CW's 2008-09 Sked Is No Big Whoop
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- May
- 14
If you like CW’s primetime shows now, chances are you’ll like its fall 2008 line-up, as there will be only three new additions: “90210,” Tuesdays from 8 to 9 p.m.; “Surviving the Filthy Rich,” which follows “90210″ from 9 to 10 p.m.; and “Stylista,” Wednesdays from 9 to 10 p.m., which is from Tyra Banks and airs right after her “America’s Top Model.”
Rundowns of the new stuff:
“90210″ (at right): CW describes it as “an edgy, contemporary spin-off of the iconic drama ‘Beverly Hills, 90210.’” The formerly-on-Fox show looks at life through the eyes of Annie Mills and her brother Dixon, whose first day at West Beverly Hills high School leaves no doubt that they’re not in Kansas anymore. In other words, it’s Brenda and Brandon arriving in L.A. from Minnesota redeaux. (Couldn’t the net have picked up something A LOT more original? No wonder it’s struggling). The large cast includes only three names I recognize: Lori Loughlin, Jessica Walter and Jennie Garth, who must be desperate for work, because she’ll occasionally be reprising her role as Kelly Taylor—and as a guidance counselor at West Beverly, no less. Snore! 
“Surviving the Filthy Rich” (at right): It’s a dramedy that revolves around Yale grad Megan Smith, 23, a budding journalist whose life takes a 180 when she gets canned from her tabloid job and becomes the live-in tutor for a cosmetics mogul’s headstrong twin teen granddaughters. It takes place in the world of Palm Beach’s wealthy and powerful. The only name I recognize: Michael Cassidy, who had a recurring guest-star role as Grant Gabriel, the clone of Lex’s brother Julian, on “Smallville.”
“Stylista”: CW says, “If ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ were a reality show, it would be ‘Stylista.’” Eleven aspriring fashion enthusiasts bare their claws against each other for a much-coveted editorial job with “Elle” magazine. ‘Nuff said.
The clever “Reaper” returns as a mid-season replacement. Gone for good are sitcoms “Aliens in America” and UPN holdover “Girlfriends.” There’s also no trace of “Pussycat Dolls,” “Life Is Wild” and “Beauty and the Geek.” “WWE Smackdown!” slides over to MyNetworkTV.
Here’s the CW week:
Monday: “Gossip Girl,” the SIXTH season of “One Tree Hill” (Is that STILL around??)
Tuesday: “90210,” “Surviving the Filthy Rich”
Wednesday: “America’s Next Top Model,” “Stylista”
Thursday: the EIGHTH and probably last season of “Smallville,” the fourth year of “Supernatural”
Friday: the fourth year of “Everybody Hates Chris,” “The Game” and a second airing of that week’s “America’s Top Model.”
Its Sunday sked was turned over to an outside studio, Media Rights Capital, which will target a slightly older audience with two dramas and two sitcoms.
If the third year of CW, the combo of the former (and stronger) WB and (lame) UPN, wants to stay in business, it must freshen up its stale line-up, especially since it has only two hours of airtime per weekday to capture an audience. Otherwise, viewers will be bored to death, which will spell a painful—and expensive—death in the Nielsen ratings. (Photos courtesy of CW.)
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 at 3:49 pm by Jenny Higgons.
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