Upfronts 2011: The CW

This week I’m going to be posting my reactions to the Upfront presentations. For more info on the Upfronts click here.

Today is the last day for the big(ish) networks at the Upfronts, finishing up with netlet The CW. The youngest skewing of all the networks, their programming is almost exclusively aimed at the under 20 crowd. This year there’s a bigger hole to fill than normal, as Smallville has ended its 10 year run. In fact, Smallville was so important to the network’s ratings that likely the only reason it was renewed for the last two seasons is because even with its poor ratings, it still routinely beat everything else on the network. This year’s crop brings a lot of reality and some more of the same.

CW:

The Frame:

The description makes this reality show sound like nothing more than a rehash of Big Brother.

Re-Modeled:

In this reality series, the host travels to modelling agencies in small towns and forces them to treat their models in responsible and healthy ways. It may be noble, but it doesn’t sound like good TV.

H8r:

This reality show pairs online “haters” with the “celebrity” they hate in an attempt to prove that the celebrity isn’t so bad. It could be an interesting distraction if there were actual celebrities featured on the show, but the pilot features Snooki and Kim Kardashian, and it will probably go downhill from there. The only people less deserving of air time than these faux “celebrities” are the message board trolls who hate them.

Hart Of Dixie:

A medical drama from the creators of Gossip Girl. It looks like it will fit right in with the target audience, but whether it will be quality is yet to be seen.

Secret Circle:

Still trying to recapture the successes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel, this is another supernatural drama from the creators of Vampire Diaries, this time about witches. Look for plenty of longing glances, emo songs and teen angst.

The Ringer:

Speaking of Buffy, this show stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as a woman on the run from the mob who hides out with her twin sister (also Gellar) who also happens to have a price on her head. The set up sounds quite contrived, and the fact that it was originally supposed to be on CBS and coproduced by ABC before they both pulled out doesn’t instil confidence. Of the six shows they’re launching, however, this look like it will be the one most worth checking out.

And that’s it for the 2011 Upfronts. Overall, it looks like another disappointing year for network TV. Don’t lose all hope though, as last year looked just as bleak, but we were rescued by cable channels. With any luck, they’ll bring salvation again. We’ll have to wait until the fall to find out.

Sleep well,

DTE