Wednesday, November 22, 2000

By Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV Editor

VQT ENDORSEMENTS: Viewers for Quality Television, the Fairfax, Va.-based advocacy group that encourages networks to keep quality shows on the air, has released its list of Fall 2000 endorsements.

"Gilmore Girls," already voted best new series by the organization, was the only new series added to the group's fully endorsed list, which also includes "Ally McBeal," "Any Day Now," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Frasier," "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Malcolm in the Middle," "NYPD Blue," "Once and Again," "The Sopranos," "The Practice," "The West Wing," "Will & Grace" and "The X-Files."

New series making VQT's second tier of support, qualified support, are "Boston Public," "Ed," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Gideon's Crossing." Returning qualified support series include "Angel," "ER," "Friends," "JAG," "Judging Amy," "Oz," "The Simpsons" and "Third Watch."

CHANNEL SURFING: The WB will premiere its reality series about five girls forming a band, "Popstars," at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 12 ... Artwork from the archives of Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures ("H.R. Pufnstuf," "Land of the Lost," etc.) will go up for auction on ebay.com starting the first week in December.