CW takes "Supernatural" leap on Thursdays
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The CW is the latest network to throw its hat in the Thursday ring with a bold scheduling move on the most lucrative night on television.
The network, which will officially unveil its fall schedule Thursday, plans to slot hot new drama "Vampire Diaries" on 8 p.m. Thursdays, paired with "Supernatural."
"Vampire Diaries" will replace departing veteran series "Smallville," whose ninth and final season will air at 8 p.m. on Fridays.
New drama "Melrose Place" will be paired with "90210," repeating the launch pattern for the original "Melrose Place," which followed "Beverly Hills, 90210" on Fox in fall 1992.
Focusing on a group of young male and female models, the new drama "Beautiful Life" is considered a perfect scripted companion for "America's Next Top Model" and will launch after the hit reality series on Wednesdays.
The CW's flagship Monday lineup of "Gossip Girl" and "One Tree Hill" will stay intact. The network recently announced that it will stop programing Sunday nights, enabling its affiliated stations to air what they choose.
"Smallville" had been in the Thursday 8 p.m. period for the past four seasons. The Superman drama landed on Thursday in fall 2005, when it was on the WB, and was joined several months later by then-freshman series "Supernatural."
"Vampire Diaries," based on the Alloy Entertainment series of teen vampire books, is envisioned as a central element of the Thursday schedule, where the CW has a built-in sci-fi audience with "Smallville" and "Supernatural."
All major networks are taking swings at the all-important Thursday night.
Returning series "Fringe" (Fox) and "The Mentalist" (CBS) are moving to Thursday at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively.
ABC is positioning hot newcomer "Flash Forward" at 8 p.m., where the show based on a sci-fi novel might have some audience overlap with "Vampire Diaries."
And, after several weeks of "SNL" specials to start off the season, NBC will get freshman comedy "Community" to lead off its comedy block at 8 p.m.
(Editing by Sheri Linden at Reuters)
