THURSDAY
SHILO: 8:00 Black Lightning; 9:00 Spencer
CRAIG: 8:00 Supernatural; 9:00 Arrow
SHILO: I feel like The CW is going to utilize Black Lightning the way they did Riverdale, in that they give it an 8:00 slot thinking that positive word-of-mouth could help the show explode on Netflix this summer. Like Riverdale, it’s a midseason show with a manageable number of episodes to binge and where The CW is already comfortable territory for shows like this, it could really pop if nurtured right. Although I absolutely see the value of holding it behind The Flash, seeing as how The CW aired Black Lightning with a lot of repeat lead-ins so it didn’t really get to fulfill its potential, the way their schedule breaks down next year makes this kind of aggression worthwhile. At 9:00 I have football-based teen drama Spencer; The CW needs more shows with POC leads, Black Lightning is the show to air Spencer with if they’re serious about picking it up, and football’s audience demographic might not cause as much trouble with a possible launch as you’re thinking. Plus if you’re programming Spencer up against football, you want it on the weaker Thursday edition vs. Sunday or Monday, which are still very strong despite some recent declines. With The Flash on Tuesdays and FOX’s black viewer-targeting Empire/Star lineup on Wednesday, Thursdays it is.
CRAIG: Don’t get me wrong: I totally think Wayward Sisters will take the post-Supernatural spot at midseason, maybe getting [another] preview with the 300th episode of the parent series. But, especially leading into a crossover, it would make sense to keep Arrow on the air for Fall. Colton Haynes is rejoining the cast and there are new producers, so I am very curious how this pans out.
