WB / CW Fans of the "Gilmore Girls" are in limbo as they await a decision on whether the new CW network will air locally. If CW shows don't find a spot on a Hawaii station, the show -- starring Lauren Graham, left, and Alexis Bledel -- won't air here. Nor will the established shows "Supernatural," "Veronica Mars," "Everybody Loves Chris," "Smallville" or "7th Heaven."

Seasonal transition

Fans of "Gilmore Girls" hope it lands a local channel before the season begins

A local fan of the female-centric TV drama "Gilmore Girls" -- let's call her Deb, as she wishes to remain in relative e-mail anonymity -- was concerned that her favorite show might not air later this month.

The first problem is that the WB's shows -- which included "Gilmore Girls," as well as "Supernatural" and other niche programming -- was aired by KFVE. But instead of signing up the CW, that station instead chose to carry telenovellas from Fox's newest venture, MyNetworkTV.

No. 2, UPN's shows were aired during the afternoon hours on KIKU, which also has declined to pick up the CW. KIKU General Manager Phyllis Kihara said the CW "wants its programming to be shown during prime time, as intended. But since we're already committed to our evening Japanese-language programming, KIKU will not carry the CW."

Still an option: Oceanic Time Warner Cable, but so far, no decision.

Which brings us back to Deb. How will she and other devoted Hawaii fans keep tabs on the lives of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, and the rest of the quirky denizens of Stars Hollow, Conn., when the seventh season of "Gilmore Girls" debuts Sept. 26?

"I've been watching 'Gilmore Girls' for several years," Deb wrote, "and have become addicted to the quick wit the characters have. In addition, with any show that runs for a long period of time, you get to know the characters and start rooting for them -- in this case, a young single mom and her daughter finding their way in life."

If Hawaii loses its "Gilmore" connection, Deb said, "we'll have to arrange for friends and family (living on the mainland) to send weekly tapes so we can at least keep up with the show."

Deb and other fans have expressed their concerns to local television and newspaper outlets. She even corresponded with the CW's senior vice president for communications, Paul McGuire.

To her surprise, McGuire sent a quick response: "We are still working on getting the CW on the air in your fine state," he e-mailed last month. "Stay tuned. We'll get it done."

The CW is set to launch over two weeks beginning Sept. 20, beginning with the two-hour premiere of the seventh edition of "America's Next Top Model," a reality-based series that was the UPN's highest-rated show.

If no Hawaii broadcast station picks up the CW, how about the state's main cable operator?

According to Norman Santos, Oceanic's vice president of operations, it's a possibility.

"Since the CW network has announced itself, they have been looking for a local affiliate," he said. "There are some players in the mix, and we are one of them. We're sort of waiting for the CW to make their choice."

Santos said the network would prefer to be carried on a broadcast station for optimum exposure, but considering how cable-saturated our island state is, the CW wouldn't suffer much in terms of a potential audience were it to go with Oceanic.

"We would carry their programming in its entirety, if selected," Santos said, "but right now, they're dealing with our corporate office. If we end up being chosen, we will try to get their programming shown at its inception."

So there is a ray of hope for fans like Deb. In three weeks' time they could still learn ... (cue announcer):

Will Lorelai give her heart back to Christopher, her first love and her daughter's real father, now that she's broken off the engagement to her best friend, Luke? And are things really over between Rory and bad boy Logan, who was last seen leaving for London to work for his father's newspaper?

Stay tuned!