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!

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.

Talk about product placement. What do you think Stride had to pay to be so prominently featured in this week’s episode of Smallville? I nearly cringed at the obvious advertising. The ep itself was about gum which was laced with kryptonite, which made Pete Ross, who found a pack and was chewing it, turn into a super hero. There were big Stride signs all over a warehouse, where secret concerts were held. Pretty shameless promotion, really. And apparently the only group that played there was OneRepublic, since they seemed to be there every time someone entered the place.

Chloe had a line, which she had to deliver with a straight face, about “chewing that next piece.” Yikes. Does Stride really need that? Is the mere thought that you might end up with some kryptonite gum gonna make more people buy Stride? (You won’t find any, by the way, cause there was only one box worth and Clark got rid of it.)

Here’s a question that as far as I could tell they didn’t answer on the ep (although I was so busy being turned off, maybe I missed it) but how did that one box come to be kryptonite-licious in the first place? Also, what were the chances, in a warehouse full of boxes of gum packets, that Pete would chose that one to rip off a package from? Maybe I’m being too hard on this show, but its just so ridiculous and they take it so seriously.

What amazes me most of all, is that someone wrote this ep. I mean, they thought it all out and then had someone put up those big Stride posters. I just don’t get that.

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.

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.

I finally saw the first half of the two week’s ago ep of Smallville. And I managed to do it before this past week’s ep aired, too, which I thought was a positive. That way I saw them in order. But no matter how much I try to like this show, I just can’t do it.

I’m interested in the lore of the show, I even like most of the actors, but there’s just something about it that’s wrong. The writing seems so flat somehow, and most of the acting is just over the top. So dramatic and angsty. Don’t get me wrong, I love angst as much as the next guy, but there just has to be a limit to how much is acceptable.

I guess, in one way, they are attempting to be like the comic book (excuse me, graphic novel) version of Superman, which can take itself so seriously and be very affected and intense. But that doesn’t really pardon the show for having such poor acting. Or maybe its not he actual acting, but just the characterization by each actor. The character who annoys me the most is Lana (played by an absolutely adorable Kristin Kreuk), cause she’s always so irritating and whiny. I know that people are gonna throw things at me for staying stuff like this, but its just the way I feel and I can’t help it.

I keep watching and I keep hoping that it will grow on me. It’s not working yet, but I keep trying.

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?

So, new Smallville and Supernatural last week. Due to a small disagreement with my husband over what we were going to watch, since I wanted to DVR both Smallville/Supernatural and Lost, which were on at the same time on Thursday, and he wanted to watch neither, but when you DVR two things at once, you have to watch one, I had to - just moments before Smallville started - cancel the DVR recording, find a blank tape and then pop it into a working VCR and hit “record.” It was traumatic. And, since we don’t have a VCR connected to our big TV upstairs, where I always watch TV, I can’t watch the tape anyway.

Around 8:30 Thursday, I lost my patience with my husband and went downstairs to the TV that was recording and watched Smallville from that point on. I’ll have to find a way to watch the rest of it and I’ll comment then. You know, I can’t possibly give in again and sit downstairs to watch TV. The more I give in, the more my husband gets control of the TV. Can’t have that.

Supernatural was good. I’m looking forward more to the ep coming up this Thursday, which looks really cool. But last week had its moments. Witches are always fun, for one thing. I wasn’t happy with the fact that the witch was actually a demon in disguise, nor did I care for the fact that those other women had to die, but I guess it made it better for neither Sam nor Dean to have to kill a human woman. I enjoyed learning a little more about Ruby. I wonder how she gets away with being a good guy demon. Why don’t the other demons come after her and kill her? Especially since she’s helping Sam.

I’d like to think that the CW is going to be kinder to this show. There are too many unanswered questions and things that still need to happen for it to be allowed to die.

New Smallville and Supernatural are coming!!

There’s another new ep of Smallville airing on Thursday, January 31. Plus, there’s another new ep on 2/7 and 2/13. It appears there are a couple other eps in the hopper as well, so maybe, just maybe we’ll get to see those before the season ends. I know I haven’t really watched too many eps of Smallville this season, but I’ll definitely catch this one. Mostly because James Marsters will be reprising his role as Braniac, and you know how I love James Marsters. I am still seriously considering borrowing my nephew’s Smallville DVDs as well, so I can just watch everything from the beginning. I think I’ll be able to appreciate it even more then.

Also new on January 31 is an episode of Supernatural. It looks like there are three more eps that haven’t aired yet. One of them, entitled “Dream a Little Dream Of Me” which is scheduled to air on February 7, sounds like it’ll be really fun. They have to go into their dreams to save Bobby, and fight their worse nightmares. Interesting.

I’m really worried about this show. It seems like the CW isn’t giving Supernatural its due. The show is one of the better shows on the network, if you ask me, but for some reason they seem to play it down. I can’t believe they really mean to do that. They must just think that other shows need more promotion. See, that’s me being naive, isn’t it? Since everyone knows that all network execs are evil villains, I should just resign myself to the fact that they want to kill off a perfectly good show just to ruin my day.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Smallville, Supernatural, James Marsters

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’ve been meaning to watch Smallville again, but, honestly, I just keep forgetting. I get busy doing something and then I remember when it’s mostly over. I have caught the last few minutes the past couple of weeks anyway.

I just read somewhere that James Marsters was coming back to reprise his role as Professor Fine/Braniac and I don’t want to miss that. Actually, it was because of him that I started watching in the first place. I mean I did try to watch it back in the beginning, but I couldn’t get past the stiff writing and not so great acting. Sorry, I just couldn’t.

I wanted to like it. So when James played Braniac in the fifth season, I watched, and was teased that James might be on into the sixth season. That didn’t happen, so I saw maybe two eps of the sixth season and then I gave up. I did, briefly, contemplate going back to the begining and watching all the eps, just cause. (My nephew owns them, I wasn’t gonna spend any money.) But I never did and then I lost the urge. Maybe I still will. Over this winter when there are no new shows to watch cause of the writer’s strike.

Of course, no new Smallville means no James Marsters. He’s actually in a couple of other shows, coming to a tv near me soon. Or possibly someday (see above, re strike). He’s playing a recurring role in Without a Trace, another show I’ve never seen, but plan to watch just to see James. Also, he has a part in Torchwood, which just makes me so happy. For those of you who don’t know, Torchwood is a spinoff of Doctor Who. Granted the ep James is gonna be in won’t make it to a channel I can see for years to come at this point, since the first season of Torchwood still hasn’t (it’s actually just now airing on BBC America, however, I don’t get that channel; but I’ve heard rumors it’s coming to SciFi). In any case, since the first season, which originally aired in Britian in 2006, is just now here in the US, how long will I have to wait to see the second season, airing in 2008?

Smallville, James Marsters, Without A Trace, Torchwood, Doctor Who, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel

Well, things change, and as of today, the change on WatchingCW.com is that I’ll be the new blogger.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to provide you with lots of fun info, along with my occasionally slanted take on the CW’s shows. Please feel free to comment, discuss, argue, cajole, and whatever else you’d like, in the comments section. I love to have feedback.

Just so you have some background info about me, I love scifi stuff, so I’m a fan of Reaper and Supernatural, and to a lesser degree, Smallville. I also watch America’s Next Top Model, whenever I get the chance, and not, as you might think, because I believe that chicks that skinny must be aliens. Well, I’m not positive they aren’t, but I’m pretty sure.

If you hang around me long enough, you’ll know that my absolute favorite show of all time, is, was and always will be, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That probably tells you something about me that you may or may not even want to know. Either way, get ready for lots of random Buffy quotes and Whedonisms, as well as comparisons to Buffy and why, in my opinion, it was so much better than any other show out there. Ever.

I hope we’ll all be very happy together for some time to come and get to be great friends. Or at least that you will read my blog and post comments so that I don’t think I’m just here talking to myself and that no one cares.

You can also check out my other blog at www.watchingsitcoms.com.

CW, Reaper, Supernatural, Smallville, America’s Next Top Model, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Joss Whedon, Watching Sitcoms

Congratulations to Tyra who beat out the competition of Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell, amongst others, to win Choice TV Personality at Teen Choice 2007.

It has been a good week all round for ANTM with TVGuide.com reporting that Eva Marcille Pigford (winner of cycle three) will be guest staring on Smallville in a suitably titled episode - Fierce. I know that I almost never mention One Tree Hill but more guest stars have been added to the forthcoming season, and you can read about it here at Ausiello (because I have never heard of them).

The CW, Tyra Banks, Teen Choice 2007, Smallville, America’s Next Top Model, ANTM, Eva Marcille Pigford, One Tree Hill, TVGuide.com