Fall 2006 Breakdown-The CW

Note: This is a series of five articles analyzing the major networks going into the upfront presentations in mid-May. Look for a new article every few days. If you'd like to see my thoughts on CBS, click here. Today, it's The CW's turn.

• Renewed For 2006-2007: America's Next Top Model
• Solid Bets For Renewal: Beauty & the Geek, Gilmore Girls, Reba, Smallville, Everybody Hates Chris, Veronica Mars, Friday Night Smackdown!, Supernatural
• On the Bubble: Everwood, Modern Men, One Tree Hill, Pepper Dennis, Survival of the Richest, All of Us, Cuts, Eve, Girlfriends, Half & Half, Love, Inc., One on One
  
• As Good As Gone: The Bedford Diaries, Living With Fran, Related, Twins, Get This Party Started, South Beach
  
• Already Cancelled: Charmed, Just Legal, 7th Heaven, What I Like About You, Sex, Love, & Secrets

• Possible Shows For 2006-2007: Aliens in America, Flirt, The Game, Palm Springs, Runaway, She Said He Said, Split Decision, Untitled Aquaman Project

The Skinny-The CW has to be the most interesting network going into the upfronts. With two networks merging into one, there will be a lot of choices to be made. The CW has very few new series in production and it is easy to see why. Their entire schedule is almost full already. However, I don't see any way that the Untitled Aquaman Project won't be picked up and I'd say the spinoff comedy The Game is a solid pick as well.

My Predicted Schedule:

Note: The CW is taking The WB's old scheduling format.

Sunday: 5 PM-8 PM-Easy View Shows, 8 PM-Everwood, 9 PM-Supernatural
This is a tough night to schedule but the Easy View idea is definitely staying. Everwood is very much on the bubble but with its ratings on the rise and the critic's praise I think it will get a renewal. It is also helped by the fact that there aren't any big drama pilots in development. Supernatural doesn't really fit well with Everwood but there is nowhere else to put it.

Monday: 8 PM-Everybody Hates Chris, 8:30 PM-Girlfriends or another UPN comedy, 9 PM-The Game, 9:30 PM-Reba
Everybody Hates Chris acts as a solid anchor for this lineup of comedies. Girlfriends seems like the safest of UPN's comedies so that comes next. The Game is probably The CW's big comedy pilot and it fits well with its parent show Girlfriends. Reba doesn't really fit in with the rest but there is nowhere else to go with it.

Tuesday: 8 PM-Gilmore Girls, 9 PM-Veronica Mars
Every critic's dream lineup is about to happen. Gilmore Girls is almost a certainty to get the 8 PM spot. Veronica Mars is still on the bubble but I really don't see The CW dropping it. It should get a solid bump from the hit Gilmore Girls.

Wednesday: 8 PM-America's Next Top Model, 9 PM-Beauty & the Geek
America's Next Top Model is the only show that has been renewed so far. It will provide a solid lead-in to The WB hit Beauty & the Geek. During offseasons of these shows, there may be a spot for another Survival of the Richest.

Thursday: 8 PM-Smallville, 9 PM-Untitled Aquaman Project
This is almost a done deal. Smallville has done very well on Thursdays and Aquaman will be a solid partner. Barring a terrible pilot, Aquaman will almost certainly be picked up.

Friday: 8 PM-Friday Night Smackdown!
This is pretty self-explanatory however I toyed with the idea of moving it to Sunday.

Closing-This will be a year of tough decisions for the new network. Some hits won't be able to stay on the schedule. Other shows will have to move from their cushy timeslots. However, I think The CW is in a good position to gain viewers. With a much larger potential audience, some of these shows will finally get the viewership they deserve. Most of these series are high-quality and I'm sure the public will connect with them. Still, The CW shouldn't expect to finish better than fifth but I could see them making up some ground with FOX or NBC sometime soon.