The CW today announced its 2013-14 schedule, which will kick off in October 2013, and will include five new dramas (three premiering in fall, two in midseason).
According to CW president Mark Pedowitz, “We had a terrific season last year, growing our audience on-air, digitally and socially. Now we are building on that success by continuing to add more original programming all year long, and by adding high-concept, exciting shows to our schedule … Arrow was one of the breakout hits of this season, and we’re using that show and The Vampire Diaries, our two highest-rated series, to launch our new dramas The Tomorrow People and Reign, on Wednesday and Thursday nights.”
Pedowitz also talked about the highly anticipated spinoff series to The Vampire Diaries, The Originals (pictured above).
“Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah, the original family of vampires, have become fan favorites over the past three seasons on The Vampire Diaries, and we know viewers will be excited to see more of their story in their new spin-off series, The Originals, on Tuesday nights.”
Some changes to the schedule fans can expect will be Hart of Dixie and Beauty and the Beast moving to Monday nights; Supernatural moving to Tuesday nights; and The Carrie Diaries moving to Friday nights.
NEW CW SERIES 2013-14
The Originals — When Klaus Mikaelson, the original vampire-werewolf hybrid, receives a mysterious tip that a plot is brewing against him in the supernatural melting pot that is the French Quarter of New Orleans, he returns to the city his family helped build. Klaus’ questions lead him to a reunion with his diabolical former protégé, Marcel, a charismatic vampire who has total control over the human and supernatural inhabitants of New Orleans. Determined to help his brother find redemption, Elijah follows Klaus and soon learns that the werewolf Hayley has also come to the French Quarter searching for clues to her family history, and has fallen into the hands of a powerful witch named Sophie. Tensions between the town’s supernatural factions are nearing a breaking point as Marcel commands his devoted followers and rules with absolute power. For Klaus, the thought of answering to his powerful protégé is unthinkable, and he vows to reclaim what was once his – the power, the city and his family. While they wait to see if their sister Rebekah will leave Mystic Falls and join them, Klaus and Elijah form an uneasy alliance with the witches to ensure that New Orleans will be ruled by The Originals once again. This spinoff of The Vampire Diaries stars Joseph Morgan, Daniel Gillies, Claire Holt, Phoebe Tonkin, Charles Michael Davis, Daniella Pineda, Leah Pipes and Danielle Campbell.
The Tomorrow People — Up until a year ago, Stephen was a “normal” teenager — until he began hearing voices and teleporting in his sleep, never knowing where he might wake up. Now, Stephen’s issues have gone far beyond the usual teenage angst, and he is beginning to question his sanity. In desperation, Stephen decides to listen to one of the voices in his head, and it leads him to his first encounter with the Tomorrow People — John, Cara and Russell — a genetically advanced race with the abilities of telekinesis, teleportation and telepathic communication. The Tomorrow People are being hunted down by a paramilitary group of scientists known as Ultra. Led by Dr. Jedikiah Price, Ultra sees the Tomorrow People as a very real existential threat from a rival species, and the outcast group has been forced to hide out in an abandoned subway station just beneath the surface of the human world. Robbie Amell, Luke Mitchell, Peyton List, Aaron Yoo, Mark Pellegrino and Madeleine Mantock star in this drama.
Reign — You might not expect to find a historical drama on The CW, but this new series depicts the life of the teenage Mary Stuart (who would become known as Mary, Queen of Scots). And it sounds like it has a CW touch to it, perhaps a cross between Gossip Girl and The Tudors. Already, at her young age, Mary is a headstrong monarch. Arriving in France with four close friends as her ladies-in-waiting, Mary has been sent to secure Scotland’s strategic alliance by formalizing her arranged engagement to the French king’s dashing son, Prince Francis. But the match isn’t signed and sealed, it depends more on politics, religion and secret agendas than affairs of the heart. Prince Francis is intrigued by the fiery Scot, but like most young men, he resists the idea of settling down into marriage, especially when he has a history with a lady of the court and his own point of view on the wisdom of an alliance with Scotland. Still, an attraction between Mary and Francis is ignited. Further complicating things is Bash, Francis’ roguish half-brother, who has a history of his own – despite his illegitimate birth, Bash is his father’s favorite. And now that Bash has caught Mary’s eye, a royal triangle may be forming. Adelaide Kane, Toby Regbo, Torrance Coombs, Megan Follows, Alan Van Sprang, Celina Sinden, Caitlin Stasey, Anna Popplewell and Jenessa Grant star.
Star-Crossed — Premiering in midseason, this drama is a Romeo and Juliet-type story about the bond between an Earth girl and an alien boy. The spacecraft carrying the boy and several others of his race crashes on Earth when he is 6, and 10 years later he is part of a test of human/alien integration by being enrolled at the girl’s high school. The pair’s bond becomes increasingly strong, and dangerous, as prejudices swirl around them. Aimee Teegarden, Matt Lanter, Grey Damon, Natalie Hall, Malese Jow, Titus Makin Jr., Chelsea Gilligan and Greg Finley star.
The 100 — Another midseason drama, this series is set years after a nuclear Armageddon has decimated Earth and destroyed civilization, leaving only 4,000 survivors aboard a series of space stations. The resources aboard the stations are running out, so the leaders of the “Ark” test whether Earth is habitable again by secretly exiling a group of 100 juvenile prisoners to the planet’s surface. With the survival of the human race in their hands, these 100 must transcend differences, unite and forge a new path on a wildly changed Earth that is primitive and teeming with the unknown. The series stars Eliza Taylor, Paige Turco, Thomas McDonell, Eli Goree, Marie Avgeropoulos, Bob Morley, Kelly Hu, Christopher Larkin, Isaiah Washington and Henry Ian Cusick.
Famous in 12 — This midseason reality series find Harvey Levin and TMZ seeing if one determined family has what it takes to become famous in the entertainment capital of the world, Los Angeles, in a 12-week time frame.
RETURNING CW SERIES 2013-14
America’s Next Top Model; Arrow; Beauty and the Beast; The Carrie Diaries; Hart of Dixie; Nikita (premiere date TBD); Supernatural; The Vampire Diaries
THE CW’s 2013-2014 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE (ET/PT)
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM HART OF DIXIE (New Night)
9:00-10:00 PM BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (New Night)
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM THE ORIGINALS (New Series)
9:00-10:00 PM SUPERNATURAL (New Night)
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM ARROW
9:00-10:00 PM THE TOMORROW PEOPLE (New Series)
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM THE VAMPIRE DIARIES
9:00-10:00 PM REIGN (New Series)
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM THE CARRIE DIARIES (New Night)
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL
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The Originals: © 2013 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Credit: Skip Bolen
The Tomorrow People: © 2013 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Credit: Barbara Nitke
Reign: © 2013 The CW Network, LLC. Credit: Joss Barratt
So excited that Heart of Dixie will have another season. MY favorite show! Love it!