By Josef Adalian

Yahoo News

Friday November 30 4:28 AM ET

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - UPN may be looking to get out of ``Roswell'' a bit earlier than planned.

When the network snagged the sci-fi actioner from the rival WB earlier this year, it said it had bought 22 episodes for 2001-02, the show's third season. But Thursday, UPN CEO Dean Valentine said the network has the right to cut that order to 13 episodes based on ratings.

Unlike WB import ``Buffy the Vampire Slayer (news - Y! TV),'' ``Roswell'' hasn't been scoring out-of-this-world Nielsen numbers since moving to UPN. Insiders said there's a chance now that UPN might cut ``Roswell's'' order to 19 episodes; there's a smaller chance UPN will simply stick with the 13 already guaranteed.

A final decision is expected within the next few weeks. Whatever happens, UPN said it may premiere midseason comedies ``As If'' and ``Leap Years'' in ``Roswell's'' 9 p.m. Tuesday slot sometime in March or April -- bumping ``Roswell'' repeats.

Reuters/Variety REUTERS