The CW Is Still All About The Comics-Based Shows

It's not just about the DC Universe anymore — The CW is heading to Riverdale.

For the first time in The CW's history, the network has four returning and one newly-acquired anchor holding down its schedule every night at 8 p.m.: Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, and The Vampire Diaries. And in most instances on The CW's fall 2016 schedule — which you can see in full at the bottom of this post — those proven players are either followed by a new series or an acclaimed show that could use some help.

"We're very fortunate to head into our tenth season from a position of strength," Mark Pedowitz, president of The CW, said on a conference call with reporters on Thursday morning.

On Mondays, The CW is betting big on the Supergirl, which is relocating from CBS for Season 2. It's exactly the same night and timeslot the series aired on CBS; clearly The CW doesn't want to shake up the audience's routine too much with the network shift. "We have a rough idea of where they're heading for next season, which I'm not going to share at the moment," Pedowitz said of Supergirl, noting that little will change tonally with the series. "The fact that it's now moved to The CW where it should have been in the first place, I don't think it's going to have a major effect." Supergirl will kick off a female-heavy night as it's paired with Jane the Virgin, a critically adored show that really deserves many — many — more viewers.

Bob Mahoney/The CW

The Vampire Diaries.

Then, on Tuesdays, The Flash is paired with the network's upcoming romantic comedy No Tomorrow, about a couple who live every day like their last; on Wednesdays, Arrow will lead into Frequency, The CW's new gender-swapped adaptation of the 2000 film; Thursdays will be a juggernaut with DC's Legends of Tomorrow paired with the ever-reliable Supernatural, which moves from Wednesdays; and Fridays will see The Vampire Diaries attempt to lend the future cult classic Crazy Ex-Girlfriend some more eyeballs — it's moving from its Monday night pairing with Jane the Virgin.

As for the fate of The Vampire Diaries, which Pedowitz said helped out Friday ratings since it moved to that timeslot in January 2016, "no decision has been made one way or the other as to whether or not this is the final season." "My dream is it isn't, but you never know until you get there," Pedowitz said.

The CW

Arrow.

The CW

D.C.'s Legends of Tomorrow.

The CW

The Flash.

As you can see, The CW is putting its stock, once again, in comics-based series in the fall, with four nights of crusading television. "Just imagine what our superhero crossover episode is going to look like come December," Pedowitz joked to reporters.

But there was only so much room on the fall schedule since the network renewed nearly all of its current crop. (Sorry, ANTM, Containment, and Significant Mother.) So, The 100, iZombie, The Originals, and Reign are being held until mid-season.

Mid-season will also see the debut of Riverdale, a modern-day take on the Archie Comics with a darker twist from executive producer Greg Berlanti. For those keeping score, that gives him five shows next season on The CW as it and Supergirl officially join the Arrow, Flash, Legends team.

Without further ado, here are the new shows coming to The CW in the 2016-2017 season.

Supergirl (Mondays at 8 p.m.)

CBS

This one you've seen before. For Season 2, it'll head to The CW. Little is known about who's returning and where the second season will bring Kara Zor-El, but during the call with press on May 19, Pedowitz noted that they are in ongoing discussions with Calista Flockhart, and that The CW is "happy to have her whatever capacity things work out."

No Tomorrow (Tuesdays at 9 p.m.)

Eddy Chen/The CW

Who's in it? Tori Anderson, Josh Sasse, Sarayu Blue, Amy Pietz, Jesse Rath, Jonathan Langdon

Who created it? Corinne Brinkerhoff, Maggie Friedman, Scott McCabe, Tory Stanton, Ben Silverman

What's it about? In this comedy, a type-A manager (Anderson) at an online shopping distribution center (think Amazon) falls for a risk-taker (Sasse) who lives every minute like its his last because he thinks the apocalypse is imminent. Together, they try to tick off every item on their respective bucket lists. Presumably, hijinks ensue.

First impression? OK, so let's get the obvious out of the way: Josh Sasse is a well-crafted, supremely attractive gentleman and the show makes good use of those genetic blessings, considering the two shirtless/nude scenes in the two-minute trailer, which uses footage solely from the 44-minute pilot. And thankfully, it doesn't look like we'll have to endure a terrible show in order to see Sasse in various states of undress week in and out. There were several laugh out loud moments in the trailer and lead Tori Anderson is charming — she's perfectly suited to be touted as The CW's next Gina Rodriguez or Rachel Bloom. —Jarett Wieselman

Premieres Mon., Oct. 10 at 9 p.m.

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Frequency (Wednesdays at 9 p.m.)

The CW

Who's in it? Riley Smith, Mekhi Phifer, Peyton List, Lenny Jacobson, Anthony Ruivivar, Devin Kelley, Daniel Bonjour

Who created it? Jeremy Carver, Toby Emmerich, John Rickard, Dan Lin, Jennifer Gwartz

What's it about? The 2000 movie starring Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel is getting a modern-day reboot, only with a female star. A police detective discovers she's able to speak with her late, estranged father, who died in 1996, via a ham radio. Together, they try to get to the bottom of an unresolved murder case from the past, but of course, there are consequences in the present day.

First impression? Before watching this trailer, I was truly confused as to why The CW was so hellbent on making Peyton List — known to some as the second Mrs. Sterling on Mad Men, to others as The Flash's Golden Glider, and to even fewer as the star of The Tomorrow People — happen. But that's because she has never been able to showcase her charisma before Frequency. Yes, it's another TV show based on a movie arriving next season, and I don't really see it connecting with The CW's existing audience. But if nothing else, it's proven what List is capable of and now I too hope she finds something that fits. —Jaimie Etkin

Premieres Wed., Oct. 5 at 9 p.m.

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Riverdale (Mid-season)

Veronica Fish / The CW

Who's in it? Lili Reinhart, Cole Sprouse, Ashleigh Murray, Luke Perry, K.J. Apa, Madelaine Petsch, Camila Mendes, Marisol Nichols, Mädchen Amick

Who created it? Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Jon Goldwater

What's it about? Based on the Archie Comics characters, Riverdale was was originally in development at Fox in 2014, but they passed on the project. The series brings Archie (Apa), Betty (Reinhart), Veronica (Mendes), and Jughead (Sprouse) to the present day, where there's some serious darkness lurking beneath their town's picture-perfect appearances.

First impression? I don't know what I was expecting from this series, but it certainly wasn't the dark, twisted, and stylized drama the trailer showcases. Think Twin Peaks meets Dawson's Creek with a little bit of Revenge thrown in for good measure. In short, Riverdale is easily one of this year's most promising new shows of the 2016-2017 season. —Jarett Wieselman

Here's The CW's fall 2016 schedule:

Monday

Supergirl 8 p.m.

Jane the Virgin 9 p.m.

Tuesday

The Flash 8 p.m.

*No Tomorrow 9 p.m.

Wednesday

Arrow 8 p.m.

*Frequency 9 p.m.

Thursday

DC's Legends of Tomorrow 8 p.m.

Supernatural 9 p.m.

Friday

The Vampire Diaries 8 p.m.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 9 p.m.

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates a new show for the 2016–2017 season.

Note: In mid-May every year, the five television broadcast networks — NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, and The CW — present their new shows and upcoming schedules to advertisers at events called "the upfronts." That's why you see an onslaught of new programming in May, as well as the cancellation of current shows. This post will be continually updated.