CW upfronts: Smallville, Supernatural back

by Glenn Hauman on May 15th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Posted In: News

Via Variety: The CW has officially greenlit three dramas and two unscripted magazine shows — but there’s still no final word on the fate of Veronica Mars.

Definitely gone: All of Us, the Will Smith-produced laffer that ran for three seasons on UPN and the CW. Returning shows snagging official pickups: Laffers Girlfriends and The Game and dramas Smallville, Supernatural and One Tree Hill. CW picked up Everybody Hates Chris for a third season earlier this spring.

As expected, CW execs Tuesday called the producers of Gossip Girl, Reaper and a remake of Blighty family drama Wild at Heart to give them the good news. Things are still looking promising for comedy Aliens in America, though as of early Tuesday afternoon , there was no official order yet.

My suspicion: CW is looking to use the FBI option as a way to reduce/restart headcount on Veronica Mars, and if they want to keep it around as a mid-season replacement, then they’d only have to pay the option for Kristen Bell. Everybody else — "hey, sorry, we don’t need you four years in the future, but if you’re available, that would be great…" Saves money and allows them to have a show in reserve for when they have an hour-sized hole in the schedule later in the year. And you know there will be one, sooner or later.

It had been announced previously that this coming season would be the last for Smallville, and Michael Rosenbaum had confirmed it would be his last. Just in time for the next theatrical appearance of the Man of Steel, probably in the Justice League of America movie.