The CW has given a full season order to all three new dramas it launched this fall, with its controversial Charmed reboot getting a back nine to bring its first season to 22 episodes and both Legacies and All American receiving a back three to boost their episode orders to 16.
Charmed had the tough task of helping The CW re-establish a night that had been turned over to the affiliates for the past decade. Along with a relocated Supergirl, the series has helped give the night a pulse that pays off the risk of opening a new night in such a fractured television environment. Charmed ranks as the network’s top-rated new show in linear ratings (#4 on digital platforms) and more than doubles its 18-49 demo in Live + 7 numbers.
The biggest new series launch on The CW’s digital platforms, Legacies was ordered to series on the back of a presentation in lieu of producing an actual pilot. As such, the series, the third entry in Julie Plec’s Vampire Diaries universe, had always been tagged for a shorter first season, which also plays into how deep the network’s midseason bench is. Thus far, Legacies is averaging a 0.35 in Live + Same Day 18-49 demo, including a promising second week increase.
Also on the upswing is teen soap All American, which came out of the gates a bit flat-footed before picking up speed these last two weeks. Thanks to positive word-of-mouth, the series, created by Jane by Design‘s April Blair, generated its best retention yet last night, landing a 0.3 out of Riverdale‘s 0.4. While its L+SD ratings are said to be something of a disappointment to The CW, these recent increases are something to build off of and incentive for The CW to take a gamble on a show they believe in creatively.
This is the fourth time The CW has launched three new dramas in the fall and the third where all three received some type of extension, with Emily Owens, M.D. failing to get a back nine after debuting alongside Arrow and Beauty and the Beast.
With The CW’s back order decisions in, the lone freshman still awaiting its fate is CBS comedy Happy Together, as Rel has been capped at 13 episodes for Cosmos; I Feel Bad has been capped at 13 episodes for NBC’s Thursday scheduling shuffle; and Murphy Brown was capped at 13 episodes before its revival premiered. Every other fall freshman has received some type of extension.
The CW’s midseason bench includes the final seasons of Jane the Virgin and iZombie, as well as The 100, Roswell, New Mexico, and In the Dark. A full midseason schedule should be announced in the coming weeks.
Charmed airs Sundays at 9:00 on The CW, while All American airs Wednesdays at 9:00 and Legacies Thursdays at 9:00.
