MIDSEASON MUSINGS
SHILO: With The CW ordering more pilots and presentations than they have in years, if not ever, and a chunk of that consisting of reboots and spinoffs, I would be shocked if they didn’t have at least 3-4 new dramas for midseason. Buzz seems to point toward Roswell, In the Dark, and Playing Dead in addition to Spencer, Charmed, and Wayward Sisters; I could see them adding the Originals spinoff given how strong the parent show has been in the ratings this season. As far as additional renewals, I think we’ll see both iZombie and The 100 again, likely with a late spring premiere that bleeds into summer. I’m curious how seriously The CW takes summer next year, because that could influence how many new shows they order and where they schedule the lower priority veterans.
CRAIG: As I mentioned in my schedule for the individual days, I fully expect Supernatural spinoff Wayward Sisters to air at midseason. I also would not write off The Originals spinoff featuring the Hope character; I do think it’s a bit soon to be spinning off or sequelizing The Originals, but then again, Originals has had pretty decent numbers for Season 5, considering, especially when compared to things like Dynasty or Life Sentence. I think Spencer or whatever they are calling the April Blair-Greg Berlanti football project will definitely land the schedule, probably to pair with Black Lightning, and it’ll be interesting to me if one of the less-high-profile pilots gets picked up, especially as the number of CBS-produced CW shows seems to get lower and lower with every year. Additionally, I am very curious about the number of episodes ordered for the specific shows. With so much DC content, for example, would it be better to order fewer episodes?
Another thing to think about regarding midseason is what would happen to a project like The End of the World as We Know It when they already have the alien-themed Roswell. Could they pick both?
Finally, having seen the first four episodes of Season 5, I really want a sixth season for The 100, which has always been a reliable and steady performer for The CW with a very active fan base. I’d imagine if it comes back, it’ll be at midseason, too.
