The CW Adds Four New Series Tweaks all five nights
The CW , which presented the final fall schedule architected by departing network president Dawn Ostroff, is offering its most ambitious slate to-date: four new series (three dramas and one reality hour), with changes on all five evenings. The dramas are Hart of Dixie, Ringer (which was developed for CBS) and The Secret Circle; with the reality hour comedic-driven H8R, hosted by Mario Lopez.
Monday opens with Gossip Girl moving back to 8 p.m., leading into new drama Hart of Dixie. Current Monday 8 p.m. occupant 90210, which is not the “hit” the network would lead you to believe, heads to Tuesdays at 8 p.m. into new drama Ringer, with former Buffy, the Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar playing twin sisters. Wednesday opens with new reality hour H8R, which unites celebrities with the fans who hate them (“Snookie” and Kim Kardashian appear in the pilot), followed by the first all-time edition of America’s Next Top Model, which host Tyra Banks promises will never be “ordinary” again. Returning The Vampire Diaries on Thursday leads into new compatible sci-fi themed drama The Secret Circle on Thursday. And Friday will feature relocated Nikita, which is back for season two, and veteran Supernatural.
While the inherent problem with The CW”s line-up is lack of nightly anchor support from Gossip Girl, 90210 and Nikita, 40 percent of the schedule comprised of new programming is aggressive, and each evening features two adequately paired hours. Plus, in a sea of over 20 new scripted programs debuting this fall, H8R, hosted by Mario Lopez, had the biggest positive response from the audience. It looks like a hoot.
Midseason on The CW will feature non-scripted hours The Framed and Remodeled, and the return of One Tree Hill, which will be heading into its ninth, and final season. Not returning are Smallville and freshman entries Hellcats and Shedding for the Wedding.
Here is The CW’s fall 2011 line-up, with the new shows bolded in caps.
Monday
8:00 p.m. Gossip Girl (new time)
9:00 p.m. HART OF DIXIE
Tuesday
8:00 p.m. 90210 (new day)
9:00 p.m. RINGER
Wednesday
8:00 p.m. H8R
9:00 p.m. America’s Next Top Model
Thursday
8:00 p.m. The Vampire Diaries
9:00 p.m. THE SECRET SIRCLE
Friday
8:00 p.m. Nikita (new day and time)
9:00 p.m. Supernatural
What follows are the new program descriptions:
DRAMA
Hart of Dixie
A young New York City doctor (Rachel Bilson) inherits a medical practice in a small Southern town inhabited by an eclectic and eccentric group of characters.
Ringer
Former Buffy, the Vampire star Sarah Michelle Gellar plays a troubled woman on the run who hides out by living the life of her wealthy twin sister until she learns her sibling’s life has a bounty on it as well.
Secret Circle
A young woman (Brittany Robertson) moves to her mother’s hometown of New Salem and discovers she is a witch who can unlock a centuries-old battle of good versus evil. Thomas Dekker plays her love interest.
NON-SCRIPTED
The Frame (midseason)
Modeled after Big Brother, ten teams of two live together in a single room for up to eight weeks with 24/7 surveillance to compete to see who viewers at home keep in the house.
H8R
Everyday people who have a true dislike for a particular celebrity finds themselves paired with that person, as they “truly” learn what he or she is like. Mario Lopez hosts.
Re-Modeled
Small modeling agencies morphing into bigger presences is the focus of this new reality hour.
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