Word has come down regarding the CW's freshman dramas Hart of Dixie, Ringer and The Secret Circle. It's good news for one of the series and bad for the other two. It's also been reported that the network has picked up five new drama series to add to their line-up next season.
First, the bad news. TVLine has reported that Ringer has been cancelled. The series, which starred Sarah Michelle Gellar, had some great moments and though I'll admit I found it confusing on occasion, due largely to Gellar's double-role as twins, it had sort of a guilty-pleasure appeal to it. RIP Ringer. Also cancelled was supernatural-themed drama The Secret Circle. The good news is, freshman drama Hart of Dixie managed to earn itself a second season.
As for the new shows on the horizon at the CW, The Hollywood Reporter posted news of the five pickups, stating that the CW has given series orders to The Carrie Diaries, Arrow, Cult, Beauty and the Beast and First Cut. Here's the skinny on each of them:
Arrow - Executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg the series stars Stephen arnell, Jamey Sheridan, David Ramsey, Colin Donnell, and, pending The River's status at ABC, Paul Blackthorne. It's an hourlong drama described as a modern retelling of DC Comics' Green Arrow, who's set to be played by Arnell. Perhaps Arrow will fill the void left by Smallville at the network.
The Carrie Diaries - Executive produced by Amy Harris, Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, Len Goldstein and Candace Bushnell this series stars AnnaSophia Robb, Austin Butler and Brendan Dooling, and is based on a book by Candace Bushnell and follows Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw during her younger years in the 1980's, when she was first coming to question love, sex, friendship and family. Given the high school/Manhattan setting, my guess is that Gossip Girl fans may get on board with this one. As a Sex and the City fan, I'll admit that I'm curious to see how Carrie Bradshaw is portrayed in this series.
Cult - Executive produced by Rockne O'Bannon, Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, Len Goldstein, and Jason Ensler, Cult stars Jessica Lucas as a young production assistant who works on a popular TV show and teams up with a blogger (Matt Davis) in an investigation when they discover that there may be fans of the show re-creating crime scenes featured in the series. The show-within-a-show concept is interesting, as is the dark twist involving possible fan-committed crimes. This might be the one I'm looking forward to most among these recently ordered series.
Beauty and the Beast - One of two network TV takes on Beauty and the Beast this season (the other is for ABC), this one comes from Jennifer Levin, Sherri Cooper, Paul J. Witt, C. Anthony Thomas, Ron Koslow, Bill Haber and stars Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan as Beauty and the Beast respectively. The series is described as a modern day retelling of the classic story and loosely based on CBS' 80's series by the same name. I'll admit, I'm less interested in Kruek starring as I am in the story itself, but if it's done right, this could be an interesting drama. The original story is certainly timeless enough to be adapted.
First Cut - Executive produced by Jennie Snyder Urman and Dan Jinks, this one stars Mamie Gummer as a new doctor who's trying to figure out the ins and outs of working at a hospital, which she soon discovers is not all that different from high school. Also among the cast are Justin Hartley, Michael Rady, Jack Coleman, Kelly J. McCreary, Aja Naomi King and Necar Zadegan. Not that TV needs another medical drama, but the CW's sort of short on those so First Cut could fill the void there.
