by Kate O'Hare

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - As announced by 20th Century Fox Television and UPN late on Friday, April 20, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is officially relocating to UPN this fall, ending a five-season run on The WB. The deal comes at the end of a protracted war of words involving series creator Joss Whedon and producing studio 20th Century Fox on the one hand, and The WB on the other.

In the end, UPN has agreed to a two-year, 44-episode pickup for the series, which stars Sarah Michelle Gellar (who has just announced her engagement to Freddie Prinze Jr.). The fate of "Buffy" spin-off and Tuesday-evening WB sked-mate "Angel" -- created and executive-produced by Whedon and David Greenwalt -- remains an open question. An announcement about that show is expected at the latest by May, when The WB reveals its fall schedule.

In the meantime, in a statement, The WB responded to the loss of "Buffy," saying: "20th Television has made an inauspicious decision for the television industry by taking one of their own programs off of a non-affiliated network and placing it on a network in which they have a large vested interest, through their acquisition of Chris-Craft and public comments that Fox and UPN are discussing ways to merge. The WB will continue to develop successful, innovative programming that delivers a high concentration of young adults and teens."

"We wish Sarah, Joss and David Greenwalt well."