The CW is coming off its most watched season in seven years, and its most acclaimed season ever with two of its freshman series' changing the network's reputation for the better.
Jane the Virgin earned the network's first Golden Globe nominations: one for Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy and a second for Best Actress in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy series (which star Gina Rodriguez won). It was also named one of the American Film Institute's programs of the year.
On Tuesday nights, The Flash shattered premiere ratings, becoming The CW's most watched and highest rated series premiere since The Vampire Diaries in 2009.
All of that is to say the network, for the first time in its short history, didn't have too much heavy lifting to do coming into the fall 2015-2016 season. So The CW is relying on what works, greenlighting two original pilots from proven hitmakers: DC's Legends of Tomorrow comes from Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg, and Sarah Schechter (the team behind Arrow) and Containment (formerly Cordon) comes from Julie Plec (executive producer of The Vampire Diaries and The Originals).
The CW also picked up a comedy — Crazy Ex-Girlfriend — that was originally developed for Showtime, and hopes its quirky tone is the perfect match for Jane The Virgin, which it will be paired with on Monday nights.
A few other notable details:
—While The CW isn't exactly sure when (aiming for Jan. or Feb., however) or where DC's Legends of Tomorrow will air, it's incredibly likely that it will air at the same time as Arrow and The Flash. Producers are planning crossover events with its DC TV brethren already. "Characters will criss-cross when needed," The CW's President Mark Pedowitz told reporters during a conference call on Thursday.
—Legends of Tomorrow will see Caity Lotz play the White Canary and Katie Cassidy play the Black Canary.
—Whose Line Is It Anyway? will return in 2016. "It is not the end of the line for the show in any way, shape, or form," Pedowitz said.
—The 100 will have a 13-16 episode order and it will "pretty much be going non-stop" when it returns mid-season, according to Pedowitz. The network held the show because, "We had to make some moves to put on some shows," Pedowitz said. "I think The 100 into Jane, it would've been twisty."
—Instead, Jane will be paired with Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which was originally a Showtime pilot. "This was the perfect companion pieces for Jane," Pedowitz said. "We are very proud to have it." He noted that the biggest tweaks will be "modest language changes."
—Rumors that NBC's recently canceled Constantine could find a home on The CW are just that: rumors. "There's also a rumor I was gonna play in the NBA," Pedowitz joked. "At the moment, it's just a rumor."
—A fourth season of Beauty and the Beast was ordered before the Season 3 premiere on June 11, and, barring a seismic ratings development, it looks like the show will return in summer 2016. "That said, never say never," Pedowtiz said. "The one thing you have to be in this business is adaptable. If it pops, we'll bring it back earlier."
—Despite Nina Dobrev leaving The Vampire Diaries, Pedowitz doesn't see an end in sight for the still-popular series. He noted that with the Salvatore brothers now at the center of the story, he sees it going the distance that Supernatural has.
—Speaking of Supernatural, which is going into its eleventh season this fall: "As long as the ratings hold and the boys still want to do it, we're in," Pedowitz said. "We have no intention of this being its last season."
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Mondays at 8 p.m.)
DC's Legends of Tomorrow (TBD Mideseason)
Containment (TBD Midseason)
Monday
*Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 8 p.m.
Jane the Virgin 9 p.m.
Tuesday
The Flash 8 p.m.
iZombie 9 p.m.
Wednesdays
Arrow 8 p.m.
Supernatural 9 p.m.
Thursday
The Vampire Diaries 8 p.m.
The Originals 9 p.m.
Friday
Reign 8 p.m.
America's Next Top Model 9 p.m.
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.