Whew, the last part of my preview of Upfronts 2015, that daily ritual where the networks trot out to NYC to present next season’s television schedule to advertisers in an effort to entice them to buy commercial time upfront. I’ve taken a look at what shows look likely to be cancelled or renewed (the fates of which have pretty much all been revealed by now), the pilots under contention to be picked up to series, and how I would schedule the upcoming seasons of ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX. Time for the last network to schedule!
CW is a bit easy to schedule, and not only because it only has 10 hours of programming as opposed to 19 hours on the Big 3 and 14 on Fox. It renewed pretty much every scripted program not named ‘Hart of Dixie’ or ‘The Messengers’ from this past television season. While it launched one of, if not the most successful shows in CW history with The Flash, the ratings trends in Spring bring some cause of concern: The Vampire Diaries are hovering around series lows, Reign somehow is still alive, and Monday’s are modestly rated. Still, CW is in a stronger position than last year (evidenced by early renewals for the bulk of its shows), has opportunity, and more importantly, momentum to grow.
Monday
Current Schedule: The Originals/Jane the Virgin
Jane the Virgin has been a modest performer for the CW. But, it is easily, hands down the most critically acclaimed show broadcast on the CW…ever (granted the CW’s only been around for 9 years, but still). While that’s a low bar to clear, it’s also been one of the best-reviewed network shows this season and won a Golden Globe for star Gina Rodriguez. That’s all to say, the CW will keep with a modest performer if it can shine a light and garner awards/nominations. A minor uptick in the ratings following Rodriguez’s Golden Globe win didn’t really sustain through the rest of the season but its 18-49 ratings are on par with lead-in The Originals. At some point the CW may want to reconsider the time-slot, going up against femme-skewing shows like The Voice/Dancing with the Stars/The Bachelor(ette), but for now, let JtV stay put and let the audience find it (especially after potential Emmys). The lead in is the one that might need to adjust as the Vampire drama is an odd bedfellow for the dramedy. Let’s get comedy in front of comedy and use Whose Line is it Anyway to kick off the night. Tonally it’s more similar, and WLIIA has showed itself to be a reliable ratings draw no matter what day or season it airs. WLIIA has been wont to use CW castmembers as guests so kick off premiere week with 2 episodes of Whose Line featuring Jane the Virgin actors leading into the season premiere of Jane the Virgin.
(I see a strong possibility that the CW will slot very compatible musical-comedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (originally developed for Showtime(!)) with Virgin)
Tuesday
Current Schedule: The Flash/iZombie
The Flash stays put…but what follows it? Will iZombie get a 22-episode order? Does the CW want to use Flash to launch a new show or prop up ratings for a current show? Where will The Originals go? Let’s use Flash to help launch Cordon. There’s only 2 new shows on the fall schedule and some short-order shows. iZombie, The Originals, Legends of Tomorrow (Flash-Arrow spinoff) are waiting in the wings and the CW can move around the schedule a bit in Winter/Spring to keep things interesting.
Wednesday
Current Schedule: Arrow/Supernatural
This combination works well, it’s been faltering a bit in recent weeks but still a potent combo. Leave it be.
Thursday
Current Schedule: The Vampire Diaries/Reign
Reign’s gotta go. Keep Vampire Diaries here and slot Cordon (which shares executive producer Julie Plec with Vampire Diaries) after it. Stick in Super Ex-Girlfriend. If iZombie gets another short 13-episode order, use The Flash to launch a show and the buzzier more compatible show would be Cordon.
Friday
Current Schedule: Whose Line is it Anyway?/The Messengers
Banish Reign here, but give it America’s Next Top Model has some sort of lead-in. ANTM starts early in summer, wraps up in mid-to-late fall then The 100 takes over.
2015-16 CW television schedule
new shows in italics
Monday: Whose Line is it Anyways?/Jane the Virgin
Tuesday: The Flash/Cordon
Wednesday: Arrow/Supernatural
Thursday: The Vampire Diaries/Super Ex-Girlfriend
Friday: America’s Next Top Model/Reign
Last Year’s Upfront Preview:
Part 3: CW
Part 3: FOX
Part 3: NBC
Part 3: CBS
Part 3: ABC
Part 2: Pilot Preview
Part 1: Cancel/Renew
Not much to mess around with here. Simpsons, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Family Guy all staying put. Originally I wanted to push New Girl here and burn off what will probably be its last season in the 7/6 o’clock hour, which may very well still be an option, but hold it back for later in the season. Star Zooey Deschanel is pregnant anyways which will delay production on the show a bit. Also NFL football usually bleeds into Fox’s Sundays and New Girl is a hard transition from football. The live-action/animation mix has proven itself to be a good mix (proving my skepticism wrong) so keep it up. Save Last Man on Earth for spring and put John Stamos-starring ‘Grandfathered’ in the last half-hour.
Tuesday needs a dramatic overhaul. No more Hell’s Kitchen on any of the other nights. It can’t sustain a 2-season/year cycle. It burns itself out too much. Dancing with the Stars & The Voice can do it because they replenish their cast and coaches, Hell’s Kitchen retreads itself way too much to have 2 16-or-so episode seasons months apart. Also New Girl is barely sustainable at its current ratings and there is no 9:30/8:30 comedy to follow it. Scrap this night and start from scratch.
AVthatsme 