The CW reveals post-strike premiere dates

By Kimberly Nordyke

Feb 15, 2008

The CW has firmed up its post-strike schedule.

The network on Friday announced the premiere dates and episode orders for its returning scripted series, including comedy "The Game" and the dramas "One Tree Hill," "Smallville," "Supernatural" and the freshmen "Gossip Girl" and "Reaper."

Absent from the announcement was the comedy "Girlfriends," which is bowing out at the end of the season and won't produce any more episodes, and the freshman drama "Life Is Wild," which is not expected to return for a second season.

"Girlfriends" creator/executive producer Mara Brock Akil confirmed last week that she's talking with the network and studio, CBS Paramount Network TV, about putting together a retrospective show to wrap up the series' eight-year run.
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As for "Game" and "Gossip Girl," the return of those shows -- March 23 and April 21, respectively -- will mark the first new episodes to air following the writers strike; both shows are out of originals.

The other four series -- "One Tree Hill," "Smallville," "Reaper" and "Supernatural" -- still have a few episodes yet to air that were written pre-strike before their post-strike premieres on April 14, 17, 22 and 24, respectively.

Overall, "Game" got the biggest order, with nine episodes, followed by "One Tree Hill," with six. The other received five-episode orders, with the exception of "Supernatural," with four.

Of the freshman dramas, "Gossip" had received a back-nine order, while "Reaper" hadn't.

Meanwhile, the comedy "Everybody Hates Chris," which already has completed 22 episodes, will see its remaining 12 originals air starting March 2.

"Aliens in America," which has completed 18 episodes, also will return March 2. The eight remaining originals will air March 2-23 and April 27-May 18.

No new episodes of "Chris" or "America" are being ordered, but both are still in contention for renewal next season.

Meanwhile, the CW has not yet announced a premiere date for the reality series "Farmer Wants a Wife," though it's tentatively set for April.

The CW's announcement follows similar ones from NBC and CBS last week. Fox and ABC have yet to announce their post-strike schedules.