Upfront News and Views: A New Direction for Spike, Now Targeting Women and Families, Too

Venue: Cipriani 42nd St., the stately dining/event hall across from Grand Central Station. Nothing outside the building suggested a Spike showcase would happen here, the opposite of last week's Nickelodeon presentation where a mural on W. 33rd St. guided attendees in. Few pre-show frills inside. The stage was lined by 2001-like monolith slabs, with the network's new logo displayed on the podium and the walls behind. Grade: 3 Jacks