The big renewal news came in around 3:30 EST today from The CW. They have granted early renewal to three of their long standing series, actually number 1, 2, and 4 rated scripted series of the network. Here’s the press release via The CW:
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THE CW ANNOUNCES EARLY PICKUPS FOR THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, SUPERNATURAL AND 90210
Thursday, 03 May 2012 11:34
May 3, 2012 (Burbank, California) ? The CW Network has given early pickups to the network’s top-rated show, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, fan favorite SUPERNATURAL, and the world’s most-famous zip code, 90210, with all three series to return for the 2012-2013 season.
THE VAMPIRE DIARIES will return for a fourth season of bloody good drama this fall, SUPERNATURAL will mark its eighth season with the monster-hunting Winchester brothers on The CW, and on 90210, the gang from West Beverly will return for season five.
Based on the series of books by L. J. Smith, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES is from Bonanza Productions Inc., Outerbanks Entertainment and Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios with executive producers Kevin Williamson (“Scream,” “Dawson’s Creek”), Julie Plec (“Kyle XY,” “Wasteland”), Leslie Morgenstein (“Gossip Girl,” “Private”) and Bob Levy (“Gossip Girl,” “Privileged”).
SUPERNATURAL is from Warner Bros. Television in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, with executive producers McG (“Charlie’s Angels,” “The O.C.”), Robert Singer (“Midnight Caller”), Jeremy Carver (“Being Human”) and Phil Sgriccia.
90210 is produced by CBS Productions with executive producers Patti Carr (“Life Unexpected,” “Private Practice”) and Lara Olsen (“Life Unexpected,” “Private Practice”).
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Surprisingly, but also not surprisingly, signature series “Gossip Girl” was not on this list. It’s not surprising since showrunner Josh Safran stepped down last week to take over as executive producer/showrunner for NBC’s “Smash.” A new showrunner hasn’t been named yet, and it’s hard to grant early renewal to a show without someone in charge. Many are anticipating that “Gossip Girl” will now get a 13 episode renewal, and this will be announced as the final season.
Here’s the rumored statuses (based of various sources) of the other shows:
“Nikita” – I’m hearing that renewal is very possible. The show does very well internationally and has a stronger following than live ratings indicate. Plus, there’s really no other show to go with “Supernatural” on Fridays right now.
“Hart of Dixie” – There’s positive word about this show too. The pairing with “Gossip Girl” has not done this show a lot of service and it does well online. Plus it’ll be a good fit with the existing CW lineup.
“The Secret Circle” – The prospects of this show get weaker and weaker. Given all the new genre themed pilots that are attracting attention for the network, there just might not be room for this series on the schedule. It’s retaining less than 50% of “The Vampire Diaries” lead in now and many think it will do worse on it’s own in another slot. However, given the many holes in the network’s schedule and the desire to fill in gaps outside of the fall season, a 13 episode order is possible.
“Ringer” – Dead.
Congratulations to “The Vampire Diaries,” “Supernatural,” and “90210.” There’s plenty more coming from The CW in the next few weeks. The upfronts presentation of the new fall schedule is May 17th.
NOOOOOOO… Nikita is a TERRIBLE show to pair with SPN and I really don’t see why they need to renew it. If they do, then move SPN to a different night. With a new showrunner, many fans are talking about coming back, so NOW’s the time to move it back to Tuesday. It would pair GREAT with Arrow. Of if they keep it on on Friday, move Arrow as it’s lead in. Even on a Friday Arrow would do good.
This is where I must completely disagree. Supernatural is the #2 show on The CW. It’s an established veteran with an established base. The only show on the network that would give Supernatural a strong lead in is The Vampire Diaries, and we know that’s not happening.
The CW is blowing an opportunity by not making Supernatural a strong lead in for another show. The problem is, very few shows are compatible. I agree, Arrow would be very compatible. If anything, Supernatural should be at 8 pm and Arrow at 9pm. Nikita is compatible too believe it or not. They both attract they same demographic, which is males and females 18-49. Nikita’s base if anything skews older, but overall ratings wise it’s not that far behind Supernatural. The demo is where the differences are huge. Nikita would benefit from a Supernatural lead in.
As for Supernatural being a TV14 show, that doesn’t seem to matter much anymore. Nikita was a TV14 show too and nothing has changed since it went to 8pm. Since The CW is a small network, those standards of family friendly 8pm aren’t relevant.
The same demo’s have not helped Nikita lead in for SPN. The audience base is wrong. Nikita is a spy show and SPN a horror one. It has been a terrible lead in for SPN. And I don’t think only TVD can be a lead in for SPN. Arrow would work very well, and it can be on Friday.
It the TV-14 ratings don’t matter than flip the shows on Friday. Otherwise, move SPN to a different nght. More and more I wish they would do that.
NOOOOOOO… Nikita is a TERRIBLE show to pair with SPN and I really don’t see why they need to renew it. If they do, then move SPN to a different night. With a new showrunner, many fans are talking about coming back, so NOW’s the time to move it back to Tuesday. It would pair GREAT with Arrow. Of if they keep it on on Friday, move Arrow as it’s lead in. Even on a Friday Arrow would do good.
This is where I must completely disagree. Supernatural is the #2 show on The CW. It’s an established veteran with an established base. The only show on the network that would give Supernatural a strong lead in is The Vampire Diaries, and we know that’s not happening.
The CW is blowing an opportunity by not making Supernatural a strong lead in for another show. The problem is, very few shows are compatible. I agree, Arrow would be very compatible. If anything, Supernatural should be at 8 pm and Arrow at 9pm. Nikita is compatible too believe it or not. They both attract they same demographic, which is males and females 18-49. Nikita’s base if anything skews older, but overall ratings wise it’s not that far behind Supernatural. The demo is where the differences are huge. Nikita would benefit from a Supernatural lead in.
As for Supernatural being a TV14 show, that doesn’t seem to matter much anymore. Nikita was a TV14 show too and nothing has changed since it went to 8pm. Since The CW is a small network, those standards of family friendly 8pm aren’t relevant.
The same demo’s have not helped Nikita lead in for SPN. The audience base is wrong. Nikita is a spy show and SPN a horror one. It has been a terrible lead in for SPN. And I don’t think only TVD can be a lead in for SPN. Arrow would work very well, and it can be on Friday.
It the TV-14 ratings don’t matter than flip the shows on Friday. Otherwise, move SPN to a different nght. More and more I wish they would do that.
Personally, I love Nikita and besides TVD, I think its the only ‘grown-up’ lead in that the CW has for SPN. I’m beginning to hope that Nikita will be renewed and left on Fridays with SPN. The alternative – Secret Circle would be worse I think.
Three things that I’m relatively certain will NOT happen with the CW 2012-2013 schedule:
1 SPN moved away from Friday’s 9PM
2 Vampire Diaries moved away from Thu 8PM
3 A new show premiered at 8pm Fridays
SPN moving just isn’t going to happen. Sure SPN is the network’s 2nd highest rated show – no other network ever has its highest rated shows on Fridays. And the CW shouldn’t either. BUT the CW doesn’t need SPN on another night – it needs new shows that do as well as or better than Vampire Diaries on MTW. Switching the schedule of the existing shows that are doing well in their current timeslots would be a waste of promo $ because the changes would have to be advertised.
I’m actually very happy that SPN is on Fridays. The expectations are less and its a perfect spot for an older show to produce episodes without impacting the high profile days. SPN can stay there for at least a couple of years while the CW rebuilds the rest of the schedule even if its relative ratings aren’t as good next year.
Personally, I love Nikita and besides TVD, I think its the only ‘grown-up’ lead in that the CW has for SPN. I’m beginning to hope that Nikita will be renewed and left on Fridays with SPN. The alternative – Secret Circle would be worse I think.
Three things that I’m relatively certain will NOT happen with the CW 2012-2013 schedule:
1 SPN moved away from Friday’s 9PM
2 Vampire Diaries moved away from Thu 8PM
3 A new show premiered at 8pm Fridays
SPN moving just isn’t going to happen. Sure SPN is the network’s 2nd highest rated show – no other network ever has its highest rated shows on Fridays. And the CW shouldn’t either. BUT the CW doesn’t need SPN on another night – it needs new shows that do as well as or better than Vampire Diaries on MTW. Switching the schedule of the existing shows that are doing well in their current timeslots would be a waste of promo $ because the changes would have to be advertised.
I’m actually very happy that SPN is on Fridays. The expectations are less and its a perfect spot for an older show to produce episodes without impacting the high profile days. SPN can stay there for at least a couple of years while the CW rebuilds the rest of the schedule even if its relative ratings aren’t as good next year.