Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/
The CW may be the latest network to make a bold move on Thursday.
After days of rumblings, the CW is said to have settled on launching the hot new drama “Vampire Diaries” Thursday 8 p.m., paired with “Supernatural.” “Vampire Diaries” would replace the staple in the time slot, departing veteran “Smallville,” whose final ninth season would air on Friday, probably at 8 p.m.
The network is set to unveil its fall schedule Thursday in New York.
“Vampire Diaries,” about a girl in a love triangle with two vampire brothers, is envisioned as a new tentpole series for Thursday night where the network already has built-in sci-fi audience with “Smallville” and “Supernatural.”
Meanwhile, “Melrose Place” will almost certainly be paired with “90210,” repeating the launch pattern for the original “Melrose Place,” which followed “Beverly Hills, 90210” on Fox in fall 1992.
With its setting — a co-ed residence of young models — new drama “Beautiful Life” is a perfect scripted companion for “America’s Next Top Model” and is expected to launch after the hit reality series on Wednesday.
CW’s solidly-rated Monday lineup of “Gossip Girl” and “One Tree Hill” is expected to stay intact.
All major networks are taking swings on Thursday night, the most lucrative night on television.
Fox and CBS are moving promising freshmen “Fringe” and “The Mentalist” to Thursday at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively.
ABC is slotting newcomer “Flash Forward” at 8 p.m. where the show based on a sci-fi novel may have some audience overlap with “Vampire Diaries.”
And, after several weeks of “SNL” specials, NBC will put freshman comedy “Community” in the 8-8:30 p.m. half-hour on Thursday.
As for CW’s new crop of shows, the network should have no problem promoting them.
“Vampire Diaries” is based on an established book franchise and will certainly tap into the “Twilight” phenomenon.
Meanwhile, both “Melrose” and “Life” have popular stars — Mischa Barton and Elle MacPherson (“Life”) and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz (“Melrose”) — to help hype the shows.
And “Life” is exec produced by Twitter king Ashton Kutcher, who can talk up the series to his more than 1 million followers.
Rumored CW schedule:
Monday
8 p.m. “Gossip Girl”
9 p.m. “One Tree Hill”
Tuesday
8 p.m. “90210”
9 p.m. “Melrose Place”
Wednesday
8 p.m. “America’s Next Top Model”
9 p.m. “Beautiful Life”
Thursday
8 p.m. “Vampire Diaries”
9 p.m. “Supernatural”
Friday
8 p.m. “Smallville”
