2016 Upfronts Preview Pt 3b: If I scheduled the CW’s TV Schedule

Upfronts, the annual ritual when TV network execs trek to NYC to pitch their upcoming television schedule and hope advertisers are enticed enough to buy time to run commercials during those shows.

In my preview of the 2016 Upfronts, I’ve taken a look at the pilots (aka first episode) under contention for a full series pick-up as well as the prospects for renewal/cancellation of the shows currently on air at each of the networks. Note: these posts could already be out of date with renewal/cancellation & pilot pickup/passed over news since they’ve been published.

In the last part of the Upfronts Preview, I’ll play backseat network executive and lay out how I would program the television schedules for each of the networks.
ABC’s 2016-17 schedule
Next up: The CW

The CW is doing pretty darn well for itself this season. So well, in fact, that it went ahead and renewed every scripted show (excepting Containment which hadn’t aired at the time, but could very well be a contender as a summer show in the future). That makes it simultaneously easier and trickier to program its upcoming television schedule. Easier as the template for its schedule is laid out, trickier because how to slot any potential new series?

On to the hypothetical scheduling!

Monday
Current Schedule: Reign/Jane the Virgin
Keep Jane the Virgin. Save Crazy Ex-Girlfriend for winter (the writers could probably use the time to write all those songs too). Slot in Riverdale as a lead-in for Jane.

Tuesday
Current Schedule: The Flash/Containment
I see CW moving iZombie to another night to give a new show The Flash as its lead-in, but my fandom for iZombie is too strong. Keep this night as is.

Wednesday
Current Schedule: Arrow/Supernatural
Although ratings have atrophied a bit in the spring, that’s par for the course for most shows in spring. Keep as is.

Thursday
Current Schedule: DC’s Legends of Tomorrow/The 100
Keep DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, slot in the Untitled Mars drama behind it as the sci-fi aspect of it meshes well with LoT.

Friday
Current Schedule: The Vampire Diaries/The Originals
Keep as is, moving The Vampire Diaries and The Originals to Friday has been a boon to Friday CW ratings and hasn’t hurt ratings for either show too significantly.

2016-17 CW television schedule
new shows in italics

Monday: Riverdale/Jane the Virgin
Tuesday: The Flash/iZombie
Wednesday: Arrow/Supernatural
Thursday: DC’s Legends of Tomorrow/Untitled Mars drama
Friday: The Vampire Diaries/The Originals