Analyzing The 2014-2015 Schedule: The CW

TUESDAY

Shilo’s Picks: 8:00 The Originals, 9:00 iZombie
Craig’s Picks: 8:00 The Originals, 9:00 The 100
Actual Schedule: 8:00 The Flash, 9:00 Supernatural

SHILO: I completely understand The CW’s desire to get The Flash away from Gotham, the latter possibly being the most sure drama hit of the coming fall. The Flash is an important asset and could become the network’s next cornerstone, so Tuesdays at 8:00, where it’ll evade both Gotham and Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD, is a good idea and one that should allow the series plenty of room to grow. Plus, there’s the fact that the network will only be premiering two new series in the fall, meaning that The Flash will get quite a marketing push to secure a big launch.

However, it feels like the network could have done a Supernatural/The Flash Monday and saved The Originals from falling on the Gotham sword. Supernatural is strong enough in the ratings to withstand a hit while still keeping its status as one of the network’s elite dramas, while the success of Sleepy Hollow season two is not guaranteed and The Flash should be big enough and young enough to carve a place out for itself wherever it’s placed.

CRAIG: At this point I can’t even imagine Supernatural on at 8, though you are right: Those two shows might have been able to handle the competitive Mondays. But, with what The CW has done, I have no doubt this will be their strongest night of the week – which is something that they haven’t really been able to say since The WB days, although this past year did pretty well. Hopefully that strength on Tuesday will bleed through to the other nights.

I’m not concerned about how Supernatural will do against SHIELD, and I think with its younger skew and visual effects, Flash won’t get the same kind of dent that SHIELD got from NCIS at 8.

The biggest question mark, to me, is if they will keep these two likely strong shows on the same night for the long run, or move one of them when something else isn’t doing so well.

WEDNESDAY

Shilo’s Picks: 8:00 Arrow, 9:00 The Messengers
Craig’s Picks: 8:00 iZombie, 9:00 Arrow
Actual Schedule: 8:00 Arrow, 9:00 The 100

SHILO: In theory, I don’t hate this. The post-apocalyptic drama gets a chance to grow in the fall and maintain the momentum it’s generated during the spring. Arrow didn’t keep The Tomorrow People from imploding in the ratings, so the network’s reticence to throw another new show in the lead-out position isn’t totally without merit.

However, moving their first midseason hit in quite some time to Fall feels short-sighted and keeps the schedule as top-heavy and conservative as possible. The 100 could’ve been an excellent utility player, coming off the bench at the first sign of weakness in a new fall drama, but instead, it has additional pressure to perform and could leave The CW without an insurance policy if it disappoints or has a planned 13-and-out second season. There’s also the fact that CW shows significantly weaken as the season goes along, so even if The 100 goes along swimmingly, it’s going to leave Arrow without much of a chance to launch anything new, thereby stunting the potential of this season’s schedule.

CRAIG: Once we found out Flash launches at 8, I feel silly ever even suggesting that Arrow would move to later on another night. As things stand, there are DC Comics shows to lead off all three of the first nights of the week, although one of those shows is on FOX.

I’m mixed in my response to this. The 100 has done decently even without Arrow, though, I think they have a very different audience. This is good, I think, as it avoids those people who go online right afterward to chat about the show; but it’s not totally good because it means that the Arrow audience might not be checking out this really good series.

I also agree with you in that The 100 might’ve been better served as a big midseason launch – people enjoy it and would come back for it, whereas, as we’ve seen almost every year, it can be *hard* to launch a brand new midseason show. It’s almost a wonder The 100 caught on in the first place… though I’m glad it did.
It’ll be a solid night for The CW, but, like Tuesdays, Wednesdays will be strong when there will possibly be Mondays, Fridays, and midseason slots that need strength.

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