Analysis: The CW's Fall 2013 Schedule

The cast of The Originals

 

The CW's fall schedule looks relatively strong for at least three of the five nights that the network airs programming. Tuesday through Thursday nights look promising, while Monday and Friday could be problematic. The CW clearly has confidence in The Originals, a spin-off of the still popular The Vampire Diaries, which is anchoring Tuesday evening and leading into the long running Supernatural. The Originals has the benefit of featuring established characters, led by the very popular Joseph Morgan, as Klaus, the leader of a family of vampires. In addition, the subject matter is compatible with Supernatural and I suspect both series will do well.

 

Wednesday's anchor is the returning Arrow, which is now the highest rated series on The CW. While I enjoy Arrow, the show has suffered from lack of consistency. Regardless, I hope the series hits its stride during season two and fully lives up to its potential. Arrow leads into newcomer The Tomorrow People, which features youngsters with supernatural powers who join together to fight evil, so the superhero element is present in both series, even though Oliver Queen/Arrow possesses no superpowers.

 

 The CW's second highest rated series, The Vampire Diaries, retains its original time slot, Thursday at 8:00pm. While the series is still popular, ratings have eroded over the past year or so, which may be a concern should viewership fall beneath the two million threshold. The good news is that the fourth season finale promises to take the series in a new and exciting direction by changing things up with one the principal characters, Stefan, who is now missing in action, but has a doppelganger, so Paul Wesley is still employed. New series Reign will benefit from the lead-in from The Vampire Diaries but, in theory, seems like an odd fit. Reign is described as an historical drama focusing on Mary Queen of Scots in 16th century France. Not exactly what I would expect from The CW, but at least the youth laden network is taking chances.

 

 Both Monday and Friday nights are comprised of veteran series that draw middling ratings. Perhaps that is all The CW is hoping for, especially in the ratings wasteland that is Friday night. With that being said, at least The Carrie Diaries and America's Next Top Model are compatible, so whoever tunes in for one may very well stick around for the other. Monday's line-up of Hart of Dixie and Beauty and the Beast is not quite as compatible, but they share a romantic connection that may resonate with female viewers. Regardless of how The CW's schedule performs, the network will remain in fifth (and last) place, but I do suspect that ratings will improve overall.

 

Here is The CW's Fall 2013 Schedule:

 

 Monday
8:00 p.m. “Hart of Dixie” (new night)
9:00 p.m. “Beauty and the Beast” (new night)

Tuesday
8:00 p.m. “THE ORIGINALS”
9:00 p.m. “Supernatural” (new night)

Wednesday
8:00 p.m. “Arrow”
9:00 p.m. “THE TOMORROW PEOPLE”

Thursday
8:00 p.m. “The Vampire Diaries”
9:00 p.m. “REIGN”

Friday
8:00 p.m. “The Carrie Diaries” (new night)
9:00 p.m. “America’s Next Top Model”