If you’d like to have eternal life, try to become a TV series on CW.
The network has just announced that it’s bringing back “All American,” which seemed to have an iffy future. Also returning for next season are two mid-season arrivals — “In the Dark” and “Roswell, New Mexico” — plus “The 100,” which is finally starting its season.
That means every scripted shows – even “Dynasty,” abandoned by viewers and critics – will be back. The only exceptions are shows that had already decided this is the final season — “Jane the Virgin,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and “iZombie.”
CW makes room for these because it spreads many shows into the summer. “The 100” and “iZombie” don’t even start their seasons until Tuesday and Thursday, April 30 and May 2.
And it can afford to renew low-rated shows, because many are the type – big concepts, fantasy twists – that do well in other countries and in streaming.
That still left “All American” (shown here) tenuous; it has strong quality but low ratings, in an (almost) everyday-American setting. Now it will be back, alongside:
— All the other first-year shows — “Charmed,” “Legacies” and now “Roswell” and “In the Dark.”
— “Black Lightning” and, alas, “Dynasty,” for their third seasons.
— “Riverdale.” for its fourth.
— “Supergirl” and “Legends of Tomorrow” for their fifth.
— Also, “The Flash” for its sixth, “The 100” for its seventh, “Arrow” for its eighth … and “Supernatural” for what will be its 15th and final season.
Really, it’s 15th. A drama that many people have never seen will have outlasted “MASH” by four years, “L.A. Law” by seven, “The West Wing” and “Cagney & Lacey” by eight, “Kaz” by 14. It’s achieved near-eternal life, CW style.