CW announced a set of sensible changes for its midseason schedule today, cutting its losses on the shows that aren’t working and trying to save its flailing Mondays.
The adjustments will phase in over a month or so. On Monday, February 17, HART OF DIXIE begins a roughly 5-week hiatus, and the new STAR-CROSSED takes over the 8PM Monday slot before BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
On Monday, March 17, Beauty leaves the schedule with its final (and I think we really can say “final”) 6 episodes as yet-unscheduled. The 9PM slot is filled by THE TOMORROW PEOPLE, which loses its Arrow lead-in and will need to prove some compatibility with Star-Crossed. On March 19, the Wednesday 9PM slot welcomes THE 100, which will attempt to take more advantage than Tomorrow did of having Arrow to set things up. Then on March 21, Hart of Dixie returns, but to Friday nights at 9PM, following WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY (by that time, The Carrie Diaries will have run out of episodes).
The long and short of it is that Beauty and the Beast is essentially running out its string, while Hart of Dixie is probably being positioned for a (very possibly shortened) 4th season on the trash heap of Fridays, where it can accumulate enough episodes for a significant syndication deal before going away. Tomorrow People is on a short leash, although its fate will depend to an extent how Star-Crossed does on Mondays. The network clearly thinks Reign still has potential, as that modestly-rated show is keeping its Vampire Diaries lead-in on Thursdays.
About the Author
Mitch Salem
MITCH SALEM has worked on the business side of the entertainment industry for 20 years, as a senior business affairs executive and attorney for such companies as NBC, ABC, USA, Syfy, Bravo, and BermanBraun Productions, and before that, at the NY law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. During all that, he has more or less constantly been going to the movies and watching TV, and writing about both since the 1980s. His film reviews also currently appear on screened.com and the-burg.com. In addition, he is co-writer of an episode of the television series "Felicity."
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