Watching The CW

Gossip Girl’s second season starts on September 1.  But between then and now, people are sure to be talking.  The new ad campaign features some pretty racy photos, as well as interesting headlines.  I remember seeing one ad myself, back in April, that consisted of four letters “OMFG.”  Now clearly, those letters could stand for anything, as some people are saying.  I guess it could stand for On My Feet Gently or Old Meaty Fungus Grout.  But I think we all know what it really means.  I thought it was a little disturbing.  I mean, if I wasn’t gonna let my kid watch the show before, as I know some parents won’t, then clearly I wouldn’t now.

Other headlines for the new ads, actually taken from negative quotes about the show, include, “Every Parent’s Nightmare,” “A Nasty Piece of Work” and “Mind-Blowingly Inappropriate.”  I’ll say.  Rick Haskins, of the CW marketing department, says they just want their ads to get noticed and to communicate with their target audience, women ages 18 to 34.  I’m not sure about that, because the only people I’ve ever spoken to that watch Gossip Girl were under 14. 

I may be off base here, but I wonder if this whole ad campaign doesn’t reek of desperation.  Its like they are so worried about getting viewers that they will go to any lengths.  I’m not sure that this is what the CW needs.  I guess we’ll see how well Gossip Girl does come September.  But I can’t help wishing that the CW would find some less salacious programming.  Or maybe I just miss Veronica Mars.

The CW has posted their 2008-2009 season primtime schedule:

MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM GOSSIP GIRL
9:00-10:00 PM ONE TREE HILL

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM 90210 (New Series)
9:00-10:00 PM SURVIVING THE FILTHY RICH (New Series)

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL
9:00-10:00 PM STYLISTA (New Series)

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SMALLVILLE
9:00-10:00 PM SUPERNATURAL

FRIDAY
8:00-8:30 PM EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS
8:30-9:00 PM THE GAME
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL (Encore Presentation)

Notably missing from this schedule are Aliens in America, Beauty and the Geek (just when I started watching it!), Farmer Wants a Wife, Girlfriends, Pussycat Dolls, Life is Wild and WWE Friday Night Smackdown.

It may appear that Reaper is also missing, but don’t worry, it’s coming back mid-season. So we are losing seven shows, and only gaining three, but I think these are good decisions. Maybe annoying reality TV is on the way out, which is a good thing. And apparently, at least on the CW, it’s being replaced with young adult soaps, which can also be a good thing. I guess we’ll find out.

Here’s a link back to the CW blog, where they have lots more info on the shows and what’s happening, as well.

I was surprised to see that they are reviving everyone’s favorite zip code in 90210. I wasn’t a huge fan of the original series, but I was certainly aware of it and I think it will be interesting to see how they have updated and modernized the show. I’m also interested cause I heard Rob Estes is in it and I’m in love with him. And I mean, really.

In any case, it looks like the CW has a great season set up for us and I’m looking forward to checking out the new shows. As for this summer, I plan to also try to catch up on some of the shows from this season that I just didn’t get a chance to watch the first time around. When I do, I’ll let you know all about. You count on that!

Lots of shows that I’ve been waiting for start up again this week. Well, to be honest, a couple started last week, like Bones, which is airing on Mondays at 8 pm ET on Fox, and Law & Order: SVU on NBC at 10 pm ET. There were 6 new eps of Bones and 5 of SVU. Actually, last week’s ep of SVU was one of the most disturbing I’ve seen in a long time.

So here is my TV schedule for this week (all times are ET):

Monday
Big Bang Theory - CBS - 8 pm
Bones - Fox - 8 pm
House - Fox - 9 pm (4 new eps start 4/28)
The Bachelor - ABC - 10 pm

Tuesday
American Idol - Fox - 8 pm
Beauty and the Geek - CW - 8 pm
Hell’s Kitchen - Fox - 9 pm
Reaper - CW - 9 pm (5 new eps)
Law and Order: SVU - NBC - 10 pm

Wednesday
America’s Next Top Model - CW - 8 pm
Back To You - Fox - 8:30 pm
American Idol - Fox - 9 pm

Thursday
Supernatural - CW - 9 pm (4 new eps)
Lost - ABC - 10 pm (5 new eps)

Friday
Sarah Jane Adventures - SciFi - 8 pm (new eps to air in US)
Doctor Who - SciFi - 9 pm (new eps to air in US)
Moonlight - CBS - 9 pm (4 new episodes)

Obviously, I’m gonna be pretty busy this week. Thank goodness for DVR.

The CW’s Gossip Girl is presently filming five new episodes, and is scheduled to return on Monday, April 21 at 8:00 pm ET. If you regularly read this blog, or even just glance at it occasionally, you’ll have realized that I don’t watch Gossip Girl. I can’t really say I have anything against it, it’s just not my thing.

So, for those of you like me, who don’t know much about the show, I thought I’d do a little research and see what’s the what. Apparently, the show is aimed at a teen audience, as many shows these days seem to be. That’s probably the main reason I never got interested in the show. I’m definitely no teenager. (Although, I am pretty immature, if that counts.)

The setting is a prep school for privileged teens on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The crowd is entirely young, thin, rich and beautiful. And somewhat vicious, I think. No one knows who the Gossip Girl is, but she knows them and her blog keeps their exclusive group connected through website and text messages, with the latest scandal. Add high fashion, partying, reckless living, sex and intrigue, and I think you’ve got a good idea of what you’re getting. Maybe it is my kind of show after all.

In any case, I know many of you do watch Gossip Girl and I thought you might enjoy some candid pics I found of Serena (Blake Lively) and Dan (Penn Badgley) during on the set filming in New York City.

In my Internet travels today, I came across an article detailing the shows that the CW is renewing for next season.

The show I’m most excited about is Supernatural. I was nervous and so was the show’s creator, Eric Kripke. But luckily for all of us, the CW has renewed Supernatural for a fourth season!! And there’s still new eps to air this year, so as far as I’m concerned, its all good.

The CW also renewed Smallville for it’s 8th (and probably last) season. I’ve read elsewhere that they are probably gonna use this season to tie up all the ends and bring Superman up to true Clark Kent adulthood. I’m just not sure how they plan to make him a nerd with glasses.

Other shows renewed by the CW are Gossip Girl for its 2nd full season, One Tree Hill for a Season 6, and sitcom, Everybody Hates Chris. Also, America’s Next Top Model was renewed for both an 11th and 12th cycle. No word yet on new shows Reaper and Aliens in America. I’d like to see Reaper renewed cause I think the show has potential. Don’t forget that there are still three new eps of Reaper to watch starting this week on Thursday, March 13 at 9:00 pm. You should check it out and see what you think if you haven’t seen it yet.

Finally, don’t forget Beauty and the Geek. The fifth season premieres tonight, Tuesday, March 11 at 8 pm. It’s worrisome that it would premiere opposite the Top 12 singing from the Lennon/McCartney songbook on American Idol, but that’s why we have DVRs, right?

Happily, now that the strike is over, we are gonna get some new shows and new eps of returning shows!! Yay us!! Honestly, I think I held up pretty well during the strike, all things considered, but it’s still good to have some new shows starting up. I’ve done a little research about it and I’m getting some conflicting information. However, I’m ignoring whatever doesn’t make sense and trying to give you what I think is right. While some of this might be a little off, I think it’s close. See, some shows, like Smallville and Reaper, still had some pre-strike eps to air, so those air, then the show is off for a couple of weeks, and then they come back with more eps. Or at least that’s what I’m getting from this.

So, here you go, here’s a list of what’s (very probably) happening in the near future on the CW:

Sunday, March 2
Everybody Hates Chris - 8:00 pm (12 more eps)
Aliens in America - 8:30 pm (8 more eps)

Tuesday, March 11
Beauty and the Geek - 8:00 pm

Thursday, March 13
Smallville - 8:00 pm (3 more eps)
Reaper - 9:00 pm (3 more eps)

Sunday, March 23
The Game - 9:30 pm (9 more eps)

Monday, April 14
One Tree Hill - 9:00 pm (6 more eps)

Thursday, April 17
Smallville - 8:00 pm (5 more eps)

Monday, April 21
Gossip Girl - 8:00 pm (5 more eps)

Tuesday, April 22
Reaper - 8:00 pm (5 more eps)

Thursday, April 24
Supernatural - 9:00 pm (4 more eps)

Sorry if you missed the new eps airing last night. But remember, you can watch full episodes of the any of these shows, once they’ve aired, on the CW website.

Reaper is back in repeats. But it’s opposite American Idol and I don’t get that. Does the CW want the show to die? I’m not saying everybody watches American Idol, but everybody watches American Idol. Reaper is definitely a niche show, so I just don’t see how anyone, just because they don’t watch AI, is just gonna stumble on it by mistake or anything. It should be somewhere more better.

I realize its just repeats, but this is the perfect opportunity for them to find the people out there who would like the show and want to watch it, but missed it the first time around. Most of them are watching American Idol. I’d bet on it. Then the plan, as of February 28, is to move Reaper to Thursdays, right into Supernatural’s spot, which I like even less. Plus, I don’t see how that will help. I guess Smallville is a good lead in show, but it obviously hasn’t helped Supernatural, since it’s disappearing from the schedule altogether. I don’t want them messing with Supernatural.

As far as what else is happening on the CW, America’s Next Top Model is starting up cycle 10 on February 20 at 8 pm, which is good. But also, they starting a new season of Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious on February 18 at 9 pm. Yuck! I mean, what is that??

Anyway, they have moved a few other things around, too, so here is the schedule for The CW’s midseason:

Monday
8:00 pm - Gossip Girl (Beginning January 28)
9:00 pm - Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious (Beginning February 18)

Tuesday
8:00 pm - Reaper (From January 15 - January 28)
8:00 pm - Beauty and the Geek (Beginning March 11)
9:00 pm - One Tree Hill

Wednesday (Beginning February 20)
8:00 pm - America’s Next Top Model
9:00 pm - Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious - Encore

Thursday
8:00 pm - Smallville
9:00 pm - Reaper (Beginning February 28)

Sunday (Beginning February 10)
7:00 pm - CW Now
7:30 pm - Everybody Hates Chris -Encores
8:00 pm - Everybody Hates Chris
8:30 pm - Aliens in America
9:00 pm - Girlfriends
9:30 pm - The Game

So there you have it. The new line up. Tell me, where is Supernatural?

Alright, I’m open for ideas. What shows on the CW are you all interested in? I’ve gotta just give in and start watching some of them, cause I have no idea when Supernatural, Reaper or Smallville will be back on in new eps and I can’t keep talking about random stuff. Can I?

There seems to be a lot of interest in Gossip Girl, but I just don’t think that’s for me. I saw a bit of it once and it just seems . . . how can I say this without offending people? . . . stupid. OK, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. It’s just not for me. I miss the days of Veronica Mars.

I also caught of glimpse of Crowned and I’d rather have a root canal.

I think the big issue for me is that I’m not a huge reality TV fan and most of what’s on these days is reality. Only not so real, if you know what I mean. Don’t get me wrong, I watch some reality TV, like America’s Next Top Model (which will be back on Feburary 20, btw), American Idol, Hell’s Kitchen . . . stuff like that. (Apparently, it must either have the word “America” in the title or feature a British guy. Or both.)

But I’m serious. I’m open to whatever interests those of you out there who are actually reading this blog and have an opinion.

Obviously, it must fit some criteria: 1) it should be on the CW; 2) it shouldn’t suck. I think that’s pretty easy going as far as criteria go. (Is criteria already plural? I mean, should that last sentence have read “as far as criteria goes?”)

Anyway, what do you think?

The CW, Supernatural, Reaper, Smallville, American Idol, America’s Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, Crowned, Hell’s Kitchen, Veronica Mars

Just to keep up with strike issue and holiday programming, I’ve checked out the prime time schedule on the CW for the next couple of weeks. The CW shows its own programming from 8 to 10 pm Sunday through Friday, and local programming on Saturday night. Here’s the scoop:

Sunday, November 25
Tonight, they are showing a repeat of New Life is Wild and, as always on Sunday, an encore of the latest ep of America’s Next Top Model.

Monday, November 26
Monday is the night of the sitcom at the CW and this week there are all new programs all night, which are Everybody Hates Chris, Aliens in America, Girlfriends and The Game.

Tuesday, November 27
Both Beauty and the Geek and Reaper are new this week. Of course, being reality TV, Beauty and the Geek will be new regardless of the strike. There probably aren’t too many weeks left though.

Wednesday, November 28
Wednesday has another reality show, America’s Next Top Model, which has about 3 weeks left, plus this week, a new Gossip Girl. At first, I thought of watching this, but somehow, I never got around to it. Some of the previews I’ve seen, though, have not at all captured my interest.

Thursday, November 29
Unfortunately, both Smallville and Supernatural are repeats this week, which makes me very sad.

Friday, November 30
The CW has the Friday Night Smackdown each week, and being a form or reality TV - or do they consider this a sport? - its a new ep.

Sunday, December 2
New Life is Wild and encore of ANTM.

Monday, December 3
All the sitcoms are all repeats.

Tuesday, December 4
Both new Beauty and Reaper.

Wednesday, December 5
All new ANTM and Gossip Girl.

Thursday, December 6
Again, *sigh* repeats of Smallville and Supernatural.

Friday, December 7
New Smackdown.

Sunday, December 9
Once again, we are treated to a new Life is Wild and an encore of the latest ep of ANTM.

Just for fun, here’s a link an Ausiello report of the 20 things he’s thankful for this year. It’s worth it, just for the link to the what could have been Season 4 Veronica Mars trailer, so check it out.

The CW, the Ausiello Report, Veronica Mars, Reaper, America’s Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, Supernatural, Smallville, Life Is Wild, Everybody Hates Chris, Aliens in America, Girlfriends, The Game, Bauty and the geek, Friday Night Smackdown

I am really not sure about this one, and I may need a few episodes to settle in to it or delete its season pass entirely from my TiVo. In Gossip Girl’s defense I am not the target demo but they don’t really throw enough bones to the people on the other side of thirty like say Veronica Mars (or Buffy) did.

The back bone to Gossip Girl is Gossip Girl; the unknown blogger of the Upper West side who keeps tabs on the movements of the inner cycle of the students at the prep school. With her network of spies she updates her blog and is able to break “news” first, like the return of Serena - who mysteriously left for boarding school a year ago only to return equally mysteriously into New York’s Grand Central. Serena’s return pushes the noses out of place of her best friend, and successor, Blair. I didn’t really take to any of the cool kids in the inner circle. There was a heavy dose of poor little rich kid with Blair’s mother (a designer) dressing her up like a living doll, Nate whose life is all planned out and whose father is forcing him to keep dating Blair because of a business deal, and then there is Senera. Her brother attempts suicide and is hidden away like the first Mrs. Rochester by their mother. Okay, that is a slight exaggeration he is only stashed at the hospital whilst she tells everyone he is staying with an aunt.

I assume that the Humphrey clan are there to keep the behavior and lifestyles of the others in perspective. Rufus (the aging rocker with a gallery in the Boroughs) only sends his children to the prep school so they get the right education. His son Dan doesn’t want to fit in, and is very likable. His confrontation on the bus was classic with his classmates. Unfortunately, Dan’s impressionable sister Jenny does and you just know that will spell trouble in the long term!

The pilot episode set up the power struggle between Serena and Blair, the politics of prep school life and how to negotiate the social quagmire of rescuing your sister from a party. Not a bad start and I’ll be interested to see where it goes from here.

CW, Gossip Girl, Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Bagdley, Taylor Mumsem

Make sure you have your popcorn (or carrot sticks and humus) at the ready as tonight is the season premeriers of America’s Next Top Model Cycle 9 and Gossip Girl. To get you in the mood below are the promos - enjoy!

CW, ANTM, America’s Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, Tyra, YouTube

I got back from a few days in Toronto last night so I am woefully behind in my surfing. Two things to keep you going from E-Online’s watch with Kristin:

- Veronica Mars movie is on hold (like we didn’t see that one coming)
- Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively gets a mention as a Newbie You’ll Love

I am off to consume the latest Entertainment Weekly which is devoted to the season ahead…

CW, E-Online, Watch with Kristin, Gossip Girl, Blake Lively, Veronica Mars movie

Digging back into even more Superman heritage it is reported on TVGuide that Helen Slater will play Clark’s bio-mother. Yes, the former Supergirl will now be Supermom. I wonder if she has any tips for Laura Vandervoort?

Gossip Girls is now going to debut on September 19th moving up a week to grab our attention before the premier of Bionic Woman.

Check out SciFi to see how excited Eric Kripke is about the forthcoming season of Supernatural. (He even teases us with an anti-Christmas urban legend - how cute would Dean be in a Santa hat?).

The CW, Smallville, Helen Slater, TVGuide, Gossip Girl, Supernatural, Eric Kripke, SciFi

Based on the best selling series of books by Cecily Von Ziegesar of the same name, Gossip Girl centers on the lives of over over-privileged teens on New York’s Upper East Side. Do we really need a show about over-privileged teens? What is the differentiator for this one? Well, it is blogs and sidekicks. The teens keep up with the gossip by tapping into the mysterious Gossip Girl’s blog, who seems to have her finger on the pulse and know more about what is going on than anyone else. Therefore I am betting she is staff.

The lovely Kirsten Bell can be heard as the voice over voice (which is reason enough to tune in).

Wednesday, 9pm after ANTM.

The CW, fall 2007, Gossip Girls, Cecily Von Ziegesar, Kirsten Bell