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Since we’re all nervous about the fate of The CW and thus the fate of a couple of our favorite genre TV shows, I thought I’d post a link to this new interview with CW chief Dawn Ostroff.
On the surface, the TV Week interview is very encouraging, but when it comes to her actual response to a question about Supernatural and Smallville . . . well, I get nervous.
TVWeek: “Supernatural” and “Smallville” are solid players for you, and point out how well sci-fi does with your audience. Did you seriously consider picking up “Moonlight”? Is the genre a priority?
Ms. Ostroff: We look at all genres during development. Right now, in terms of new programming, we’re very focused on building The CW’s brand as a destination for young women. If a sci-fi/fantasy show came along that was really well done and would appeal to our young women demo, then we’d certainly consider it.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t it seem that she’s saying that Smallville and Supernatural DON’T appeal to the young women demo? I know she specifies “new programming” but still, there’s something about her answer here that makes me shiver with concern. I know Supernatural does well in the 18 -34 female demographic. And even though Smallville’s primary audience is male, there are still a lot of women tuning in.
Maybe I’m reading too much between the lines, but Ostroff’s response makes me feel like she can’t wait to see these two shows gone. And let’s not even get into how she never answers the Moonlight question – genre show that appeals to young women? Sound like she wouldn’t know a good fit for The CW if it came up and bit her on the neck.
LindseyW – Good idea.
I should say that’s a Supernatural 5-season “plan.” I hope Ostroff allows the show and Kripke to complete its story.
So according to Ostroff, all young women want shows about complicated relationships and lust? Why can’t ogling gorgeous guys (like Padalecki and Ackles) be a young woman’s fare? And since when is building an entire network around a single demographic considered profitable? Not even The WB did that, and they were more profitable than The CW!
As a young-ish female, I watch NOTHING on The CW except Supernatural, and sometimes Smallville. So all I want is for Ostroff and the network to stick around long enough for Supernatural to complete its 5-season run. Then the netlet along with its president can fall off a cliff, for all I care.
How about promoting Smallville and Supernatural for a change???
That whole interview was about Gossip girl and 90210!Everybody’s sick of the bazillion promos for these two shows while Smallville is seriously under promoted!!!!
Miss Ostoff is trying to make all of the cw shows about rich and teenage bimbos to ”appeal to the young girls”.So, she neglects two of the best sci-fi shows the station is having the honnor to host ,and especially smallville which is their number 1 scripted show and gives the best ratings on CW!
Congratulations miss Ostroff, you are releasing tons of promos about your favorite shows and make millions of smallville and supernatural fans disappointed over your lowsy promotion!
Instead of worrying about Ms. Ostroff, I think we fans should continue to do what we’ve always done – picked up the slack for the CW in terms of promotion!
I also think that making a point to see who advertises during Smallville and Supernatural and taking the time to thank these sponsors is a worthwhile effort.
In the end, bypassing the powers that be and going straight to the people that pay the bills for the CW seems to be the right thing to do.
Smallville half the time is a soap opera, has been from the start. I know fans are heavily invested in the romantic possibilities of the main characters and the show revolves around triangles. Has Dawn seen how pretty Tom Welling is? How can it be more skewed to women? Most I’ve on line seem to be women. We are watching. Why doesn’t Dawn care?
Our numbers, at least in terms of our commenters, certainly show that, Carebear. Like Cynthia I am completely confused by Ostroff. Moonlight sounds like just what CW needs.
I would bet that Supernatural does better with women than men. Most of the fellow fans I”ve met online have all been women. We tune in for those pretty boys.