CW’s Schedule Moves Dynasty to Fridays Among Other Changes

Written Curious if Schedule Position Matters by Bridger Cunningham

The CW has firmed up its schedule today as network representatives discussed this matter at their TCA presentation today. Among the first disclosures was not only Desperate Housewives alum Nicollette Sheridan joining the reboot as Alexis Carrington, but locating the series to Fridays at 8:00 starting March 9 after Crazy Ex-Girlfriend concludes its season. Such a move is fueled by the series being CW's third-lowest delivery with a 0.23 18-48 adult ratings, but also the compatibility of the soap genre on Fridays. CBS successfully colonized Fridays in the 80's with back-to-back showings of Dallas and Falcon Crest, so perhaps this scheduling may reignite an old trend. Friday evenings will also open the 9:00 timeslot to the Originals' final season on April 20 after Jane the Virgin bows out on April 13.

In the vacancy where Dynasty resided on Wednesdays at 9:00, the network will launch dramedy Life Sentence on March 7. Lucy Hale stars in the series as Stella Abbott, a woman whose terminal cancer goes into remission and she must now deal with the consequences of when she chose to live like she was dying. New Marvel franchise Black Lightning is slated to premiere Tuesday, January 16 at 9:00 behind The Flash and has new material slated through April 17. Following its scheduling, The 100 premieres on April 24 in the same timeslot.

So what happens to Legends of Tomorrow, which resided in that same timeslot last fall? It will timeshare with Supergirl on Mondays at 8:00 well into the summer. Supergirl returns January 15 and will air original programming through February 5. The Legends of Tomorrow resumes the space from February 12 through April 9 before Supergirl finishes the season from April 16 through June 18. This leaves Supergirl, The 100 and The Originals slated to carry original programming into the summer as the network boasts year-round programming.

Schedule Dates For Series Premieres