Media: New York Post

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      ROSES AND A MESSAGE
      FOR ABC: DON'T PLAY
      STUPID WITH 'CUPID'

      By MICHELE GREPPI

      FANS of "Cupid" everywhere were mobilizing
      grassroots support yesterday for a stay of execution
      for their favorite show.

      One veteran of grassroots TV campaigns spent
      $51.98 to send a half-dozen red roses, carrying the
      message "Don't cancel love! Cupid" to ABC
      Entertainment executive Jamie Tarses.

      Viewers for Quality Television President Dorothy Swanson was preparing a rallying cry for the website
      of the grassroots organization, which had named
      "Cupid" the biggest surprise of the 1998-99 TV
      season, Jeremy Piven best actor in a new series and
      his character the most interesting of the season.

      "We are just as smitten with it as we were last fall,"
      Swanson told The Post yesterday.

      A shock jock in Chicago, Erich Mancow Muller, is
      putting his regionally syndicated radio muscle (and
      website) behind a campaign to save "Cupid," which
      until Tuesday morning, was shot in the Windy City.

      The show, whose premise is that Cupid has been
      banished from Mount Olympus until he makes 100
      mortal love matches, had languished on ABC's
      Saturday night lineup until being moved to 9 p.m.
      Thursdays two weeks ago.

      Not only did that put the "Cupid" up against NBC's
      "Frasier," but it meant that a show worthy of
      comparison to "Moonlighting" was airing in between
      "Vengeance Unlimited" (also struggling) and repeats of
      news hours about Death Row inmates and Charles
      Manson's "girls."

      In desperation, this critic invited 20 readers to her
      apartment last Saturday and screened several
      episodes.

      It was love - and laughter - at first sight. Each of the
      converts had happily pledged to convince at least 10
      of their friends to watch "Cupid" tonight and convey
      their sentiments to ABC (SAVE CUPID, 77 West
      66th St., NYC 10023).

      "Cupid" supporters are hoping that other networks
      might see the error of ABC's impatient ways and give
      the show a second chance, the way CBS did when
      NBC dropped "JAG."

      West Coast sources mentioned possible interest in
      "Cupid" at Fox, the home of "Ally McBeal," whose
      heroine (and friends) could use the help of the god of
      love.

      And at the hot and happening home of "Buffy the
      Vampire Slayer" and "Felicity," one executive told The
      Post: " ' Cupid' is definitely something the WB should
      take a look at."

      Could we hear a round of amens?

      Source: New York Post Entertainment