PBS revives 'American High'

PBS will air episodes of "American High," originally showing on Fox.

October 24, 2000
Web posted at: 1:19 p.m. EDT (1719 GMT)

HOLLYWOOD (Reuters) -- Class is back in session for the critically acclaimed reality series "American High," which was dumped by Fox but has now landed at PBS.

The show chronicled the daily challenges of students at a suburban Chicago high school, with director R.J. Cutler ("The War Room") using a mix of documentary and filmmaking styles. Despite solid marketing and ecstatic reviews, "American High" received an F from audiences, and Fox canceled it in August after just two airings.

The PBS deal marks the first time the public broadcaster has acquired unaired episodes of a series originally produced for one of the Big Four networks. New PBS chief Pat Mitchell is expected to announce the acquisition Tuesday as part of the unveiling of its latest development slate.

PBS has bought all seven hours of "American High" produced for Fox. It is expected to launch the series next April, airing two new half-hour episodes weekly. They will then be repeated the next week, forming a two-hour "American High" block. It may order original episodes of "High" for broadcast in 2002.

"We're giddy," Cutler said of the PBS pickup. "It's life for the show. Pat Mitchell is really doing what she said she'd do at PBS."

PBS is getting "American High" relatively cheaply since Fox Broadcasting had already paid for most of the show's costs with its initial order. Should PBS go forward with another season, it will negotiate a new license fee deal with Fox Broadcasting sibling 20th Century Fox Television, which produced the series.

Copyright 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

FOX: American High

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