>From SciFiWire,
Nov 21st/2001

**Roswell Still Alive**

Jason Katims, executive producer of UPN's teen alien series Roswell,
told us that he's still waiting to hear, but is hopeful that
the network will order nine final episodes of the show's third season.
The show is currently shooting its 10th episode, "A Tale of Two
Parties," which is the first script from fledgling staff writers Laura
J. Burns and Melinda Metz, the editor and author who created the
Roswell High young adult novels on which the series is based.

"Parties," dealing with New Year's Eve celebrations, will
air on Jan. 1/2002.

"We're waiting to hear about our back order right now, and my
understanding is they will give us a back order, yes," Katims said in
an interview. "It should be imminent. I'm waiting to hear. I'm not
sure whether we'll get the full nine episodes. ... I have not heard
from anybody directly about this, so I can't say for certain. But my
understanding is that we will be getting a back order."

Roswell has been "on the bubble" since it moved to the Smackdown
network from The WB, which canceled it at the end of last season. The
show has averaged a 1.4 rating/3 share among adults 18-49 and 3.2
million total viewers, compared with 2.7/7 and 5.6 million viewers for
its lead-in, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Roswell faces stiff competition
from The WB's hit series Smallville, as well as ABC's NYPD Blue.
Roswell airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT.