The final day of network upfronts started off with newbie network The CW presenting its fall schedule at Madison Square Garden. The CW — or as I like to call it, ''The Network That Killed Everwood'' — opened its presentation with a tired performance from the Black Eyed Peas. (Is there anything this group won't do for a quick buck?) Network head Dawn Ostroff eventually made it onstage (without busting any moves, thankfully) and got down to the good stuff.
The never-ending 7th Heaven will indeed return next fall in its Monday-night time slot for an 11th season. Following the Camden family will be Darren Star's new suspense drama, Runaway, starring Donnie Wahlberg and 24's Leslie Hope. Wahlberg plays a family man who is framed for murder and must take his family on the run. It looked kinda like 1988's Running on Empty, but without the joy that is Judd Hirsch.
Tuesdays will be ''girls night,'' as Ostroff put it, which had me thinking of 2-for-1 Jell-O shots and $5 Cosmos. Alas, she was simply referring to the new combo of Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars.
America's Next Top Model keeps its Wednesday-at-8 time slot, which it will share with Beauty and the Geek once Model finishes the first half of its two-cycle season. (Tyra Banks appeared to chat about the show and almost bit the dust after hitting a slippery spot on the stage. She laughed it off, but still mentioned it at least twice in her speech, making me think Ostroff might be getting a visit from Tyra's lawyers.) One Tree Hill somehow made CW's cut and will air in the 9 p.m. slot.
Smallville and Supernatural will remain on Thursdays, keeping the girls and the gays entertained with a night of pretty boys fighting scary things.
Apparently wrestling used to air on UPN on Fridays. Who knew? Well, Smackdown will continue to elude my radar next fall, as well, on the same night and time.
Sunday will be The CW's night of comedy, as Everybody Hates Chris, All of Us, Girlfriends, and new series The Game air in the 7-9 p.m. block. The Game is a Girlfriends spin-off about the wives of athletes, and it looks relatively entertaining, like a non-British and non-trashy Footballers Wive$.
Before sending the audience on its way, Ostroff unveiled a teaser for The CW's midseason series, Hidden Palms. Created by Kevin Williamson (Scream, Dawson's Creek), it features a troubled youth moving to Palm Springs with his mother (played by Gail O'Grady). Sounds a lot like The O.C.
The CW's schedule at a glance:
Sundays
7-7:30 p.m.
NEW TIME SLOT Everybody Hates Chris
7:30-8 p.m.
NEW TIME SLOT All of Us
8-8:30 p.m.
NEW TIME SLOT Girlfriends
8:30-9 p.m.
NEW SERIES The Game
9-10 p.m.
America's Next Top Model repeat
Mondays
8-9 p.m.
7th Heaven
9-10 p.m.
NEW SERIES Runaway
Tuesdays
8-9 p.m.
Gilmore Girls
9-10 p.m.
Veronica Mars
Wednesdays
8-9 p.m.
America's Next Top Model
At midseason: Beauty and the Geek
9-10 p.m.
One Tree Hill
Thursdays
8-9 p.m.
Smallville
9-10 p.m.
Supernatural
Fridays
8-10 p.m.
Friday Night Smackdown
AS-YET-UNSCHEDULED NEW SERIES Hidden Palms
