The last of the network upfronts is out, covering CW’s fall schedule. Here are my thoughts and what I anticipate Critical Myth will be covering in one degree or another next season. The following is the schedule released by the network on 19 May 2011:
CW FALL 2010 SCHEDULE *New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Gossip Girl
9:00-10:00 PM HART OF DIXIE
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM 90210
9:00-10:00 PM RINGER
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM H8R
9:00-10:00 PM America’s Next Top Model
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM The Vampire Diaries
9:00-10:00 PM THE SECRET CIRCLE
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Nikita
9:00-10:00 PM Supernatural
- Mondays
Despite the hot young cast, I’ve never understood the appeal of “Gossip Girl”, and “Hart of Dixie” just doesn’t sound particularly unique or interesting. So Monday nights will continue to be dominated by Syfy’s experiments in counter-programming and holdovers from the increasingly-crowded weekends.
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Tuesday
I’ve ignored the new “90210” up to this point and will continue to do so. But “Ringer”, with Sarah Michelle Gellar, looks interesting enough for a look. It also has Nestor Carbonell, which is always a good sign.
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Wednesday
It’s the CW’s weakest night, it seems, with the ridiculously titled and themed reality show “H8R” and the seemingly endless “America’s Next Top Model”. Wednesdays are definitely a catch-up and cable night for me.
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Thursday
I’m a huge fan of “The Vampire Diaries”, so I’m happy to see that continue in its counter-programmed timeslot. Pairing it with “The Secret Circle”, a new show from the same producers based on a series by the same author, is a great idea. I have no idea if I’ll like “The Secret Circle”, but it has a capable production pedigree, which makes it worth a look.
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Friday
Friday is back to being positively stuffed with genre goodness, even if Syfy has seemingly abandoned its old successful stomping grounds. “Nikita” still shows potential, and “Supernatural” is a mainstay of my viewing week. I only wish they weren’t up against “Chuck” and “Fringe”, respectively. If live viewing is so vital to genre shows, why do networks force them to compete for live eyeballs? Sigh…
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Mid-Season
CW has less slack in its schedule, so it tends to keep reality shows in reserve for mid-season. Since I generally ignore reality shows, there’s not much to say about the mid-season possibilities.
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What Didn’t Make the Cut
I’m glad “Awakening” didn’t make it, because I’m of the strong opinion that the zombie subgenre is oversaturated at this point. On the other hand, I wouldn’t have minded “Heavenly” on the schedule, especially with Lauren Cohen in the lead. But I assume that it was replaced with “Ringer”, which had the SMG name recognition going for it. (And given the network’s history, “Ringer” can be more easily promoted as “the return of SMG from Buffy”.)
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Final Verdict
The CW gets a lot of dismissal as a network, but like the scrappy early days of the FOX network, that means they go for a different audience, and that’s good for genre fans, especially if they like things with a supernatural bent. When it comes to CW, the shows that will likely be covered on Critical Myth include Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, Nikita, Ringer, and The Secret Circle.
