Watching The CW

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!

Beauty and the Geek is down to the last three teams on the season finale - Chris and Cara, Tommy and Amanda, Matt and Leticia.

Wow, all the shows I watch are ending this week, whatever will I do next week?

The first challenge is going to eliminate one couple right away. The couples have to prove how well they know each other by answering questions. Immediately, I think Tommy and Amanda won’t know each other very well, since I feel like we know nothing about Amanda.

The first couple to get three questions right is Chris and Cara. I was surprised, cause I really thought it would be Matt and Leticia. But actually, Matt and Leticia lose out on the sudden death question and Tommy and Amanda make it through.

They are about to go into their final challenge, and they are told there is no way they can prepare. But wait, did he just say the team will make a quarter of a million dollars? So let me get this straight, they go through all this just to split $250,000? It’s totally not worth it.

So they bring everyone back to spend the last night in the mansion. I find it so sad to see Tommy still hung up on Amber. I don’t get it. So then we have a little drama with Christina, Tara and Amanda, all over rumors that Christina supposedly spread. Amanda is letting all the drama get to her. Women never seem to realize that guys generally don’t even notice the drama unless someone is actually crying on their shoulder. And maybe not even then unless they happen to be wearing a special sports jersey or something that they thought you were gonna ruin.

They wake up the next day and everyone is missing. The teams get three hours to drive around Los Angeles and find the missing people. They get a limo, a computer and some clues. The team who returns with the most people wins. Chris and Cara seem to be thinking too much, but maybe that’s just what they want us to think. But Chris and Cara do seem to be one step ahead of Tommy and Amanda.

There’s less than half an hour left, and each team has 4 people. At this point, we don’t get to see what else happens, but they take us back to the mansion and start counting people who come out of the limos. We get up to the four we already know about, and then they build the suspense while we see if there is anyone else in the limos. There is! One more person is in Tommy and Amanda’s limo. I’m glad. Tommy was probably my favorite from the beginning.

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.

I watched the past three new eps of Reaper. They were pretty good. I have really enjoyed the addition to the cast, at least for a couple of episodes, of Michael Ian Black and Ken Marino, as Steve and Tony, the gay demon neighbors, of Sam, Sock and Ben in their new apartment. These two are both pretty funny and they work really well together. I especially remember Ken Marino from Veronica Mars, where he played Vinnie Van Lowe, the more disreputable PI in town, who sometimes helped Veronica out, but who couldn’t really be trusted. Among other things, Black is well known as the main character on the Sierra Mist commercials. Both Black and Merino have also been together in other shows and movies. I remember them both from Wet Hot American Summer, one of those really stupid funny movies that you either love or hate. But in any case, I hope they are still on the show when the new eps start back up.

This week, Reaper moves back to Tuesdays at 9 pm (ET), and, apparently, re-airs the last three episodes. So if you missed them on Thursdays, you have another chance. This leaves the Thursday at 9 pm slot free for Supernatural to return, albeit only in reruns until April 24, when the last 4 episodes of this seasons start airing. Reaper comes back with 5 more new eps for this season, starting on April 22.

Smallville also begins airing the last 6 news episodes of this season on April 17.

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.

I hate that Bela on Supernatural. I really do, and it’s sad, cause my puppy is named Bella. She’s just so evil. The Bela on the show, not my puppy. it’s just that you can’t trust her, no matter how cute she looks. Actually, that is a lot like my puppy, now that I come to think about it. Oh, and as a side note, Peter DeLuise looks so different, doesn’t he? I almost didn’t recognize him all grown up. I guess I still think of him as a little boy, like he was back on 21 Jump Street. I just wish there could have been more of him in the ep, cause I always loved him. Maybe I should look him up and see what else he’s been doing.

But back to the Supernatural boys, I mean, come on, just how stupid are they? They know Bela. Why in the world would they trust her, and then, having foolishly trusted her, put themselves right where she wanted them? At least it ended up helping them rather than hurting them, but still she’s a real nasty piece of work. If you didn’t see last week’s episode of Supernatural, “Jus In Bello,” you should. It was probably one of the best of the season. You can watch it on the site, here. As I’ve mentioned before, there won’t be any new episodes of Supernatural until April 24, when we get 4 more new eps to end up the season. This ep left me wanting more, so I’m sad and excited all at the same time.

I’m still torn trying to decide which was Dean’s best line of the ep:

DEAN: I’ll live. You know, if we get out of here alive.

DEAN: It’s like they’ve got a contract on us. You think it’s because we’re so awesome? I think it’s because we’re so awesome.

AGENT HENRICKSEN: I shot the sheriff.
DEAN: But you didn’t shoot the deputy.

Reaper will be in the place of Supernatural for the next several weeks, with new eps starting on March 27, so at least that something to look forward to while we wait for more Supernatural.

Supernatural has been pretty good the last couple of weeks. I do like all the Dean action. I love Dean. He’s the reason I started watching the show in the first place.

According to Ausiello’s strike chart (his list of when shows will return now that the strike is over - which is awesome by the way and continually updated), Supernatural’s final pre-strike episode airs on February 21 and they are expected to shoot 4 additional episodes which will begin airing on April 24. Which means 8 weeks without Supernatural. It makes me wonder, since April 24 is a Thursday, and I thought Reaper was moving into the spot. According to Ausiello, Reaper has three pre-strike episodes remaining, the last of which airs on March 27 (which is also a Thursday), and they expect to shoot 5 additional episodes to begin airing on April 22, which puts us back on Tuesday.

Maybe I was wrong about the CW. Maybe they are just moving Reaper away from American Idol and using it to fill in the time between new Supernatural eps. Then they are using Smallville as a lead in to bring a wider audience to Reaper. Here’s the story for Smallville, per Ausiello. Three remaining pre-strike episodes will air March 13, 20 and 27 (most likely lining up with the three new eps of Reaper), and they are expected to shoot 5 additional episodes to begin airing on April 17.

Apparently, the CW did actually have a plan. That makes me a little happier about the fate of Supernatural.

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?

Yesterday I was at Jury Duty (you can read about my adventures and new sitcom idea here), and I’m watching people. I’m sitting next to a real estate attorney, who is closing deals on the phone. There are all these strange people and we get to hear everyone’s name called. I love names. One person was named Champagne Young. Isn’t that fun? Another one was named Crystal Gazer. Now, what do you think someone named Crystal Gazer would look like? I pictured a tall, willowy woman with long dark wavy hair all loose around her shoulders. She is wearing a flowy peasant skirt, sandals and a long scarf wrap.

They called her several times, but I was never able to pick her out or anyone I thought fit the name. Finally, towards the end of the day, I was able to see her. Did she look anything like I pictured her? Absolutely not. She was short and heavy, even a little dumpy, probably in her 50s with very short straight blondish hair. I was amazed. Maybe she never realized that her name is Crystal Gazer as in one who gazes into crystals and tells people’s fortunes. Or, you know, whatever.

So, pulling myself back into this blog topic, the CW has released the winter schedule. Here’s the scoop from tvbloggin.com.

According to the CW site, Reaper is moving to 8 pm on Tuesday starting next week (1/15) and re-airing the first ep. Then it’s moving to Thursdays at 9 pm starting on 2/28. Apparently, it’s being paired with Smallville to gain more exposure, and I get that. But I have one question, what’s happening with Supernatural?

Jury duty, the CW, Reaper, Supernatural

I just want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and apologize for not being around much this past month. December is such a very busy time for me, both at work and at home. I hope to be around more in January.

It has been a little hard to write about shows on the CW over the past few weeks, when the shows I watch have pretty much been on hiatus. But I’ll try to write more about stuff that may or may not be happening in the upcoming weeks.

Please keep in mind that I have jury duty, yes, you heard me right, jury duty next week, so who knows how much time I’ll have to aimlessly websurf. I also have an appointment with a specialist next week as well, since I’ve had laryngitis since before Thanksgiving. Lucky me. And I’m a recruiter in the real world, so I’m on the phone all the time. I mean, all the time.

So, while I’m trying to promise you more, and I really mean it, it might not happen as much as I’d like. Also, I want you all to understand that I’m not just ignoring this blog. I really am interested in sharing new and exciting CW info with you.

From the research I just did, I can’t figure out when either Reaper or Supernatural are coming back on in new eps, but my fear is not until the strike is over. Suddenly, I want to cry.

Well, everyone try to have a wonderful, happy and safe New Years eve. See ya next year!

I’m gonna miss Reaper over the next few weeks and I’m gonna hope it will be back after the New Year. They didn’t actually say it would, but I have hope. Although, Tuesday night, traditionally a full night for me with TV, will be even more full with the addition of American Idol, so I don’t know how much I can watch.

We will have our DVR by then. I hope. When I called Time Warner cable they were all out of boxes and told me it might be a few weeks!! However, they tell me a DVR can only tape two shows at a time, when I have been known to tape anywhere up to five shows at one time. Plus, I keep the tapes. I really need someone who understands how this all works to explain it to me. I mean, can I tape on the DVR and then somehow save the show to a video tape or DVD so I can watch it again later like I do with my tapes now? I’ve been known to tape an entire season of a show and then re-watch it at a later date. I suppose that the season DVDs come out so soon now that maybe that’s not necessary, but still, what if I wanna??

I’m completely serious. I need a lesson in what it means to DVR and what I can and can’t do with it. If I don’t know, how can I do what I’ve been doing all along. I’ve been taping shows and saving them since the early 80’s. Really. So please, if you’re our there, help me. Soon, like before Reaper comes back on.

Reaper, American Idol, DVR

Reaper was OK this week. Maybe I’m expecting more cause so many shows are repeats now. We were actually sitting at dinner tonight and I had one of those really frustrating conversations that often happen with my 80-year old mom:

MOM: That show is a repeat again tonight.
ME: What show?
MOM: You know, Back To Back, Back To You?
ME: Yeah, of course, there aren’t any more new episodes.
MOM: Why do they do that? Why start a new show and then right away show repeats?
ME: Um . . . the writers strike? Remember the strike? It’s all over the news and most shows are in repeats now.

Anyway, that’s my life. Getting back to Reaper, its not that I didn’t have fun when they were running around into people’s homes and stealing cremated ashes, but I kept thinking, this could be better. Years ago I worked for an attorney that had a deceased client’s cremated remains in our vault. The office was in a really old house and the vault was a creepy place. Our law clerk (he’s not a partner at one of the largest firms in the city!) went down and opened the box so we could look at it. We were young. After that time, the rest of the people in the office kept playing all these practical jokes on me and saying it was her ghost. Ahhhh, good times.

OK, Reaper. What was it about again? Oh, I did like the part where Ben told Sam and Sock about his uncle that the grandmother won’t let them speak to anymore. He lives in the house and no one can talk to him!! That’s funny. Cause, you know, our family has crazy stuff like that, too. I was a little freaked out when the grandmother stabbed Sam in the hand, although, of course, I totally saw it coming.

I did wonder that no one comments when Ben’s grandmother tells him that he was doing “God’s work” since obviously, they are working for the Devil. Who, by the way, is just as awesomely, evilly creepy as ever.

Reaper, Writers Strike, Back To You

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

A deal with the Devil is not a good thing. Ever. That was definitely proven to Sam this week on Reaper. I have to say I was very glad about that. I was also glad that Sock macking on Gladys was all a bad dream sent by a demon. Cause, ewwwww!

I’m starting to get more into this show each week. More than I did at first, anyway. One thing I find so interesting is how they can take a show that is basically silly and a little funny and then suddenly turn it around with something really gruesome, like the detective being forced to shoot himself. Obviously, that was better than having him shoot Sam, but still, it seems like a very hard price to pay to redeem your debt to the devil.

I hope Sam is paying close attention. I hope he’s learning. I know he really seems to dislike the devil and he did, possibly, learn his lesson. This time. I just don’t want him to forget and think he can trust the devil. OK, I’m thinking about this way too much, aren’t I? I do know that these aren’t real people. Really I do. And I’m pretty sure that they won’t mess up their show by killing off the main character anytime soon, but I am wondering what direction they plan on taking this, since they keep proving that no one wins when they go head to head with Satan.

I’m also wondering when and how Sam is gonna need that get out of jail free card.

Reaper, Bret Harrison, Ray Wise