Following the networks' lead, netlet CW has announced sweeping changes to its midseason schedule in an effort to combat the lack of first-run scripted programming which is currently plaguing all of broadcast television.Along with several launches, the CW plans to shift its long-standing Monday night comedy block to Sundays and move freshman dramas Gossip Girl and Reaper to new nights.
The netlet will launch the second season of trashy reality competition series Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious on February 18th, bring One Tree Hill back to the lineup, and launch new seasons of Beauty and the Geek and America's Next Top Model. Reality series Farmer Wants a Wife will likely be held until after the season finales of ANTM and Pussycat Dolls.
Everybody Hates Chris, Aliens in America, Girlfriends, and The Game will shift to Sundays and take over for freshman drama Life is Wild, which completed airing its initial 13-episode order. (Don't look for it to return.)
"We are really trying to take advantage of admittedly a very changed schedule now because of the strike," Kelly Kahl, SVP of program operations at CBS, told The Hollywood Reporter. "With the strike, we have an interesting opportunity to experiment, and with the nice stability from our reality shows, we can get a look at how some of these [scripted] shows do in other time periods."
So without further ado, here's a look at the CW's unveiled midseason schedule.
Mondays:
8-9 pm: Gossip Girl (Beginning January 28th)
9-10 pm: Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious (Beginning February 18th)
Tuesdays:
8-9 pm: Reaper (Beginning January 15th)
8-9 pm: Beauty and the Geek (Beginning March 11th)
9-10 pm: One Tree Hill
Wednesdays (Beginning February 20th):
8-10 pm: America's Next Top Model
9-10 pm: Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious (Repeats)
Thursdays:
8-9 pm: Smallville
9-10 pm: Reaper (Beginning February 28th)
Sundays (Beginning February 10th):
7-7:30 pm: CW Now
7:30-8 pm: Everybody Hates Chris (Repeats)
8-8:30 pm: Everybody Hates Chris
8:30-9 pm: Aliens in America
9-9:30 pm: Girlfriends
9:30-10 pm: The Game
As for the decision to shift Gossip Girl--which will be in repeats after its final first-run episode airs this week--to Mondays, Kahl said it was an effort to introduce the series to new viewers and take it out of American Idol's firing line. "I don't think anyone's expecting miracles in terms of running series repeats, but at the same point there's a unique opportunity to get some new eyeballs on it," said Kahl. "There's great buzz and a great reaction to Gossip Girl -- now we just want to grow the audience a bit. The Wednesday night competition is tough, and it will get tougher with American Idol moving in."
Stay tuned.
What's On Tonight
8 pm: How I Met Your Mother/The Big Bang Theory (CBS); American Gladiators (NBC); Everybody Hates Chris/Aliens in America (CW); Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann (ABC; 8-10 pm)
9 pm: Two and a Half Men/Rules of Engagement (CBS); Deal or No Deal (NBC); Girlfriends/The Game (CW)
10 pm: CSI: Miami (CBS); Medium (NBC); October Road (ABC)
What I'll Be Watching
10 pm: No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain on Travel Channel.
Just in time for the new year, it's a brand new season of No Reservations on the Travel Channel. In tonight's installment, Tony travels to Singapore, where he samples some chicken rice (a local favorite) and visits a reflexologist for a traditional foot massage.
Comments
I think airing repeats of Gossip Girl on Mondays is a smart move. The show has a lot of buzz around it and they could definitely pull in some new audience members, which would be good since the numbers have never been big for this show.