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Kith and Kin; The WB's top ratings earner reaches a milestone as TV's longest-running family drama.

Article Excerpt
Byline: Lee Alan Hill Special to TelevisionWeek

""7th Heaven,'' The WB's series about a minister, his wife and their seven children, has proved it has legs. As it begins its 10th season it will not only have set the record as the longest-running family drama in TV history, it will mark the milestone with its 200th episode.

The show, which premiered Aug. 26, 1996, as one of The WB's inaugural efforts, now not only tops ""Little House on the Prairie'' and ""The Waltons'' for endurance among family dramas, it has been its network's highest-rated series for the past seven seasons.

Created by Brenda Hampton, who remains its executive producer and showrunner, ""7th Heaven'' is supplied to The WB by Spelling Television, a Paramount/Viacom company. Aaron Spelling and E. Duke Vincent executive produce along with Ms. Hampton.

""`7th Heaven' has been taken to heart by the TV audience for 10 years not only because it's good, but because it is a show that has always had a window for every member of the family,'' said David Janollari, president of entertainment for The WB. ""No matter what your age or gender, there's a character with whom you can relate.''

""Its importance to our network has been enormous,'' Mr. Janollari said. ""But even more so when you realize it has remained in its Monday night at...