Abc Responds To Online Operation ‘Life’ Support

“My SoCalled Life” already was this season’s “I’ll Fly Away,” its “Brooklyn Bridge” - the cult-hit “quality” show whose crummy ratings lead to a highly publicized network programming decision.

But ABC Entertainment president Ted Harbert Wednesday confirmed that status by telling TV critics at their semiannual meeting here that “reports of its … demise are premature and untrue. We have not and will not make a decision on that show until May.”

The show has ranked 101st of 111 shows so far this season.

Ever since ABC announced last month that the hourlong drama would go “on hiatus” after its 19th episode airs Jan. 26, viewers have supplemented the usual write-in protest campaign with a new twist: Operation “Life” Support, a San Francisco-based campaign on the America Online computer service.

And Harbert and ABC are now courting the online audience: He will host a forum in ABC’s AOL area after the show’s Thursday broadcast, and last week said he has several times chatted with fans anonymously online.

Harbert said his interaction with the show’s fans “is sort of like a big focus group - because I don’t have time to go to focus groups.”