'GRAPE' EXPECTATIONS

In the age of Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place, networks are wooing twentysomethings with shows like CBS' 2000 Malibu Road, Fox's The Heights, and ABC's Going to Extremes. CBS' six-episode summer series Grapevine, a comedy in which beautiful yuppies provided narration to their own romantic scenarios, also fit the mold. But instead of hyping the show, CBS was trying to auction it off last week-the latest example of a network selling its own in-house production to a competitor. (This season, ABC sold another twentysomething series, Class of '96, to Fox.) And Grapevine is an unusual example of a network cutting losses by trying to sell a program it produced when the show isn't renewed at home. Although it couldn't generate ratings even wedged between Murphy Brown and Northern Exposure, two powerhouse Monday-night comedies, Grapevine hasn't wilted yet. Creator David Frankel says NBC is interested in the show. If, for instance, the network were to add Grapevine to the Wednesday-night lineup, it might give a younger skew to Seinfeld and the new Mad About You, two decidedly thirtysomething comedies.

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