While other networks recede into reruns this summer, the CW is trying an alternate route.
It keeps buying shows that have aired somewhere else, but haven’t been on a U.S. broadcast network.
Now it has added four more – three British, one Canadian. It has also set the second half of its summer schedule.
The British newcomers included a horror mystery show (“Killer Camp,” shown here), a reality competition (“Taskmaster”) and a reality show (“Being Reuben”) about a 14-year-old Welsh boy who became a social-media star as a singer and make-up expert. The Canadian show (“Fridge Wars”) has people scouring unknown contents of a refrigerator to assemble a meal.
In the second half of the summer, those will be joined by previously announced shows. “Tell Me a Story” previously aired on CBS All Access; the others are British – “Coroner,” a drama series, and “Dead Pixels,” mixing in animation to show the lives of videogame buffs and their avatars.
Those join a summer that already has two imports – the Canadian “Burden of Truth” and the British “Bulletproof,” plus CW shows that started in late spring. Other imports will arrive this fall, with the main line-up – “Flash” and “Riverdale” and “Batgirl” and such – waiting until January,
Here’s the summer line-up. The CW does only two hours a night and skips Saturdays:
– Tuesdays: “Stargirl” continues at 8 p.m. through Aug. 11; then “Dead Pixels” arrives Aug. 18. The 9 p.m. slot currently goes to stand-up comedy; “Tell Me a Story” arrives on July 28.
– Wednesdays: “The 100” continues at 8 p.m. throughout the summe.r At 9, the eight-episode “Bulletproof” season ends July 29, with “Coroner” taking over on Aug. 5.
– Thursdays: “Burden of Truth” and “In the Dark” continue through July 9; “Killer Camp” arrives on July 16.
– Fridays: The “Masters of Illusion” magic show continues at 8. “Whose Line Is It Anyway” reruns currently follow at 9, with “Being Reuben” arriving Aug. 7.
– Sundays: This is currently a rerun night, but “Taskmaster” and “Fridge Wars” arrive on Aug. 2.
– Mondays: Now that “Roswell, New Mexico” has finished its season, “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” takes over at 9 p.m. It’s preceded by “Whose Line” at 8.