The new CW's first fall

Most -- not all -- of your favorite WB and UPN shows have survived to become part of the CW's first fall lineup. "7th Heaven" was renewed by CW, after WB canceled it and aired a series finale on May 8. Also back are "Gilmore Girls," "Veronical Mars," "Smallville," "One Tree Hill," "Supernatural," "Girlfriends." But not "Reba," "Everwood" or "What I Like About You."
Nick Lachey's sitcom pilot didn't make the fall schedule, but I'm told its still alive and under consideration for midseason.
Here's the CW announcement:

THE CW UNVEILS ITS FIRST PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

NETWORK LAUNCHES DIVERSE SCHEDULE
WITH A NEW DRAMA, A NEW COMEDY
AND A BLEND OF PROVEN HIT SERIES, BELOVED CHARACTERS
AND NEW AND RETURNING STARS

Urban Comedy Block Will Premiere on Sunday Night
With Three Returning Series and New Spin-off “The Game”
From “Girlfriends” Producers
Mara Brock-Akil and Kelsey Grammer

Two Critically Acclaimed Series, “Gilmore Girls” and “Veronica Mars,”
Become Next-Door Neighbors on Tuesday Night

“7th Heaven,” Television’s Longest-Running Family Drama,
Returns to 8:00 P.M. Monday Timeslot for an
Unprecedented Eleventh Season,
Leading into Exciting New Drama “Runaway”
From Producers Darren Star and Ed Zuckerman,
Starring Donnie Wahlberg and Leslie Hope

Midseason Heats Up with New Drama “Hidden Palms”
From Producer Kevin Williamson

May 18, 2006 (New York, New York) ─ The CW Network unveiled the schedule for its premiere 2006-2007 season today at Madison Square Garden before more than 3,000 advertisers, affiliates and national media. The announcement was made by Dawn Ostroff, President of Entertainment, The CW.
“With the launch of The CW, we have an unprecedented programming advantage,” said Ms. Ostroff. “By bringing together established hit series with innovative new shows, we were able to create a stellar schedule for our premiere season. Putting this lineup together was a programmer’s dream with so many choices and so many passionate fans making their voices heard about the shows they love. We will launch in the fall with hit shows on all six nights, giving our affiliates a strong foundation to succeed from day one.

The CW will be the destination network for viewers 18-34, and we will deliver quality, diverse programming that advertisers and viewers will embrace in a major way.”

With a strong commitment to diversity, The CW will schedule two original hours of urban comedies on Sunday night. The returning series begin at 7:00 p.m. with EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS, the most acclaimed new show last season, from executive producers Chris Rock and Ali LeRoi. At 7:30 p.m., ALL OF US, from Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, is coming off an impressive season, and will be followed at 8:00 p.m. by GIRLFRIENDS, which has been the most-watched show by African Americans since it debuted in 2000. The new comedy, THE GAME, from GIRLFRIENDS producers Mara Brock-Akil and Kelsey Grammer takes a comedic behind-the-scenes look at the lives of the wives and girlfriends of the star athletes on an NFL team. The series stars Aldis Hodge, Coby Bell, Tia Mowry, Hosea Chanchez and Wendy Raquel Robinson. The 9:00-10:00 p.m. hour will top off the evening with an encore presentation of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL.

Additionally, the four comedies will repeat on Sunday from 5:00-7:00 p.m., giving the network four hours of programming starring African-Americans on the most-watched night of the week.

Television’s longest-running family drama, 7TH HEAVEN, will return for an unprecedented eleventh season in its familiar Monday night timeslot. Due to the overwhelming outcry from fans and the fact that the series’ ratings were up in key demos last season, 7TH HEAVEN is the perfect platform to launch the new drama RUNAWAY, from executive producer Darren Star. Starring Donnie Wahlberg and Leslie Hope, along with newcomers Dustin Milligan, Sarah Ramos and Nathan Gamble, RUNAWAY focuses on a family on the run from the law until the father can prove he was framed for the murder of a co-worker. Living under assumed identities, the family has to stick together under extreme conditions in order to survive.

Tuesday nights are all about girl power with the return of the award-winning series GILMORE GIRLS, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel, at 8:00 p.m., followed by another critical favorite, VERONICA MARS, starring Kristen Bell, at 9:00 p.m. These highly compatible series will each bring new viewers to the Tuesday lineup.

On Wednesday night, AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL will return in its highly successful 8:00 p.m. timeslot. This super-hit from supermodel Tyra Banks will air two cycles each season, alternating with one cycle of another hit reality show, BEAUTY AND THE GEEK, from producers Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg. Returning drama ONE TREE HILL will continue to build on its already loyal young fan base on Wednesday night.

Thursday night turns on the testosterone with the pairing of two action-packed dramas, SMALLVILLE, starring Tom Welling as the young Clark Kent, and SUPERNATURAL, starring Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. Both series showed extreme compatibility after being paired together the second half of last season, with SUPERNATURAL retaining more than 90% of the SMALLVILLE lead-in in key demographics.

The wildly popular FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN! rules the night with two hours of original wrestling extravaganzas 52 weeks a year.

Following is The CW’s 2006-2007 primetime schedule, a night-by-night breakdown and accompanying details on all the programs.

THE CW’s 2006-2007 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 PM EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS
7:30-8:00 PM ALL OF US
8:00-8:30 PM GIRLFRIENDS
8:30-9:00 PM THE GAME (New Series)
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL (Encore Presentation)

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM 7TH HEAVEN
9:00-10:00 PM RUNAWAY (New Series)

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM GILMORE GIRLS
9:00-10:00 PM VERONICA MARS

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL
9:00-10:00 PM ONE TREE HILL

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM SMALLVILLE
9:00-10:00 PM SUPERNATURAL

FRIDAY

8:00-10:00 PM FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN!

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 P.M. “EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS”
Returning for its second season, this hit comedy was inspired by the childhood experiences of comedian Chris Rock. Rock also serves as the narrator of this hilarious, touching story of a teenager growing up as the eldest of three children in Brooklyn, New York, during the early 1980s. Uprooted to a new neighborhood and bused into a predominantly white school two hours away by his strict, hard-working parents, Chris struggles to find his place while keeping his siblings in line at home and surmounting the challenges of middle school. This responsible, resilient adolescent brings a distinct, funny spin to his everyday trials and traumas, in the Golden Globe- and People's Choice-nominated comedy EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS. The single-camera comedy series stars Tichina Arnold (“One on One”) as Rochelle, Terry Crews (“The Longest Yard”) as Julius, Tyler James Williams (“Law & Order: SVU”) as Chris, Tequan Richmond (“Ray”) as Drew, Imani Hakim as Tonya, and Vincent Martella (“Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo”) as Greg. EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS is from Chris Rock Enterprises, Inc. and 3 Arts Entertainment, in association with CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. Co-creator/narrator Chris Rock (“Head of State”), co-creator/writer Ali LeRoi (“Head of State”), Michael Rotenberg (“The Chris Rock Show”) and Dave Becky (“The Hughleys”) are the executive producers.


7:30-8:00 P.M. “ALL OF US”
Inspired by the domestic adventures of entertainment superstars Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, ALL OF US returns for a fourth season to reflect a new generation's enlightened attitude toward ex-spouses, dating and professional lives and dealing with them all using humor, sensitivity and heart. Los Angeles TV personality Robert James has had his fair share of ups and downs in both love and his career, but now he's juggling it all while living with his somewhat self-absorbed ex-wife Neesee as they raise their son, Bobby, Jr. Despite their past history, the two refuse to buy into the old stereotype that being divorced means you can't get along with the ex. ALL OF US stars Duane Martin (“Deliver Us from Eva”) as Robert James Sr., LisaRaye McCoy (“Beauty Shop”) as Neesee James, Khamani Griffin (“Daddy Day Care”) as Robert James Jr. and Tony Rock (“The Chris Rock Show”) as Dirk Black. The series is produced by Overbrook Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jeff Strauss (“Friends”), James Lassiter (“Ali,” “Hitch,” “I, Robot”) and Arthur Harris (“One on One”). Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and Betsy Borns are the creators.

8:00-8:30 PM “GIRLFRIENDS”
Returning for its triumphant seventh year, GIRLFRIENDS provides an open, honest exploration of the hot-button issues about family, friends, relationships and careers facing women today through the lives and loves of three Los Angeles women. Taking on universal subjects that interest all women with fearlessness and sincerity ─ whether it's learning to date after divorce or balancing friendships and a new marriage ─ GIRLFRIENDS treats them all with tenderness, care and respect. The series stars Tracee Ellis Ross (“Hanging Up”) as Joan Clayton, Golden Brooks (“Beauty Shop”) as Maya Wilkes, Persia White as Lynn Searcy, and Reggie Hayes (“Getting Personal”) as William Dent. Mara Brock-Akil (“Moesha,” “The Jamie Foxx Show”) created the series and serves as executive producer along with Kelsey Grammer. GIRLFRIENDS is a production of Happy Camper Productions and Grammnet Productions in association with CBS Paramount Network Television.

8:30-9:00 PM “THE GAME” (NEW COMEDY)
Being the wife or girlfriend of a pro-football player might sound like a glamorous and stress-free existence, but Melanie Barnett is about to discover the truth. Melanie’s boyfriend, Derwin, is the new third-string wide receiver for the San Diego Sabers. While Derwin worries about the plays on the field, Melanie learns about the power plays that NFL wives use to get their men the best agents, managers, endorsements, merchandising deals and even the “in” charity. As she deals with egos, groupies and image consultants, Melanie is finding out how THE GAME is played among the women behind the athletes. THE GAME stars Aldis Hodge as Derwin, Coby Bell as Jason, Tia Mowry as Melanie, Hosea Chanchez as Malik, and Wendy Raquel Robinson as Tasha. THE GAME is from Happy Camper productions and Grammnet Productions in association with CBS Paramount Network Television with executive producers Kelsey Grammer (“Frasier,” “Girlfriends,” “Medium”), Mara Brock-Akil (“Girlfriends,” “Moesha,” “The Jamie Foxx Show”) and Steve Stark (“Medium,” “The In-Laws”).


9:00-10:00 PM “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL” (Encore Presentation)
Returning with its seventh cycle, the runaway runway hit series features supermodel Tyra Banks. The show gives real people an opportunity to prove that they can make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of supermodeling. With mentoring by Tyra Banks and exposure to high-profile fashion-industry gurus, young women of various backgrounds, shapes and sizes must endure a highly accelerated modeling boot camp and face weekly tests to determine who will make the cut as they vie for a professional modeling contract. The executive producers are Ken Mok (“Making the Band”), Tyra Banks and Anthony Dominici (“The Amazing Race”). The dramality series was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris. AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment in association with Bankable Productions.
MONDAY

8:00-9:00 P.M. “7TH HEAVEN”
A minister, his wife and their seven children share love, life and laughter in this contemporary family drama. The WB’s highest-rated series for many years, 7TH HEAVEN has captured the hearts of television audiences with its witty, charming and heartwarming storytelling and has been praised for providing high-quality entertainment for all ages. In the fall of 2005, 7TH HEAVEN began a record-breaking 10th season, making it the longest-running family drama in television history. 7TH HEAVEN stars Stephen Collins as Eric Camden, Catherine Hicks as Annie Camden, David Gallagher as Simon Camden, Beverley Mitchell as Lucy Kinkirk, Mackenzie Rosman as Ruthie Camden and George Stults as Kevin Kinkirk. 7TH HEAVEN was created by Brenda Hampton (“Fat Actress,” “Mad About You,” “Blossom”), who also serves as executive producer along with Aaron Spelling and E. Duke Vincent. The series is produced by Spelling Television, Inc., a Paramount/Viacom Company.


9:00-10:00 P.M. “RUNAWAY” (NEW DRAMA)
The Raders look like a normal middle-class American family, with a dad, Paul Rader, his lovely wife Lily, teenagers Henry and Hannah and 8-year-old Tommy. Those are their real names, but as they struggle to blend into a new life in Bridgewater, Iowa, they are all using secret identities. This family is on the run, hiding from the legal system that unjustly accused Paul Radar of a terrible and violent crime. Adding to the danger, the real killer is now threatening the lives of the Rader children. As Paul works to protect his loved ones and uncover the evidence that will clear him, he lives with the daily fear that someone will accidentally reveal the family's dark secret in RUNAWAY, The CW's new one-hour drama. RUNAWAY stars Donnie Wahlberg as Paul Rader, Leslie Hope as Lily Rader, Dustin Milligan as Henry Rader, Sarah Ramos as Hannah Rader, Nathan Gamble as Tommy Rader, Susan Floyd as Gina Bennett, Karen LeBlanc as Angela Huntley. RUNAWAY is from Sony Pictures Television, Darren Star Productions and Golly Inc. with executive producers Darren Star (“Sex and the City,” “Melrose Place,” “Beverly Hills, 90210”) and Ed Zuckerman (“Law & Order”), creator/co-executive producer Chad Hodge and co-executive producer Susie Fitzgerald.


TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 P.M. “GILMORE GIRLS”
Returning for its seventh season, GILMORE GIRLS is set in a storybook Connecticut town populated with an eclectic mix of everyday folks and lovable lunatics. The award-winning, one-hour comedy is a humorous multigenerational series about friendship, family and the ties that bind, centered around thirty-something Lorelai Gilmore and her college-age daughter Rory. Though Lorelai and Rory have had their differences, the strong and loving mother-daughter relationship portrayed in GILMORE GIRLS reflects the growing reality of this new type of American family. The series stars Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore, Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore, Melissa McCarthy as Sookie St. James, Scott Patterson as Luke Danes, Keiko Agena as Lane Kim, Yanic Truesdale as Michel Gerard, Liza Weil as Paris Geller, Sean Gunn as Kirk, Matt Czuchry as Logan Huntzberger, Kelly Bishop as Emily Gilmore, and Edward Herrmann as Richard Gilmore. This heartfelt comedy was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino (“Roseanne”). David S. Rosenthal (“Spin City,” “Ellen”) and Amy Sherman-Palladino (“Roseanne”) are executive producers on the series produced by Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Hofflund/Polone in association with Warner Bros. Television. Also credited as an executive producer is Gavin Polone (“Stir of Echoes,” “Drop Dead Gorgeous”).

9:00-10:00 P.M. “VERONICA MARS”
Returning for a third season, VERONICA MARS is set in the wealthy, seaside community of Neptune, where the rich and powerful make the rules, own the town and the high school and desperately try to keep their dirty little secrets just that…secret. Unfortunately for them, there's Veronica Mars, a smart, fearless 18-year-old apprentice private investigator, who negotiates the halls of Neptune High each day like any average teenage girl, while at night helps her private-eye father uncover some of the California beach town's toughest mysteries, in the critically acclaimed drama VERONICA MARS. The series stars Kristen Bell (“Deadwood”) as Veronica Mars, Enrico Colantoni (“Just Shoot Me”) as Keith Mars, Percy Daggs III (“The Guardian”) as Wallace Fennel, Jason Dohring (“Judging Amy”) as Logan Echolls, Francis Capra (“C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation”) as Eli “Weevil” Navarro, and Ryan Hansen (“Las Vegas”) as Dick Casablancas. VERONICA MARS is from Silver Pictures Television, in association with and distributed by Warner Bros. Television. Production services are provided by Stu Segall Productions, Inc. Joel Silver (“The Matrix”) and creator Rob Thomas (“Cupid”) are executive producers.
WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 P.M. “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL”
Returning with its seventh cycle, the runaway runway hit series features supermodel Tyra Banks. The show gives real people an opportunity to prove that they can make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of supermodeling. With mentoring by Tyra Banks and exposure to high-profile fashion-industry gurus, young women of various backgrounds, shapes and sizes must endure a highly accelerated modeling boot camp and face weekly tests to determine who will make the cut as they vie for a professional modeling contract. The executive producers are Ken Mok (“Making the Band”), Tyra Banks and Anthony Dominici (“The Amazing Race”). The dramality series was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris. AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment in association with Bankable Productions.


In between cycles of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, The CW will air returning hit BEAUTY AND THE GEEK.


8:00-9:00 P.M. “BEAUTY AND THE GEEK”
Returning for its third cycle, BEAUTY AND THE GEEK is from the producing team of Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg. The hit social experiment pairs eight beautiful and socially savvy women with eight intellectually endowed, but socially stunted men. Living at opposite ends of the social spectrum, the geeks try to pass their brains on to the beauties, while the beauties provide social skills to the geeks. One couple will make it to the end and walk away gifted and gorgeous with a cash prize of $250,000. BEAUTY AND THE GEEK is from fox21, produced by Katalyst and 3 Ball Productions with executive producers Ashton Kutcher & Jason Goldberg (“Guess Who,” “Punk’d”), Nick Santora (“Prison Break,” “The Guardian,” “The Sopranos”), J.D. Roth (“The Biggest Loser,” “For Love or Money”) and Todd A. Nelson (“The Biggest Loser, “For Love or Money”).


9:00-10:00 P.M. “ONE TREE HILL”
Returning for its fourth season to the town of Tree Hill, this drama revolves around the lives of two young men, Lucas and Nathan, who have little in common aside from their love for hoops and the fact that they share the same father. The star of the high school basketball team, Nathan hails from a wealthy family, while his half-brother Lucas is the only child of a single mom. The inhabitants of Tree Hill have witnessed Lucas’ metamorphosis from loner to high school basketball star, Nathan and Haley’s troubled marriage and Peyton and Brooke’s tumultuous friendship. While the teenagers struggle to find their places in the world, the adults in Tree Hill continue to deal with the residue of decisions they made years ago. The series stars Chad Michael Murray as Lucas Scott, James Lafferty as Nathan Scott, Hilarie Burton as Peyton Sawyer, Bethany Joy Galeotti as Haley James, Paul Johansson as Dan Scott, Sophia Bush as Brooke Davis, Barbara Alyn Woods as Deb Scott, Barry Corbin as Whitey Durham, and Moira Kelly as Karen Roe. ONE TREE HILL is from executive producer and show creator Mark Schwahn (“Coach Carter”), executive producers Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola (“Smallville”) and Greg Prange for Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television.

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 P.M. “SMALLVILLE”
Returning for its sixth season, this new interpretation of the enduring Superman mythology and its classic characters blends realism and adventure into an exciting action series. Fourteen years ago, a meteor shower burst from the heavens, raining destruction on the unsuspecting citizens of Smallville, Kansas. From the ashes of tragedy, emerged Clark Kent. Struggling to come to grips with his emerging superpowers, while battling the strange events that have plagued this idyllic Midwest hamlet since the meteor shower, Clark slowly learns to embrace his destiny. SMALLVILLE chronicles Clark’s journey toward becoming the Man of Steel and his relationships with girl-next-door Lana Lang, future love Lois Lane and soon-to-be arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. The series stars Tom Welling as Clark Kent, Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang, Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor, Erica Durance as Lois Lane, Allison Mack as Chloe Sullivan, John Glover as Lionel Luther, and Annette O’Toole as Martha Kent. Reinterpreting the Superman mythology from its roots, SMALLVILLE was developed for television by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (“Shanghai Noon,” “Spiderman 2”), based on the DC Comics characters. Gough and Millar serve as executive producers, along with Greg Beeman, Ken Horton, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins and Joe Davola. The series is produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions, Millar/Gough Ink and Warner Bros. Television. Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster.

9:00-10:00 P.M. “SUPERNATURAL”
Returning for its second season, this haunting series follows Sam and Dean Winchester, two brothers bound by tragedy and blood to their dangerous, other-worldly mission. Together, Sam and Dean journey into the dark world of the unexplained to find and destroy the demon that killed their mother. Crisscrossing the lonely and mysterious back roads of the country in their ‘67 Chevy Impala, the Winchester brothers encounter creatures that most people believe only exist in folklore, superstition and nightmares. Following the clues in their father’s journal, Sam and Dean take on his crusade to hunt down the evil that preys upon the innocent in the darkest corners of America. The series stars Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester. SUPERNATURAL is from Warner Bros. Television in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, with executive producers McG (“Charlie’s Angels,” “The O.C.”), Eric Kripke (“Boogeyman”), Robert Singer (“Midnight Caller”) and John Shiban (“The X-Files,” “Enterprise,” “Threat Matrix”).

FRIDAY

8:00-10:00 P.M. “FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN!”
The internationally popular, totally outrageous FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN! delivers all-new, action-packed shows and specials 52 weeks a year. As the number one show on Friday night for young men, this unique, bigger-than-life two-hour saga continues to ratchet up the drama and intensify the classic rivalries between some of the WWE’s biggest Superstars as they put on an astonishing display of high-flying, hard-hitting athleticism. The executive producer is Kevin Dunn. Taped before frenzied crowds all over the United States, the series is a production of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

MIDSEASON

“HIDDEN PALMS”
Johnny Miller was a happy, well-adjusted 15-year-old with good grades and a roomful of sports trophies until the terrible night a year ago that his father committed suicide. Now, Johnny lives in the surreal, sun-drenched city of Palm Springs with his mother and her new husband. On the outside, Palm Springs is a shimmering paradise of resorts, swimming pools, golf courses and country clubs. But as Johnny learns the secrets that lie just beneath the surface of this seemingly typical neighborhood, he and his family are forced to ask the question: how well do you really know the people who live right next door? HIDDEN PALMS stars Michael Cassidy as Cliff Wiatt, Taylor Handley as Johnny Miller, Amber Heard as Greta, Sharon Lawrence as Tess Wiatt, D.W. Moffet as Bob Hardy, Gail O’Grady as Karen Hardy, Ellary Porterfield as Liza Witter, and Cheryl White as Helen Witter. The CW presents a Lionsgate Television production in association with Outerbanks Entertainment with executive producers Kevin Williamson (“Dawson’s Creek,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” “Scream 1, 2 and 3”) and Scott Winant (“Huff,” “My So-Called Life”).