CW hurries 'Reaper,' moves '90210'

The CW is bringing back "Reaper" early.

The second season of the supernatural drama will return March 3, a couple of weeks sooner than originally announced.

The network is also swapping "Reaper" with its previously announced lead-in, "90210."

The move puts "Reaper" at 8 p.m. Tuesdays followed by "90210," a shake-up that protects the teen soap from Fox's "American Idol." "Reaper" will still air its 13 episodes straight, through without repeats as originally planned.

To make way for "Reaper," the CW also advanced its first-season finale date for "Privileged." The show will conclude Feb. 24, having aired fewer repeats than originally planned. The network has not yet decided whether the drama will return next season.

"90210" has been wrestling with "Idol" in recent weeks. Yet it and "Privileged" enjoy the highest percentage of DVR gains among any show on any network.

The changes are part of a modest midseason schedule makeover the network is set to announce Tuesday.

Comments

[Heradite]

Yay and boo!

Yay that I get to see Reaper earlier!

Boo that it's against the monster!

[john]

can't wait for Reaper to get higher ratings than 90210

[Kati]

I don't watch Reaper but basically, the CW is sacrificing it in an attempt to save the lame 90210, huh? And when you think that 90210 should have been their new "flag ship", their "crown jewel"... *rolls eyes*

[jake]

Why can't they give Reaper a chance and give it a Thursday shot after smallville or supernatural instead of repeats?

Also, all you reaper fans -- I saw they have a calender at Borders, which is now 4 dollars but will be gone very soon.

[HollywoodDream]

Very much looking forward to Reaper's return!

[MrJeff]

Repeats die on the vine for serials.

They're running out of 90210 originals, clearly.

I don't read anything more into this move.

[Matt S.]

REAPER so deserves to be a hit...but failing that...it at least deserves to notch bigger ratings then 90210...oh man that would be just too terrific if that were to happen...it would be so great were that to be. So much depends on how much Reaper does here. If it does well or at least semi decently I think a Thurs night try-out wouldn't be out of the question.

I predict the CW will end up giving Priviledged a renewal. It fits their brand, hits their demos all right, and posted gains when they paired it with Gossip Girl originals back in December. Add to that the fact that its gotten generally favorable reviews...I think you'll see it coming back most definitely. 90210 is the real question mark--its expensive, its supposed to be a flagship show but is it pulling in consistent enough numbers for them to justify keeping it going???

[T]

what is the new midseason schedule?

[ReaperDMV.com]

Watch Reaper live, and tape American Idol. That way Reaper gets the numbers, and you can fast-forward through all the AI crap.

[james]

that only works if you are a neilsen family viewer.