When I first heard about The CW (which I’m told gets the “C” from CBS and the “W” from Warner Brothers), I was actually kind of excited.  To me, the WB and UPN have always been kind of interchangeable anyway, and neither has really had any kind of credibility.  But each Network has a couple of solid shows and a history of cult favorites that will give the new network a good base for long-term success.  That’s why it surprised me to see that some executives aren’t taking the move seriously.  

If you look at my top ten list (which, granted, means nothing), there are two shows (“Veronica Mars” and “Supernatural”) on the list that will be carried over to The CW.  CBS didn’t make the list at all.  (Again, that doesn’t mean much since they’re the “most watched network”.)  Add in shows like “Smallville”, “Gilmore Girls”, “Everybody Hates Chris”, and anything Joss Whedon touches—he’s always working on something, so another series certainly isn’t out of the question—and you’ve got yourself some viewers.  

The other factor going in their favor is that they’re willing to take chances.  What other networks would base a whole series on an adolescent Superman, or two brothers who fight supernatural forces on a weekly basis, or a reality show about models of all things?  But all three of those ideas have proven to be successful, though they haven’t had the success of the big networks yet.  But I stress yet.  Remember when FOX was just a little guy?  Me too.