New CW Schedule

The CW has released their fall 2007 schedule; "Veronica Mars" is cancelled although it may still get a midseason return in a different format; Thursday night cult dramas stay put and "Beauty and the Geek" replaces "Gilmore Girls."

During its disappointing freshman year the new CW network generated headlines only when it announced the cancellation of classic WB and UPN favorites like "Everwood," "7th Heaven" and "Gilmore Girls."

The network's sagging portfolio of aging WB and UPN hits was not expanded with any breakout hits, its only Nielsen success story being the dull Pussycat Dolls reality show.

The new line-up brings little creative spark, playing it safe on most of the nights. There will however be 6 new series this year, that's 3 times more than a year ago when The CW relied mostly on what they described as "the best of UPN and The WB."

The creator of FOX's "The O.C.," Josh Schwartz whose other pilot "Chuck" will air on NBC, has put together "Gossip Girl" and The CW president Dawn Ostroff says they hope it will do for New York what O.C. did for Orange County.

That however means the fans of "One Tree Hill" will have to wait until midseason to see the new episodes.

Also, "Veronica Mars" is dead, but according to Ostroff the show may still return in a different form (not a spin-off) and the network is currently negotiating a possible new deal with the producers.

Other notes of interest:

Cheap infotainment magazines "CW Now" and "Online Nation" will cut costs on Sunday nights.

New Monday night comedy "Aliens in America" about a Pakistani immigrant is getting good early buzz.

'Melrose Place's' Kelly Rutherford will play a bitchy matriarch on the new Wednesday night drama "Gossip Girl."

Although rumored to join "Smallville" on Thursday nights, the new cult series "The Reaper" will air on Tuesdays after "Beauty and the Geek."

New Sunday night drama "Life is Wild" is shot on location in South Africa.

MONDAY
8:00pm: Everybody Hates Chris
8:30pm: ALIENS IN AMERICA (new show)
9:00pm: Girlfriends
9:30pm: The Game

TUESDAY
8:00pm: Beauty And The Geek
9:00pm: THE REAPER (new show)

WEDNESDAY
8:00pm: America's Next Top Model
9:00pm: GOSSIP GIRL (new show)

THURSDAY
8:00pm: Smallville
9:00pm: Supernatural

FRIDAY
800pm: Friday Night Smackdown

SUNDAY
7:00pm: ONLINE NATION (new show)
7:30pm: CW NOW (new show)
8:00pm: LIFE IS WILD (new show)
9:00pm: America's Next Top Model repeats

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