Thoughts on the CW’s New Fall Schedule 

The CW announced its 2011 Fall Schedule today. Here’s what it looks like:

Monday
8/7C Gossip Girl
9/8C Hart of Dixie

Tuesday
8/7C 90210
9/8C Ringer

Wednesday
8/7C H8R
9/8C ANTM

Thursday
8/7C The Vampire Diaries
9/8C The Secret Circle

Friday
8/7C Nikita
9/8C Supernatural

–One Tree Hill‘s Season 9 will be waiting in the wings for a mid-season spot.

My thoughts on this new schedule (SPOILER ALERT: I do discuss some spoilers from the descriptions the CW released):

• So happy the network picked up Ringer. It’s definitely one of my must-see new shows of next season due largely to the presence of one Sarah Michelle Gellar. Having said that, I’m a little worried about the Tuesday night pairing with 90210. Don’t get me wrong, I love 90210 and I’m a regular watcher, but those two shows don’t really seem to go together. However, there’s really no where else they could put Ringer because on Mondays, it’s Josh Schwartz night with his veteran drama Gossip Girl and his new Rachel Bilson-led drama Hart of Dixie. And on Thursday night it’s a Kevin Williamson-special with his fast-paced wonder-of-a-show The Vampire Diaries being paired with his new kid on the block, the supernatural-oriented Secret Circle. Wednesdays as we know is Reality TV-centric and without Smallville, the CW’s Friday night will feature the brand new combo of Nikita and Supernatural. There’s really no where else the CW could put Ringer other than that Tuesday night at 9/8C slot.

• I like the idea of Rachel Bilson reuniting with her creator from The O.C. As Summer, she was one of my favorite things about that show. I’m not quite sure about the concept for this new show but I’ll be watching. How great is it that Hart of Dixie also stars two Friday Night Lights alums — Scott Porter and Cress Williams?

• The CW is being very good to two of its actors from this past season. Even though Life Unexpected was canceled this season, next season features two LUX stars back on TV: Britt Robertson and Kristoffer Polaha. Britt is the lead in Kevin Williamson’s The Secret Circle (she plays a teen who finds out she’s a witch); and Kris is one of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s love interests in Ringer. Congrats to the former father-daughter team. Now if the CW could only take care of Shiri Appleby…

• Did you get a load of the description the CW released for Season 7 of Supernatural? It’s understandably vague but really intriguing at the same time. Here’s the part that piqued my interest the most:

Now, in season seven, the Winchesters will find themselves in an increasingly sinister, changing landscape, up against a new foe unlike anything they’ve ever fought.  They’ll find their old tricks, weapons and hiding places all rendered useless.  All they’ll have is each other.  And the certainty that, like the last of the cowboy outlaws, whatever they face, they’re not going down without a fight.

• I wonder what this all means. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow night during the show’s 2-hour finale, maybe? I’m happy to see Misha Collins’ name as a member of the cast for Season 7. Just saying. But as someone on Twitter pointed out, Eric Kripke and Ben Edlund’s names are not down on the press release as executive producers. Wonder what that means? REVISED NOTE: TVLine.com announced that while Misha will be a part of Season 7, it won’t be as a series regular. This same article does assure fans Kripke and Edlund will be a part of next season too.

• I will be watching America’s Next Top Model for the first time in a long time since the network recently announced it will be an all-star season. However, I’m curious why the CW’s choosing to lead the night off with a new reality TV show like the Mario Lopez-hosted H8R and not with ANTM, a proven commodity. I’m guessing because the ANTM lead-in hasn’t worked for shows in the past. Who really knows…

• Let’s talk Nikita. I’m wondering if the whole Alex trying to track down Michael and Nikita is going to be the arc for the entire season. I really liked the game-changing finale. The principals are away from Division which I like. I’m hoping this new direction will be fresh and exciting. I don’t know how long I want Alex and Nikita to be playing on opposite sides, however. Although, really, I’m just supremely happy Michael and Nikita are together. I really didn’t see that coming so soon.

• Like previously conveyed, Season 3 of The Vampire Diaries looks to be the season of the Originals. I don’t mind since I’m loving Klaus; I hope to see Elijah make a return engagement; and I wonder if we’ll meet anyone else from their family. I also look forward to: 1) Big bad Stefan and learning why Klaus wants him to be his wingman; 2) Damon and Elena’s relationship and seeing if it goes anywhere; 3) Caroline and Tyler growing closer; and 4) Bonnie and Jeremy and how his two ghostly exes fit in. I also want to find out where Matt fits into the new season. No mention of him in the press release, but really, he took himself out of the Caroline/Tyler equation, so I don’t have high hopes.

I’m excited about the CW’s decisions for the fall schedule. I’m not sure about H8R but I don’t know if I’d watch that show anyway. However, the network has successfully lured me back into the ANTM orbit. It’s going to be sad because Smallville won’t be part of the lineup for the first time in over ten years. But to have a world where Sarah Michelle Gellar is back on TV and on the same network as two of my favorite TV shows (Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries), is a beautiful thing.