Do you consider The CW a viable network, or is it more of a failure overall; particulary when compared to ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox? They have some success with Vampire Diaries and Smallville, but overall it seems like they are sort of pitifully lagging behind and perpetually stuck in a 'growing pains' stage. Are you a fan of this network?

I had to look up what shows they air. My wife and daughter watch a few of them.

The CW basically only exists to air lower budget programs produced by Warner Bros. and CBS that they can't sell to other networks, or wouldn't fit in at the main CBS network. For all intents and purposes, it's the television equivalent to Payless shoes.

Their problem is their target demo isn't enough to build an entire network on. Maybe if they were just a cable station, these numbers would look good. But they're pitiful next to everyone else. I don't think anyone really takes them seriously. I suppose there's always a chance to get a smash hit one of these days. But they'd need to seriously take a risk to get there and I don't see it happening.

Their best bet might be to try to acquire a moderately rated show cast off by another network. A lot of CBS' and ABC's castoffs would be mammoth hits on the CW. And some could fit in quite nicely. (Like October Road... Yeah I miss it.)

I used to watch the new 90210 on CW but have since stopped. I don't really follow their schedule like that but most of their shows that I know of seem on the corny side.

Naw I don't watch any of their shows. I watched the reboot of Melrose Place, which I didn't think was bad, but it got cancelled and none of their other shows interest me.

Chris wrote:

Do you consider The CW a viable network, or is it more of a failure overall; particulary when compared to ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox? They have some success with Vampire Diaries and Smallville, but overall it seems like they are sort of pitifully lagging behind and perpetually stuck in a 'growing pains' stage. Are you a fan of this network?

They have also had luck with Gossip Girl, Supernatural and now Arrow and Beauty and the Beast. Its not a mainstream channel like ABC or CBS they mainly feature these weekly serials that seem to take off.

The CW's problem is its overtly targeted programming towards 18-24 year old females exclusively, while only throwing a bone every once in a while to other demographic groups. They got rid of all their sitcoms and now only air hour dramas that all sort of mesh and become interchangeable with each other, despite how different they might be. The former WB and UPN actually targeted a variety of demographics throughout their existence. If somebody at CBS and Time Warner would wake up and realize this then the network could actually survived and possibly thrive in the long term. It started out pretty good then somewhere in 2009 it went to garbage. The only reason it's still on the air is because of the agreements they have with former WB and UPN affiliates to keep it operational for a certain amount of time, because most of those stations don't want to go independent.

I guess not. The only show I remember watching on there is The Game. And then I got into that one late.

Marc™ wrote:

The CW's problem is its overtly targeted programming towards 18-24 year old females exclusively, ...

That may be. Thursday is my TV night. Was talking with my 22-year-old female coworker and mentioned I watch Big Bang Theory, 2 & 1/2 Men, Beauty & the Beast, then Elementary. She seemed surprised that I watch Beauty & the Beast, which she also watches. Last night I realized this show is like Twilight with the normal girl falling for the beast.

(Hmmm, now why would a 68-year-old man like it?)

Shale wrote:

That may be. Thursday is my TV night. Was talking with my 22-year-old female coworker and mentioned I watch Big Bang Theory, 2 & 1/2 Men, Beauty & the Beast, then Elementary. She seemed surprised that I watch Beauty & the Beast, which she also watches. Last night I realized this show is like Twilight with the normal girl falling for the beast.

(Hmmm, now why would a 68-year-old man like it?)

I watch it too

In general, I think they have good programming for free tv.