the studio cut a sweetheart deal with Disney-owned ABC) promises to get ugly.

6. Spelling Television
The grand old man of prime time seems as ageless as ever, tapping into the zeitgeist once again with two youthful hits for The WB. Bonus points for bringing Shannen Doherty back where she belongs.
Hits: Fox battle horses Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place; The WB's 7th Heaven (the net's top-rated show) and Charmed; Lifetime's Any Day Now Misses
Misses: CBS' Buddy Faro
Mid-season: Rescue 77, a '90s version of Emergency, for The WB, starring Shaft legend Richard Roundtree
Downside: What happens when owner Viacom finds a buyer?

7. Carsey-Werner
The mightiest of the small-production houses excels at churning out catchy sitcoms and attracting difficult stars.
Hits: CBS' Cosby; NBC's 3rd Rock From the Sun; Fox's That '70s Show
Misses: None this year, though this was the home of some very troubled sets in seasons past (Cybill, Roseanne, Grace Under Fire)
Mid-season: Nothing in development
Downside: How long can it remain independent in this merger-crazed world?

8. Studios USA (formerly Universal)
The renamed studio — helmed by the formidable Barry Diller — has better luck on the syndicated side (The Jerry Springer Show, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, and Xena: Warrior Princess).
Hits: NBC's Law & Order; ABC's Brother's Keeper
Misses: Fox's Hollyweird never even made it on the air.
Mid-season: CBS' Payne, a remake of Fawlty Towers starring John Larroquette; Turks, also for CBS, is Trinity without the murkiness.
Downside: Diller's master plan has yet to materialize.