Pop Culture Curmudgeon

What Is up with the CW?

I have a notion about how the network TV world should work. Producers make pilots and shop them to the networks. The networks order episodes based on the pilot and sink some money into ensuring that the shows bring in eyeballs when they debut.

In a perfect world, a show that doesn’t do so well out of the gate will be given a chance to grow. I mean, by the time the first episode airs, the network has invested a good chunk of money into the show, so it seems that they would at least want to air the episodes they’ve paid for. Especially if the only other option they have is re-airing episodes of a show from the previous night.

But the CW has no patience. In 2007, they cancelled Runaway after only four episodes. Last season, they cancelled their outsourced Sunday night in early November. And now, they have pulled the plug on The Beautiful Life after two episodes. Will repeats of Melrose Place bring in more eyes in that timeslot?