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[01/15/14 - 03:41 PM]
The CW at TCA: Pedowitz Details Summer Plans, "Veronica Mars" Spin-Off
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- Paul Hewitt - Senior VP, Network Communications at The CW Network - kicked off the netlet's portion of the TCA Winter Press Tour with an unexpected announcement: "We literally just closed the deal to do a 'Veronica Mars' spin-off digital series for our digital studio CW Seed. So, actually, this is still hot off the presses. We actually have no details, no real details to give you. There's no press release, unfortunately, but I promise once we do have any info, we'll be sure to share that."

Not surprisingly, the executive session that followed saw Mark Pedowitz - President, The CW - pressed for more details about the big news. "It came about by circumstance," he said. "We heard from the Warner digital people first. They went to Rick Haskins who oversees CW Seed for us. And then, once that occurred, I picked up the phone, and I called Rob [Thomas]. He happened to be in Vegas. He was somewhat aware, and then Rob and I spoke last night, and he told me about his schedule. And I said, 'We'll take it whenever you're ready.'"

[UPDATE!] Thomas himself subsequently took to Twitter with his logline for the project: "The CW web series: a comedy featuring @HiRyanHansen attempting to put together a Dick Casablancas spin-off of #VeronicaMars. No date yet."

Beyond "Veronica Mars," Pedowitz gave status updates on its various projects, both current and in development. "Beauty and the Beast" will return from its spring hiatus at "at end of May and finish the run through the season, and then we'll make a decision come May whether or not it gets renewed. I'm very happy with the creative. I think Brad Kern has done a really good job." Pedowitz was more bullish on "Supernatural" ("As long as I'm here and those numbers still hold, God bless them. May it go as long as it wants.") and "Reign" ("The [numbers], which started a little slowly, are increasing, and it's now bettering what last year's predecessor did, which was 'Beauty and the Beast.' I'm looking forward to it returning.").

Also getting name checks were "The Carrie Diaries" ("Amy Harris did a really good job with the show this year... we'll make a decision come May whether or not it returns") and "Hart of Dixie" ("Leila Gerstein's done a really good job. Again, we'll look at what happens come May and we haven't made any decisions one way or the other.").

On the development side, Pedowitz wasn't able to say much about some of its more ballyhooed efforts: Lauren Graham's "Someday, Someday, Maybe" ("The script is in. We're looking at it. It's under consideration."); Michael Caleo's "Hourman" ("Still waiting for the script."); Adam Armus and Nora Kay Foster's "Dorothy Must Die" ("The script has not yet come to me for reading, so I can't give you any indication."); and, of course, "The Flash" ("If we do launch the series, we'll launch it with a bang like we launched 'Arrow'").

Pedowitz conversely shed some light on The CW's summer plans, which include two magic shows - the just announced "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" and the revived "Masters of Illusion"; a new cycle from "America's Next Top Model"; the Canadian series "Seed" ("an interesting companion piece at some point this summer with 'Whose Line'"); and the aforementioned "Whose Line Is It Anyway?," which "will run pretty much straight through from March until beginning of October."

Not on the list: a new season of "Breaking Pointe." "We're proud of it, it did very well for us digitally," he said. "Did not do enough on air to keep it going."

And finally, Pedowitz was asked to comment on FOX's decision to end the traditional pilot season. "It's inefficient in some ways, and it's very efficient in others," he confessed. Adding, "We do not do that many pilots at CW. When we do our pilots, it has a great ratio of going to series. I think last year, we ended up doing seven pilots. Five made it to series. The year before, we did I think eight pilots. Four made no, another five made it to series. So, for us, it's a very efficient system."





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· AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (VH1)
· BEAUTY & THE BEAST (CW)
· CARRIE DIARIES, THE (CW)
· DOROTHY MUST DIE (CW)
· FLASH, THE (CW)
· HART OF DIXIE (CW)
· HOURMAN (CW)
· MASTERS OF ILLUSION (CW)
· PENN & TELLER: FOOL US (CW)
· REIGN (CW)
· SEED (CW)
· SUPERNATURAL (CW)
· UNFAMOUS (CW)
· VERONICA MARS (HULU)
· WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? (CW)





[07/11/25 - 12:45 PM]
ABC Concludes September to May Season with Top Five Shows Among Adults 18-49 Including "High Potential," "Abbott Elementary," "The Rookie," "Shifting Gears" and "9-1-1"
Continuing to lead among broadcast series, ABC's "High Potential" stood as the No. 1 new drama among Total Viewers (16.41 million) and No. 1 new show among Adults 18-49 (3.85 rating).

[07/11/25 - 11:28 AM]
"Big Brother: Summer of Mystery" Premiere Up +10% from Last Summer
Last night, season 27 premiered to nearly 3 million viewers.

[07/11/25 - 10:01 AM]
FX's "Alien: Earth" Takes Fandom to New Heights with Premium Exclusive Content Including a Companion Podcast and Innovative Immersive Experiences
"Alien: Earth," a new drama series from Noah Hawley inspired by the acclaimed feature film franchise, will premiere on Tuesday, August 12.

[07/11/25 - 10:01 AM]
CBS Unveils Fall Primetime Premiere Dates for the 2025-2026 Season
Highlights include an early return for "Watson" on Monday, October 13 in place of the previously announced "FBI" spin-off "CIA."

[07/11/25 - 10:00 AM]
The "Outlander" Universe Expands in Hall H, as Starz Returns to San Diego Comic-Con
Look for can't miss panels for "Outlander" and "Outlander: Blood of my Blood" in Hall H on Friday, July 25 and an in-depth preview of the newest saga in the Spartacus franchise, "Spartacus: House of Ashur" on Saturday, July 26 in the Indigo Ballroom.

[07/11/25 - 10:00 AM]
Adult Swim Returns to San Diego Comic-Con with "Pirate Purrrty on the Green," Must-See Panel Events, and Exclusive First Looks and Giveaways
Adult Swim will bring its famed pirate ship outside the San Diego Convention Center (5th Avenue Landing and Convention Way), this time with a feline twist!

[07/11/25 - 09:01 AM]
HBO Max to Host Fan Experiences for Upcoming Seasons of "Peacemaker" and "It: Welcome to Derry" in San Diego
The festivities include a panel in Hall H, where showrunner/writer/director and Co-Head of DC Studios James Gunn and the cast of "Peacemaker" will share new details about the upcoming season and premiere the global trailer for season two.

[07/11/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" - Official Trailer - HBO Max
There's always a message in the music.

[07/11/25 - 06:00 AM]
"Love Island (UK)" 10th Anniversary Special Date Announcement
The special premieres in the US on Friday, July 11.

[07/11/25 - 02:01 AM]
Netflix Will Release "Death Inc." Seasons 1, 2 and 3
The series is a comedy centered around a family-run funeral home and the relationships between the eccentric characters who inhabit it.

[07/11/25 - 12:01 AM]
"Too Hot to Handle: Italy" Is Coming on July 18 Only on Netflix
A special guest will guide the contestants in the first Italian edition of the reality show.

[07/10/25 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "The Winning Try" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After his career fell apart, a disgraced rugby star finds purpose coaching his old school's team - driving them and himself toward growth and redemption.

[07/10/25 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "The Nice Guy" - Teaser Trailer #3 - Disney+
He wants out for good. But the past comes with strings.

[07/10/25 - 05:03 PM]
Meagan Good Returns to Lifetime to Executive Produce and Star in the Alluring New Thriller "I'll Never Let You Go" Alongside Antonio Cupo and Thomas Cadrot, Premiering August 16 on Lifetime
Good stars as Emily Westover, a poised and successful art gallery director whose life takes a dark turn after a brief, impulsive affair with a magnetic Italian artist, Carlo (Cupo).

[07/10/25 - 12:01 PM]
"Virgin River" Is Returning for Season 8
"On behalf of myself and the whole 'Virgin River' family, we're eternally grateful to Netflix and to the fans for allowing us to continue on this journey with these beloved characters," said showrunner Patrick Sean Smith.