The CW: 2006-2007 Primetime Schedule

May 18, 2006

The WB and UPN networks are ending this fall, but several of their shows will live on. Execs at The CW hope that when the shows move to the new network, their fans will follow. Based on the network's press release today, here's what we can expect:

Coming in fall 2006

The Game
Timeslot: Sun., 8:30-9:00 p.m.
Genre: Comedy
Premise: A third-string wide receiver and his girlfriend learn about the sporting life, both on and off the field.
Reminds me of: ESPN's short-lived Playmakers.
Famous names: Executive producer Kelsey Grammer.

Runaway
Timeslot: Mon., 9:00-10:00 p.m.
Genre: Drama
Premise: A family goes on the run after the father is framed for murder.
Reminds me of: The Fugitive.
Famous names: Donnie Wahlberg, executive producer Darren Star.

Coming in January 2007

Hidden Palms
Timeslot: TBA
Genre: Drama
Premise: A teenager, his mother and his new stepfather move to Palm Springs, a city that's sunny outside but a lot darker on the inside.
Reminds me of: Lots of thriller movies.
Famous names: Executive producer Kevin Williamson.

Returning (so to speak)

All of Us
America's Next Top Model
Beauty and the Geek
Everybody Hates Chris
Friday Night Smackdown!
Gilmore Girls
Girlfriends
One Tree Hill
7th Heaven
Smallville
Supernatural
Veronica Mars

My predictions

First new show to be cancelled: Runaway. The concept's interesting, but the show is unfortunately slotted right after the newly-revived 7th Heaven. Somehow, I don't think a religiously-flavored, one-moral-per-episode family show is the best lead-in for a dark conspiracy thriller, but maybe that's just me.

First new show to become a cult favorite: Runaway, if it survives its scheduling.

New show I'm most looking forward to: The Game, purely for the football content. If there's more soap opera than sports, though, it'll lose me before you can say, "Hut hut!"

-- A. Wu