The CW. Where the goal is to standout, because they’re lost in the mix bad enough. Oh, I kid. To be honest, it’s been a good year. They are now a two hit network, as opposed to a one hit network. So, will any of these new pilots add to that? Maybe. After all, they really don’t have to try that hard to catch NBC.
Since the entire slate is dramas, that makes categorizing easy!
Frontrunners: The Originals, The Tomorrow People
The backdoor pilot for The Originals was filmed weeks ago, and it’s ready to air as a Vampire Diaries episode this Thurday, April 25th. The CW is doing a ton of promotion, because the brass loves it. It’s going to take a massive public outcry of epic proportions, using the rally cry “Do…not…want!” in order for this not to make the fall schedule. I’m just going off of the scenes between Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah in last week’s episode and I’ve got goosebumps. I really hope The CW is right about this one, because fan expectations right now are super high.
The Tomorrow People is a different story in that the pilot filmed a little late, but early returns from the pilot has everyone super enthusiastic. Those that have seen the script say it’s brilliant, and having Julie Plec and Greg Berlanti tied to the project, two CW superstars on a winning streak, doesn’t hurt!
Strong, but no longer a frontrunner: The Hundred.
As to why this show has supposedly dropped in stock, assuming it has, it’s probably because it was one of the first pilots done and others are coming in. I still think it has a good chance at pickup. The problem is, where does it fit on the schedule? Is it possible that they’re too heavy on supernatural themed pilots? That’s probably where the hang up is right now, and that’s likely always been the hang up.
Remaining strong: Oxygen
This one is in contention for two reasons. It’s good. Two, it’s from CBS Television Studios. It’s all about balance in this half owned Warner Brothers, half owned CBS network, even if the scales are tipping in WB’s favor these days. The three renewed shows were Warner Brothers. The three main frontrunners are Warner Brothers. Three of the four bubble shows are Warner Brothers. See a trend? I do imagine this show will earn a slot somehow just for more balance.
Getting buzz for some strange reason: Reign
I’m really not sure why we’re hearing a lot about this one. I get the network’s desire to go high concept, and thanks to shows like Game of Thrones period pieces are in, but this would be a strange oddball in the already screwy CW lineup. But this is also CBS Television Studios, so it goes back to that balance thing. I still say if this one flies, it’s this season’s Cult and gets shuffled around midseason until it ultimately dies.
I said it here first, it’s dead: The Selection
If at first you don’t succeed, try again. If you fail a second time, quit and get drunk. This remade pilot is an improvement over last year, but it still isn’t as good as the pilots listed above. There is mass disappointment with this one, despite the network’s strong desire to make it work. Plus, it’s Warner Brothers, where a pickup of this one would just tip the scales.
No word at all, which is never a good sign: Blink.
This pilot filmed in Vancouver in early March, and not a peep has come back about it. The script was blasted by many to be the weakest of the bunch. Me thinks this is one of the losers for CBS Television Studios.
Too early to tell: Company Town.
The pilot was only shot a few weeks ago, so no doubt it’s still in post production. It’s another CBS Television Studios project, but this is a straight up character drama. Will it fit in this dominant supernatural lineup? That’s a hard one to say. It would add some diversity, but what show would you pair it with? Hart of Dixie is the only one I can think of, and that show is really light compared to the heavy drama this one brings.
The 2013 – 2014 Fantasy Schedule
I was going to wait until the next installment to do this, but hey, it’s The CW, where only 10 hours has to be figured. I’m feeling cheeky. In reviewing this schedule please note, I don’t give a damn about reality. The CW has been using its reality slate for summer and midseason break filler anyway. So you won’t see any reality figured into my static schedule.
Here’s the scorecard:
Renewed: The Vampire Diaries, Arrow, and Supernatural.
On The Bubble: Hart of Dixie, Nikita, Beauty and The Beast, The Carrie Diaries
Gone: 90210, Cult
I’m predicting all of the bubble shows get picked up. Hart of Dixie, Beauty and The Beast, and The Carrie Diaries do very well online, which actually matters for The CW. I say the first two get full season orders, and The Carrie Diaries gets another 13 episode order. Nikita does wonderful internationally, but this will be its last season. I say it’s getting a full season pickup, unlike the rumors of a 13 episode run. More episodes to sell, more money for parent Warner Brothers.
Wednesday night is the only night that’s completely stable. It’s the CW’s number one night. Mondays and Tuesdays are going to carry most of the new programming load. Fridays will likely take on bubble shows with those devoted online bases.
With the limited knowledge we have on pilots right now, I’m working in The Originals, The Tomorrow People, Oxygen, The Hundred, and Reign. I’m not counting out Company Town, it’s just where would that fit in on this schedule? Midseason? I don’t see The CW picking up 6 pilots and all four of its bubble shows, even if they might have the slots.
Monday
8 pm – Hart of Dixie
9 pm – Oxygen
Tuesday –
8 pm – The Tomorrow People
9 pm – The Hundred (Time slots clearly interchangeable)
Wednesday
8 pm – Arrow
9 pm – Supernatural
Thursday
8 pm – The Vampire Diaries
9 pm – The Originals
Friday
8 pm – Nikita
9 pm – Beauty and The Beast
Midseason: The Carrie Diaries, Reign
Okay fantasy schedulers, your turn! Which pilots do you think or would you like to see make it?
Oh I had my hopes up for Blink, just for the cast. But I knew it was an odd concept specially for The CW
I’d such high hopes for The Selection. However, being the CW network, how were they going to pull off the war and bloodshed if they’re going to “beautify” it?
You weren’t the only one that had high hopes! The CW PTB really, really wanted this concept to work and they’re not overjoyed.
I just hope one of the better shows isn’t passed over because The CW is hell bent on a particular concept with mediocre execution. They aren’t that dumb, are they? Ha, what am I saying? This is network TV. 🙂
Blink isn’t out of the running, but it is really odd how there’s no word on it out there at all. Who knows, maybe no news is good news. Usually when something is horrible, someone says so.
Well, the scheduling just got a little bit easier with the pick-ups yesterday, didn’t it? I always have fun doing this for the CW!
Here’s what I think (and I have actually thought this for a while)
Mon=2 new shows Tomorrow people and whatever else comes in hot. I was thinking the 100 but that seems to have cooled off. I think it would be smart for the CW to spend their marketing on one night and to change the schedule as little as possible. And they need another night that WORKS with a series, like Arrow that can self start — I hope Tomorrow people is that show if only because Mark Pelligrino is in it.
Tue= HOD & BATB in the fall and BATB & New Show at midseason
HOD moves to Fridays at midseason to continue its low but steady march to syndication
HOD & BATB have already been airing together and the BATB repeats did about the same as the ones on Thursdays, so . . . . its not great but . . .
Then at midseason the new show– probably Oxygen or possibly the selection creates a futuristic or supernaturally themed romance night. (and Wonder Woman is still in the mix as an off season choice I believe)
Wed= Arrow & SPN anyone who thinks these two will be split up is delusional
Thu= TVD & The Originals – This has obviously been the plan siince the inception of the show and its a good one. I think one of the biggest mistakes that was made w/ The Secret Circle was it NOT being in the same universe as TVD. I really liked the Originals pilot — its good news that its been picked up.
Fri =Nikita and ANTM in Fall and Nikita & HOD in Spring. Final season for Nikita. HOD lives out the second half of its third and its fourth season on Fridays.
So the CW picks up three shows for Fall (including the Originals) and one for midseason. Carrie Diaries, if it lives on at all, (and I don’t think it will unless the pilots all REALLY suck) will be midseason or online only.
Hi Melanie! It’s so cool we’ve hit this time of year again.
I like your idea of putting Hart of Dixie and Beauty and The Beast together. They would work. My issue is if they picked up an Oxygen or a Company Town, would it really work as midseason? Would it be better to pair a veteran show with a new show, even if that veteran show gets marginal ratings?
I’m thrilled The Originals got picked up. I’ll definitely be watching that one. I didn’t think the story was all that great, but I didn’t care considering it gave Klaus and Elijah a chance to shine. I want that every week.
Word is the thing holding up the Nikita renewal is number of episodes. 88 is the magic syndication number. Nikita has 68. Warner Brothers obviously wants a full season, but The CW isn’t sure. WB is going to have to give The CW those episodes for free I’d think if they want them.
sorry, I think I hit the wrong ‘reply’ as I seem to have been talking to myself instead of you!
I was just reading the Deadline article about the pick-ups — they think that Carrie is still a possible pick-up due to ‘rich streaming deals.’ A renewal would have to be based on something other than ratings, because the ratings are as bad as Emily Owens.
Unless Mark is really going for that cable model of shorter seasons, I don’t see the point of another 13 episode pick-up unless its for just streaming on line. Because at a rate of 13 episodes at a time, Carrie won’t have enough episodes for syndication until after the time Sex & the City was already happening.
True they could have a new show and a returning show on both Mon & Tuesday — Leave HOD where it is and move BATB to Mondays to minimize the schedule changes. The only problem with that is that they know the ratings for both HOD & BATB aren’t that great – neither one is strong enough to launch a new show and tonally I don’t think any of the pilots are a good match for HOD. They MUST get another show doing a 1.0 or better and they never have a ton of promo dollars where they can pimp out much more than one show at a time — (most of the promo went to Arrow this season and rightfully so)
The Originals is great because all the promo stuff can be in tandem w/ TVD. I think Mark had a goal of ‘fixing’ one night (Wed) this year and that next year he will try to fix either Monday or Tuesday. Neither HOD nor BATB will help with that the way SPN helped with Arrow.
I’m also glad that the Originals was picked up. I hope Nikita gets to 100 episodes!