Out of all of the big five networks, The CW looks to be taking the biggest risks next year.

Let’s face it, the network needs to do something to revitalize itself.

Ratings are falling drastically on a lot of their shows, and any buzz the network had has long since faded.

When UPN and The WB merged several years ago, the CW was supposed to be the new FOX. What do I mean by that? Essentially, FOX launched as a network for young people.

We had ‘Married With Children,’ ’21 Jump Street’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ to anchor the network – and teenagers turned into the network in droves. That’s what was supposed to happen with The CW.

It didn’t, though.

The network isn’t solely to blame really. In this day and age, teenagers spend more time on their computers and phones than they do watching television. It’s a different generation.

The most interesting moves The CW made were cancelling ‘Ringer’ and ‘The Secret Circle’ in favor of ‘Nikita’ and ‘Hart of Dixie.’

I can only guess that the decision on ‘Hart of Dixie’ has to do with pairing the show with the like-minded ‘Emily Owens, M.D.’ in September. When it comes to ‘Nikita,’ though, I’m still baffled. I thought for sure that show was dead in the water. It’s definitely higher quality than ‘The Secret Circle,’ though.

I’m also intrigued by the decision to move ‘Supernatural,’ now going into its eighth season, back to Wednesdays along with the new superhero show ‘Arrow.’ This displaces ‘America’s Next Top Model,’
which used to be the network’s highest rated show, to the death slot of Friday.

Fans of ANTM already know that Tyra Banks announced the axing of favorites Jay Manuel, Jay Alexander and Nigel Barker a few weeks ago (she called it a change of direction when it was obviously a cost-cutting measure). This essentially sounds the death knell for this show, which probably won’t survive past the next two cycles.

‘The Secret Circle’ was supposed to be the new ‘Charmed,’ and it was paired with the network’s top-rated show ‘The Vampire Diaries’ as proof that the network believed in the programming. Instead, the show failed quickly, and another interpretation of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ will be taking its Thursday night slot in the fall.

The other new shows of note are, ‘The Carrie Diaries’ – a prequel to HBO’s ‘Sex and the City’ – starring AnnaSophia Robb as a young Carrie Bradshaw and ‘Cult,’ which revolves around a fictional television show that may be inspiring real life murders.
 

It’s important to note that this also looks to be the final season for ‘Gossip Girl,’ which sadly peaked in season two. The only thing worth watching on that show any more is central couple Chuck and Blair.
Heroine Serena has become largely unlikeable, and Penn Badgely and Chase Crawford could be the most emotionally vacant actors in primetime.

As a television fan, I will watch the final season of ‘Gossip Girl’ on fast forward from my DVR, and I will check out ‘The Carrie Diaries’ when it debuts in January. The only other CW show I’m still interested
in is ‘Supernatural.’ Sadly, that show should have ended after season five. Now, I’m only in it for the beefcake.

What do you think? What did the CW do right with their new season? What did they do wrong?

The CW Schedule

Monday

8 p.m. 90210

9 p.m. Gossip Girl

In January

9 p.m. The Carrie Diaries

Tuesday

8 p.m. Hart of Dixie

9 p.m. Emily Owens, M.D.

Wednesday

8 p.m. Arrow

9 p.m. Supernatural

Thursday

8 p.m. The Vampire Diaries

9 p.m. Beauty and the Beast

Friday

8 p.m. America’s Next Top Model

9 p.m. Nikita