In the weirdest year ever for the TV industry (and everything else), the CW is making plans for the 2020-2021 season. Like FOX, their fall schedule is largely coronavirus-proof with acquisitions and shows that have completed filming. They are planning a full slate of originals to return in January, a few months later than their typical October start. If shows can go back into production in summer or early to mid fall, this is a pretty solid strategy. If things are still shut down close to January, then the TV industry is going to have much bigger problems than the CW's schedule.
So here is both their fall and winter schedule:
MONDAYS
(Fall)
8:00 Whose Line is it Anyway?
8:30 Whose Line is it Anyway?
9:00 Penn & Teller: Fool Us
(Jan)
8:00 All American (3rd season)
9:00 Black Lightning (4th season)
The CW is going with its usual summer Monday lineup through the fall with what will probably be a mix of repeats and leftover originals of Whose Line is it Anyway? and Penn & Teller: Fool Us. The plan for January is to keep the same lineup that started the 2019-20 season with All American and Black Lightning. All American has quietly become one of the CW's stronger shows and is a huge hit in streaming. Black Lightning has struggled since a strong first season.
TUESDAYS
(Fall)
8:00 Swamp Thing (Network Premiere)
9:00 Tell Me a Story (Network Premiere)
(Jan)
8:00 The Flash (7th season)
9:00 SUPERMAN & LOIS
The fall brings two series that were cancelled from streaming services. Swamp Thing aired one season on DC Universe while Tell Me A Story aired two seasons on CBS All Access. It's likely that many people have not seen these shows so it's not a bad attempt by the CW to get some seemingly original programming on. Swamp Thing was pretty critically savaged. I have seen Tell Me A Story and enjoyed it quite a bit but it will certainly have to be edited for time and content. In January, they plan to have the return of The Flash and their newest DC show, Superman & Lois. This has been a marquee title in development for the CW and it's getting the most compatible and strongest lead-in.
WEDNESDAYS
(Fall)
8:00 Two Sentence Horror Stories (2nd season)
8:30 Dead Pixels (US Premiere)
9:00 Coroner (US Premiere)
(Jan)
8:00 Riverdale (5th season)
9:00 Nancy Drew (2nd season)
Wednesdays in the fall have the anthology Two Sentence Horror Stories, which last aired in Summer 2019 and was most likely originally planned for this summer. It is followed by two imports, the comedy Dead Pixels from England and drama Coroner from Canada. January has the same lineup that aired this season with Riverdale and Nancy Drew. Riverdale is a shell of what it was and Nancy Drew was one of the lowest rated non-Friday shows this year so I would not expect much from this lineup.
THURSDAYS
(Fall)
8:00 Supernatural (Remainder of 15th season)
9:00 The Outpost (3rd season)
(Jan)
8:00 WALKER
9:00 Legacies (3rd season)
The one night that is not coronavirus-proof in the fall is Thursdays. Supernatural has seven episodes left in its legendary 15 episode run but not all have been filmed which is why the CW abruptly stopped airing the ones that were done this spring. They will need to film a couple more episodes including the series finale. I'm glad the CW is giving this show, which predates the network itself, the chance to film a proper conclusion. Hopefully they will be able to this summer. It is followed by import The Outpost which had completed five episodes in Serbia when production shut down. In January, the CW is planning to launch its reboot of Walker, Texas Ranger. Now called Walker, the series stars Supernatural star Jared Padalecki who could have a very busy fall if production resumes by having to jump from Supernatural right to Walker. It is followed by the third season of Legacies, which has been a strong performer in delayed viewing.
FRIDAYS
(Fall)
8:00 World's Funniest Animals (Network Premiere)
8:30 TBD
(Jan)
8:00 Penn & Teller: Fool Us
9:00 Whose Line is it Anyway?
9:30 Whose Line is it Anyway?
There's not much of a plan for Fridays in the fall or January with a filler World's Funniest Animals and then nothing scheduled in the fall and the move of the Monday unscripteds in the winter. Not much to see here. I'm surprised they didn't slot Dynasty for January.
SUNDAYS
(Fall)
8:00 TBD
(Jan)
8:00 Batwoman (2nd season)
9:00 Charmed (3rd season)
The CW has no plan as of now for the fall for Sunday nights but will return Batwoman to 8pm in January. It will be followed by Charmed, which first aired on Sundays before moving to Fridays. Supergirl is being held longer in part due to star Melissa Benoist's pregnancy.
MIDSEASON: KUNG FU, THE REPUBLIC OF SARAH, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Dynasty, In the Dark, Roswell New Mexico, Supergirl
If all goes according to plan, the CW midseason will launch sometime in late spring or typically when the season would be ending. It will then go through early summer for a very different type of season (if it happens). Shows being held include two newbies: a reboot of Kung Fu and The Republic of Sarah, which was first developed for CBS and then redeveloped for the CW. Neither show has actually shot a pilot.
CANCELLED/ENDED: The 100, Arrow
TBD: Katy Keene
The CW has not made a determination yet on Katy Keene, with a decision expected in a couple weeks. I do still think it will get renewed but each passing day seems to not help its chances. It has not done well in linear viewing or delayed viewing so the CW will be looking to see how it does in streaming before making a final decision.
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