The networks recycled a plethora of soft shows from other networks, most of which survived up to three seasons. The problem

lie

with the fact that fellow "joke" network, FOX, ignited a firestorm of publicity by its 4th season with Married... With Children and the Simpsons. Several soft seasons followed after the buzz cooled, but FOX placed its stamp on the soap brand and X-Files in the mid-90's, assuring renewed interest when MWC faltered and Simpsons became ho-hum. At the same benchmark in FOX's 12th season in 1997-98, it possessed three top-20 entries and 7 top-50 performers. WB and UPN could only muster entries which reached into the 60's with the majority of their players resting in the ratings cellar. WB and UPN's curse

was

timing. Had they launched in 1987 vs. 1995, perhaps their fortunes would have mirrored FOX', who hit their stride in the 2000's in the reality TV craze.