Sci-Fi Fodder

2008 Fall Sci-Fi - The CW

June 9, 2008 10:09 PM  |  Comments: 15

The CW stayed with the status quo for Fall 2008. Overall, their lineup is fairly strong, but that is mostly on the broad shoulders of the very excellent "Supernatural".

Returning Shows
"Smallville", "Reaper" and "Supernatural" all will be back in the Fall of 2008.

"Smallville" will undergo major changes, as much of the creative staff, as well as Michael Rosembaum ("Lex") are leaving the show. I would make a huge deal of this (as an avowed Superman fan)...but, this show really isn't about Superman. It's about Kryptonite. Honestly, this show is like Candy Corn. It looks good when you haven't had it for a while, but when you get some, you think "ugh...why did I just eat that?" (thanks Lewis Black for the joke!).

Sorry about the negativity! Luckily, I think "Reaper" and "Supernatural" are both superior shows. "Supernatural" has long been one of my favorites and this season did not disappoint. I can't wait to see how Dean gets out of Hell...and what Sam has to do to keep him out. It is consistently a five star show - and one of the best on TV right now.

"Reaper", on the other hand, survived a rocky midseason stretch to gain a renewal. I think the show saved itself by adding Steve and Tony as demons who led a rebellion against the Devil. The plot line was excellent and the end of season reveal about Sam's parents was very well done. I expect big things from "Reaper" season two.

New Shows
None.

The Outlook
Surprisingly good. I suspect that this will be the beginning of the end for "Smallville", with all of the changes going on there. "Reaper" and "Supernatural" are both in my top ten shows - and I expect them both to get better in the Fall.

AMEN!!!!!! Supernatural is one of the only good shows on TV at all these days!!

-- Posted by: Heather at June 10, 2008 8:30 AM

Thank you for the wonderful words on my favorite TV show, Supernatural. I could not agree more.

-- Posted by: LindsayW at June 10, 2008 9:50 AM

Thank you SO much for recognizing, and praising, Supernatural. I feel the CW vastly under-advertises it, so articles and posts like yours are what really feeds the fanbase in gaining mew viewers :) THANK YOU!!!!

-- Posted by: Kat at June 10, 2008 10:27 AM

Thanks for talking about Supernatural! This is a wonderful show that doesn't get nearly the media attention it deserves. I just started watching in Season 3 last fall and can't fathom WHY I didn't know about this show sooner. Supernatural is an overlooked genre gem. It has the right mix of action, humour, scarey/creepy, and characters to care about.

-- Posted by: Rosewood at June 10, 2008 11:12 AM

Well said! I agree about Supernatural it has been a favorite of mine for a couple of years. Smallville seems to be on it's last leg but Reaper just didn't hit for me. I tried watching the pilot and couldn't even make it through the whole thing. I am excited about season 4 of Supernatural and know that Kripke is going to take us on a ride to get Dean back.

-- Posted by: Nichole at June 10, 2008 12:29 PM

I'd abandoned all hope of finding anything worth watching on television until I happened to see "Supernatural" and realized I'd stumbled upon something radically different from the usual, superficial fare. Simply and beautifully written and acted, this little "horror show" is actually a masterful character study of surprising richness and depth. It's also a fascinating exploration of myth, legend, and the heroic tradition. What you accurately describe as a superior series has been for too long overlooked by most viewers and critics. I encourage the students in my university drama courses not to make the same mistake.

-- Posted by: A.K.. at June 10, 2008 1:08 PM

The post by A.K. succintly summarizes what Supernatural has to offer and why it is truly heads & shoulders above everything else on television. Thanks also to you, Fred, for recognizing this gem of a show, even though it's own network continually appears to ignore it. As for the new season on CW? hmmm, let's see... a continuation of the 'smash hit' Gossip Girl, a revival of "90210", and "Surviving the Filthy Rich". (is there an echo in here?) If CW is to continue to survive, at some point it has to recognize that there are other people in its audience besides teen girls. In the meantime, we can at least rest easy knowing that we have another season of the true definition of television quality: Supernatural. :)

-- Posted by: ~ Anna ~ at June 10, 2008 1:52 PM

Thanks for writing this positive review of Supernatural. This, unfortunately pretty unknown show, is truly the best show on TV right now.

-- Posted by: Chrissy6299 at June 10, 2008 1:53 PM

Thanks for commenting on SN!!i love the show and totally agree with you!

-- Posted by: KO at June 10, 2008 4:37 PM

Yay! Finally some appreciation for Supernatural! Thanks for the nice comment about Supernatural!

-- Posted by: Sarah at June 10, 2008 5:17 PM

I am 45 years old and Supernatural is the best TV show I have ever seen. Firefly might have been able to knock it out of first place, but it only had 14 excellent episodes. Supernatural has had 60... This show kicks major 'tush'. Reaper is also good and I am a new fan of Smallville. I was surprised I liked it since it started off as one of those "high school" shows that I tend to avoid, but if you watch it from the beginning, it is really great! Supernatural rocks!

-- Posted by: Debbie C at June 10, 2008 9:17 PM

Thank you for the positive comments on the CW network in general, and on Supernatural specifically. Everywhere I keep seeing doom and despair about whether the network will even survive and I think you've highlighted the reasons it will.

Now it's just a matter of getting the CW to recognize the potential it's not utilizing and find a way to get people who like SF/F shows to overlook the "Twinkie Channel" stigma of the CW and give these awesome genre shows the audience they truly deserve.

-- Posted by: jg at June 11, 2008 3:43 AM

supernatural is the only show worth watching.

-- Posted by: sue at June 11, 2008 9:49 PM

I'm sorry, what I meant to say was... Supernatural is amazing. I love the show and I've watched every episode at least twice. I cant get enough of them, seriously. I need this show to go on FOREVER.

-- Posted by: sue at June 11, 2008 9:53 PM

Thank you for some recognition for Supernatural because this show is the best show I've ever watched. I mean, I wasn't able to stay with a show before because the quality varied a lot or the show started repeating itself but Supernatural is different. It's still just as amazing as in its 1st season and *whispers* I'm highly suspecting it of getting even better. ;o)

-- Posted by: Husitka at June 18, 2008 2:28 AM