Post-strike, CW sticks with lower-budget plan

When the big networks return to full-budget, scripted shows, the CW will stand fast.
It will have the same sort of shows it (and others) settled for during the strikes. There will be lots a non-fiction, plus Canadian shows (including “Children Ruin Everything,” shown here) and a movie night.
For years, the CW had youthful shows — often high-octane, superhero ones. But 15 months ago, it got a new owner with plans to lower the costs; then the strikes saw all the networks trying that.
In the post-strike world, the big-four networks plan to have most of their scripted shows arrive in the next couple months. CW, however, will stick close to what its been doing.
It did renew three of its previous scripted shows – “All-American,” “All-American: Homecoming” and the final 10 episodes of “Superman & Lois.” But the plan, announced today (Dec. 12), includes none of those. It has::
— SATURDAYS: Two-hour biography movies, under the “I Am …” banner. That starts Dec. 30, when CW follows the Arizona Bowl (Toledo vs. Wyoming) with a profile of Burt Reynolds (who was a high school football star). “I Am …” will trace Chris Farley and Paul Walker on the next two Saturdays, then will borrow a Monday slot on Jan. 15 (Martin Luther King Day), for a film on King.
— SUNDAYS: “Sunday Night Movies” starts Jan. 7, with Jennifer Lope and Matthew McConaughey in “The Wedding Planner” (2001). The Sunday-movie idea was sometimes used by CBS during the pandemic; ABC used it (as “Wonderful World of Disney”) during the strikes and continues it now..
— MONDAYS and TUESDAYS: There’s nothing specific until Feb. 20, when “Crime Nation” – a two-hour true-crime show – debuts.
— WEDNESDAYS: Two Canadian dramas will fill the night, starting Jan. 17. It’s the new “Wild Cards” (demoted police detective links with an attractive scam artist) and the returning “Family Law.”
— THURSDAYS: This has been Canadian comedy night. “Son of a Critch” continues at 8 p.m.; on Jan. 11, “Children Ruin Everything” will return to the 9:30 spot, with 8:30 and 9 still pending.
— FRIDAYS: Beginning Jan. 12, this will have “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” at 8 p.m., “Masters of Illusion” at 9 and “World’s Funniest Animals” at 10.