MONDAY
CRAIG: 8:00 Arrow; 9:00 Batwoman
SHILO: 8:00 Batwoman; 9:00 Arrow
CRAIG: I feel like switching Legends of Tomorrow to 8 and Arrow to 9 was kind of a disaster, ratings-wise, so the first thing I’ve done is shifted the series that started the Arrowverse back to 8PM for its final run of 10 episodes.
But then, what follows?
This is where Batwoman comes in. I could totally see the temptation to save the latest DC TV entry for midseason, but I think an argument could be made for establishing the concept and the character more before the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover in the Fall. It also could possibly get some of that Arrow audience interested before something else can take Arrow’s place after that final run of shows. There’s a lot of buzz behind Batwoman — the Ruby Rose-led series that will feature the first LGBT superhero lead in a solo series on broadcast television — so whatever The CW does, they’ll want it to have a huge launch.
SHILO: Okay, I know that The CW hasn’t launched a new show at 8:00 since Legends of Tomorrow in January 2016, so they could very well keep that going next season. Live +Same Day ratings are of lesser importance to the network thanks to their Netflix deal and going so heavy on spinoffs, reboots/revivals, and series adaptations might make them think more 9:00 shows can self-start. But the Arrow-verse is aging and needs a show that can help keep the franchise a viable scheduling tool for The CW, which I think Batwoman can be. It’s by far the most on-brand show the network has developed for next season, the series is purported to begin before the events of the crossover (making a fall slot a necessity), and it’s something that, with the local lead-in that is a great service to CW 8:00 shows, could provide a graceful (ratings) farewell to the show that started it all.
