Two of the most recognized cable networks have merged. UPN and the WB will be no longer coming this fall. They will now be known as the CW. UPN was referred to as the “urban” television station, running mainly comedies and shows starring black actors and actresses. The WB on the other hand was predominantly white and known for running dramas. During the merge of these two networks to form the CW, the best shows were saved and the worst were lost. Unfortunately, several viewer favorites did not make the cut. Here is what we have to look forward to from the CW network this fall.
Sunday night on the CW will be a night of comedy featuring several shows from the UPN lineup. UPN was made famous for it’s comedies featuring predominantly black casts. The night begins with the ever hilarious Everybody Hates Chris, a television show created by Chris Rock. It quickly became a hit. After Everybody Hates Chris, All of Us will be returning for a fourth season. Following All of Us, the popular UPN show, Girlfriends will be returning for the seventh season. Girlfriends follows the lives of three women in Los Angeles and focuses on real world and real life topics.
It has garnered a huge following. Next on the CW Sunday night lineup is The Game, a new comedy for the CW. The CW is about the life of Melanie, played by Tia Mowry, as her boyfriend is drafted to the NFL. She learns how the wives of other NFL players live and act with their husband’s in their high profile occupation. The Game will fit in quite well with the other comedies on the Sunday night lineup. Following these four comedies will be a rerun of America’s Next Top Model. The rerun will be from the new episode run on the previous Wednesday. The Sunday Night on the CW should be very entertaining, especially for fans of UPN.
Monday night on the CW network will be bringing back the longest running show on the WB, 7TH Heaven. While 7th Heaven actually ran its series finale at the end of last season, the cast and crew were persuaded to return for at least one more year. Following 7th Heaven will be Runaway, a new show for the CW network. Runaway is a new drama with a fairly unrecognizable cast except for Donnie Wahlberg, previously of New Kids on the Block fame and several television shows and movie roles. This television show focuses on a family on the run from the government for a wrongful conviction against Donnie Wahlberg’s character. Monday night on the CW looks like it will do very well in the ratings.
Tuesday night on the CW begins with the WB series favorite, Gilmore Girls. Gilmore Girls has done great in ratings over the past few years. It is technically a drama that has the perfect amount of comedy and the characters are loveable. After Gilmore Girls, the UPN television show Veronica Mars will air on the CW. Veronica Mars is on its third season and has had a strong following. Kristen Bell plays Veronica Mars, a high school student by day and private investigator apprentice by night. This drama follows her complicated life. The combination of Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars ensures that Tuesday night will be great television on the CW network.
Wednesday night on the CW will be bringing back the UPN show America’s Next Top Model with Tyra Banks. One of the best reality shows on television is America’s Next Top Model, where Tyra Banks and a panel of judges work with up and coming models to discover the next top model. The model receives a contract with Cover Girl, a contract with Ford models, and a photo spread in Elle magazine. The past seasons have been very popular.
After America’s Next Top Model comes the WB show, One Tree Hill. One Tree Hill is returning for its fourth season. It began as a teen drama where the teens are now young adults. The show focuses around brothers who share only the same father and nothing else. One Tree Hill beat out the similar WB show Everwood for this spot on the new CW network.
Thursday night on the CW brings back Smallville from the WB network. Smallville has been a favorite for the past five years. Smallville has been following the life of Clark Kent through his teenage and early adult years. Smallville gives the viewer insight into the world prior to the Superman we know today. After Smallville, the CW is bringing back Supernatural, another WB show. Supernatural is heading into its second season.
During the first season on the WB, Supernatural developed an almost cult following. The show deals with, as the name implies, the supernatural. Two brothers travel the country in search of the supernatural and getting rid of it. This is the same line-up from last season’s Thursday night on the WB. Obviously it did well and should continue to do well on the CW this fall.
Friday night on the CW will be bringing back the UPN’s Friday Night Smackdown! Friday Night Smackdown is an evening of wrestling with WWE wrestling stars. This show runs new episodes every Friday evening all year round. Friday night on the CW will be the most exciting night on television.
For the most part, fans are happy with the fall lineup of the new CW network. The viewers of the UPN and WB networks were very different in demographic. The CW will be closing a gap and enlightening people to new shows. The CW has a killer fall lineup and will be the network to watch.
