Mateas Media Consulting

Mateas Media Consulting

Write to:

Lisa at mateas.com

More areas of interest:

TV History

Mateas Family

Mateas Media Consulting 

Fall 2007 CW TV Network Programming Schedule

 Descriptions and Analysis

New Series in blue.

Click on underlined titles for information.

Here's the link to the CW's Fall Schedule website.

Mid-Season:  One Tree Hill  Pussycat Dolls Present, Farmer Wants a Wife, Crowned, Eight Days a Week

  New Series

Returning Series

Everybody Hates Chris:  Though nobody can quite believe that this is on UPN instead of sister network CBS (and it was originally developed by Fox), everybody loves Everybody Hates Chris, based on comedian Chris Rock's 1980s childhood in Brooklyn, New York.  Though Rock won't be onscreen, he's the creator and exec-producer, and is slated to supply narration for each episode, which certainly counts for something.  Tyler James Williams (Sesame Street) plays young Rock,  Tequan Richmond (Ray) and newcomer Imani Hakim are his brother and sister, with Tichina Arnold (One on One, Martin) and Terry Crews (The Longest Yard, White Chicks) and Chris' mom and dad.  EHC is a feather in the cap for UPN and could give them some nice sampling from new viewers for whom Joey isn't sating their comedy appetite.  Premieres September 22nd.  Update 10/12:  Not surprisingly, performance so far has been good, especially by UPN standards, and so Everybody Hates Chris has been given the green light for a full season.  

One Tree Hill:  OTH has moved into Fearless' fall Tuesday night timeslot, and the emphasis has changed from kick-ass grrls to adolescent guys with the addition of this high-school basketball drama to the schedule. At the heart of the tale are two teenage boys -- one rich and popular, one poor and brooding -- and the secret that they share:  they have the same father.  These at-odds mystery half-brothers play basketball on the same team, are sweet on the same girl, and have plenty of time to explore the complex nature of their new-found relationship/rivalry.  Chad Michael Murray (Dawson's Creek, Gilmore Girls, Freaky Friday) is Lucas, the kid from the wrong side of the court; James Lafferty (Once and Again) plays privileged Nathan.  MTV VJ (Total Request Live) Hilarie Burton is their mutual sweetheart, with thesp vets Barry Corbin, Craig Sheffer, Moira Kelly, and Paul Johansson around to provide the adult supervision.  From the folks that brought you Smallville, One Tree Hill's guy duo may have the requisite hottie chops to keep the Gilmore Girls fans tuned in, and the court action could admit some young gentleman to the audience.  Premiere Date 9/23/03.  Review and Update 10/21/03:  Despite early episodes that were zinged for being just a tad too basketball-oriented, One Tree Hill has settled down into another well-produced WB young people's drama, complete with loads of heartfelt rock music and extremely photogenic performers.  It's a soap opera, no doubt, but if you're don't mind seeing this age-old plot come around again, it's well-produced and Chad Michael Murray is plenty heartfelt as the left-out Nathan.  Moira Kelly's good, too, as his mom who refuses to beg for the respect -- and financial support -- that's due her from Nathan's rich dad.  All the other adults are fairly well drawn too, so it's not painful to take a look at this if you're over 35, but it IS a high school-oriented show, after all.  One Tree Hill is not half bad.  Update 11/7/03:  WB has given One Tree Hill a full season order, citing its critical reception and growing buzz.  Update 7/04:  Renewed for a second season.  Update 7/05:  Renewed for a third season.

Supernatural:  Two brothers, played by Jensen Ackles (Smallville, Dawson's Creek, Dark Angel) and Jared Padalecki (Gilmore Girls, Flight of the Phoenix, House of Wax), go the X-Files route as they battle inhuman forces to find their missing fiend-fighting father, armed only with their wits and their dad's demon information notebook.  The two twenty-ish performers have cut their teeth on WB teen favorites and so presumably have developed their own followings, which should give a nice leg up to this spooky adventure.  Yes, this is just one of a slew of eerie entries this season, but their youthful panache and WB expertise could lift this one away from the pack; at least it might set it apart from the other hour-longs playing directly against it.  Premieres September 13th.  Update 10/12:  Supernatural has received a full-season order, thanks to decent numbered and excellent audience retention out of Gilmore Girls.  Update 10/19:  Supernatural encores will now be seen on Sunday nights at 9pm, replacing the on-hiatus Blue Collar TV.  

Midseason: