| Monday, May 15, 2006; Posted: 9:35 a.m. EDT (13:35 GMT)
LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- Despite all the misty-eyed talk of farewells last week, the long-running WB Network drama "7th Heaven" is expected to move to the new CW Network for an 11th season in the fall.
Sources said CW executives hammered out a deal during the weekend with series creator and executive producer Brenda Hampton to return for another season, which means Monday's finale may not have been final.
Sources said the sticking point -- needed to be resolved in time for CW's "upfront" presentation to advertisers Thursday -- was reaching terms with the family drama's primary cast members, including Stephen Collins and Catherine Hicks.
It's understood that while WB's old "Heaven" contract had options on key cast members for another season, the network and its sibling studio, CBS Paramount Network TV, which produces "Heaven" through its Spelling Television unit, are asking cast members to take a pay cut from the salary levels already spelled out in those option agreements. The salary bill was cited as one reason for the show's axing in the first place.
Moreover, there was much grousing from multiple talent agents on the show that CBS Paramount and CW were offering guarantees for 10-13 episodes instead of the standard 22-episode full-season deal.
Representatives for CW and CBS Paramount Television declined comment on the matter Sunday.
"Heaven's" 10th-season finale aired last week amid much fanfare about it being the series closer. "Heaven" delivered its highest marks in more than two years with an episode that appeared to wrap up many loose ends in the show about a minister (Collins) and his sprawling family.
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My friend is DYING to know if Veronica Mars got picked up for a third season, and said that she will scream if they don't, but 7th Heaven does.