I must admit I had high hopes for this new CW network. Deciding to combine forces a few months back, UPN and the WB had the opportunity to bring the best of their worlds together – a television programmer’s dream. They also happen to have two of my favorite shows in Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars. Well, their fall schedule was finally released last week. And it’s nothing to shout about.
I know, I know. Rome wasn’t built in a day, etc. There just isn’t much in their lineup to get advertisers and critics excited. There’s the Tuesday pairing of Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars. The CW does boast two of the better reality hours in America’s Next Top Model and Beauty and the Geek. Smallville is at the top of its game, creatively and ratings-wise. But dragging 7th Heaven from the grave after its supposed finale only admits to their lack of product. And shame on them for pulling the plug on Everwood, yet returning the insipid One Tree Hill.
Staying Put: All of Us, America’s Next Top Model, Beauty and the Geek, Everybody Hates Chris, Gilmore Girls, Girlfriends, One Tree Hill, Reba*, 7th Heaven, Smallville, Supernatural, Veronica Mars, WWE Smackdown!
Coming Soon: The Game, Hidden Palms#, Runaway
Say Goodbye: The Bedford Diaries, Blue Collar TV, Charmed, Cuts, Eve, Everwood, Get This Party Started, Half & Half, Living with Fran, Love Inc., Modern Men, One on One, Pepper Dennis, Related, South Beach, Twins, What I Like About You
* Not a full-season pickup
# Mid-season replacement
As far as new shows go, it’s even more bleak. The Game is a spinoff of the pretty decent Girlfriends that revolves around wives of football players. Donnie Wahlburg stars in Runaway: he’s on the run from the law…with his family. Following 7th Heaven though? And Hidden Palms just sounds like a really bad O.C. clone. What happened to Aquaman?
Monday
8 7th Heaven
9 Runaway
Tuesday
8 Gilmore Girls
9 Veronica Mars
Wednesday
8 America’s Next Top Model
9 One Tree Hill
Thursday
8 Smallville
9 Supernatural
Friday
8 WWE Smackdown!
Sunday
7 Everybody Hates Chris
7:30 All of Us
8 Girlfriends
8:30 The Game
9 America’s Next Top Model(encore)
Strongest Night(s): Tuesday and Thursday
Weakest Night(s): Sunday
First New Show(s) to Go: Runaway
My Take: CW’s lineup is a little disappointing. Especially surprising is the lack of exciting new stuff. If they don’t have more enticing programming to offer this time next year, some very lean years lie ahead…
