LOS ANGELES — The old gang seems to be breaking up at the CW network.
Then again, the new shows will be a lot like the ones that are leaving.
Three of the network’s most-praised series — “iZombie,” “Jane the Virgin” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” — ended their seasons this year. Two more, “Arrow” and “Supernatural,” have already said the coming season will be their last.
And now comes one more: “The 100” — which wraps ends its current season Tuesday – will also make next season its last, said CW chief Mark Pedowitz.
These are long-lasting shows – it will be the seventh season for “100,” the 15th for “Supernatural” — but Pedowitz views it philosophically. “Shows tend to have a natural lifetime.”
He has plenty of replacements. Three shows this fall — “Batgirl,” Katy Keene” and “Nancy Drew” — are in the CW wheelhouse, adapting comic books and youth novels.
The flip side is that this brings a sense of sameness. The CW may be drifting from the fans (and TV criics) who liked “Jane” and “Crazy.”
Pedowitz disputed that, pointing to two shows “All American” and “In the Dark,” that will be back.
He also tried to dismiss notions that “Dynasty” is in permanent chaos. In the first two seasons, two actresses have left the Cristal role, one has left the Alexis role and the Stephen role has been bumped from regular to recurring; also, the showrunner was switched.
Pedowitz categorized most of the cast changes as “personal reasons.”