The CW’s 2013-2014 Schedule: Thoughts On What We Might See

Put on your seat belts because this is a long post.

Last year before the Upfront presentations that announced the Fall 2012 schedule, we posted a fantasy schedule with thoughts and insight on what we might see for The CW schedule that ultimately came out last May 17.

This year, we’re doing it again; except we’re covering all five major networks, with one coming every weekday. Also, in addition to insight from KSiteTV’s webmaster Craig Byrne, some thoughts are coming in from a good friend, journalist, and TV show enthusiast — Shilo Adams, a writer whose work you may have seen on such sites as TVOvermind and TVHackr. You can follow Shilo on Twitter @mahogany_soul.

Obviously, what we say we’d like to see, and what we’ll actually see, are surely two very different things. What we will ultimately get might be better, and it might be worse. We’ll have to see. The CW is actually the last to announce their new schedule; expect it on Thursday, May 16.

So, are you ready to see two guys yammering about what they’d like to see? Good. Enjoy:

MONDAY

CRAIG: At 8PM, I’d put Season 3 of Hart Of Dixie in what might be, at this point, The CW’s only real non-genre night of television. It has a loyal audience that will follow it anywhere, and although part of me would like it to be paired with a big ratings-getter to hopefully get some more eyes watching, I think it’s as much of a self-starter as we’re going to get from a non-genre show.

At 9, I’d have a 13-episode run for The Carrie Diaries in the Fall, with The Selection taking the spot at midseason. I think Carrie, like Hart, deserves a chance for more exposure. It’s an established brand with a likable cast and great writing. In the perfect Craig world, the show could get a multi-episode summer run of what Carrie did over her summer break, but I know that’s not going to happen.

I’d put The Selection at 9 at midseason mostly because I know Kiera Cass’ novels are quite popular, which could bring people in, and the fact that The CW has tried this one TWICE now. Not that constant redevelopment totally works — look at Cult for evidence that it’s not a sure thing — but I think they really want this to be a thing. The new cast seems attractive, and having a genre favorite like Anthony Head involved can’t hurt.

My biggest Selection concern, though, and this comes with not reading the newer script and only having seen the first pilot they did, is that this is a limited-run series kind of idea, unless there are some major changes. To have an initial season of only 13 episodes could work in that project’s favor.

Current buzz, however, says Reign is a contender…. in that case, substitute Reign in where I’ve got Selection at midseason. I’m not sure how “Mary Queen of Scots” would work for The CW, but then again, I wasn’t sure “young Carrie Bradshaw” would work, and I ended up loving it.

SHILO: One could argue that Hart of Dixie is in the most interesting position of the network’s veterans going into next season. With how heavily The CW has invested in genre pilots, it’s seemingly a show without a home on a network moving in from making series of its ilk. The (relative) failure of The Carrie Diaries means that unless online viewing carries more of an impact with the network than we know (and secures the charming big city tale a second season), Hart will have to have something to air with next season. However, it hasn’t done all that well on Tuesday nights, where its been on an island for much of the season after Emily Owens M.D. and Cult were both DOA, so I think moving it back to the slot it started out in (Mondays at 9:00) could do it some good. The show’s audience has turned out to be quite insular and The CW doesn’t need to waste an 8:00 slot on something that might not give a new show a boost, particularly a show that doesn’t match the direction they’re going from here on out.

Hart’s a steady utility player just itching to break out, but while the network focuses on other nights in the fall, a pairing with Beauty and the Beast at 8 wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. The two have aired together this season (though both weren’t originals at the time) and Beauty performs in a similar way to Hart – unspectacular numbers but it’s a known quantity with an audience that will follow it anywhere. It may not be the flashiest night on television, but it’d be a net gain over last season, test just how strong of a lead-in Beauty could be, and not require as much promotion.

For midseason, we could move Beauty to another night, and The CW could try to launch a show in front of Hart and keep itself in the soap game, at least for now. Of the two pilots that would best fit with the southern dramedy, period drama Reign would be the better choice, as it’d capture the romanticism of Hart, appeal to the younger female viewers that Carrie earned, and allow the network to expand the type of show it could go after. The Selection, the other pilot that could be paired with Hart, does have positives going for it (namely, the book it’s based on), but the futuristic drama about a woman chosen by lottery to compete to become the next queen of a war-torn nation would have to go up against a rejuvenated The Bachelor, which could stunt its potential. That being said, Reign would have detractors due to it being another CW show focusing on a teenage girl, though the historical aspect and impressive visuals could keep it from being too critically derided and commercially toxic.

Keep reading for the rest of the week!