Summer a reality at CW
Networks tweak summer schedules
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The Dub net announced Monday that it has slated two original reality skeins this summer: the previously announced "Hitched or Ditched," (formerly called "For Better or Worse") and the docusoap "Blonde Charity Mafia," which originally was set up at Lifetime.
Separately, Fox also tweaked its summer schedule, moving new drama "Mental" back a week and adding a reality series to the mix.
At the CW, decision to bow original fare in the summer comes as the network also has scrapped plans to launch its fall slate prior to September.
After suffering through a rough summer last year, CW Entertainment prexy Dawn Ostroff told reporters that the net was accelerating its development cycle in order to shoot pilots early and roll out its 2009-10 slate as soon as July or August.
Ultimately, the net stuck pretty close to the traditional development timeframe and will now probably follow a launch pattern similar to last year's. The CW began its season on Sept. 1 -- which still gave it a headstart over the other webs.
Instead of bowing early, the network plans to rely on reality fare to keep the lights on during the summer. "Hitched" comes first, running Tuesdays at 9 p.m. starting May 26, directly following the season finale of "Reaper."
The CW has picked up six episodes of "Hitched," which centers on couples who have been dating for years -- and are given an ultimatum by a friend to either get married within the week or break up.
Second runs of "Hitched" also will air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. starting May 27.
"Hitched" will run until the end of June. "Blonde Charity Mafia" will then fill the slot starting Tuesday, July 7.
"Mafia" centers on a group of women in Washington, D.C., as they float about the city's social circuit. Six half-hour episodes of "Mafia" have been produced; after week one, when two originals debut, the CW will pair a repeat from the previous week at 9 p.m. with an original at 9:30.
"Blonde Charity Mafia" completes its run on Aug. 4.
Over at Fox, "Mental," the internationally produced drama starring Chris Vance and Annabella Sciorra will now launch a week later than previously announced, on Friday, May 29, at 9 p.m.
Meanwhile, Fox also announced that its new nonscripted skein "The Fatchelor" (aka "More to Love") will premiere on Tuesday, July 28, at 9 p.m.
Net will utilize veteran hit "Hell's Kitchen" to launch "Fatchelor." As previously announced, the Gordon Ramsay skein will air Tuesdays at 8 p.m., launching July 21.
That Tuesday at 9 p.m. slot promises to be one of the busiest in the summer. "Fatchelor" will air opposite NBC's "America's Got Talent," while "Blonde Charity Mafia" will go up against both of those shows.
Because "Hitched" will have completed its run by the time "Fatchelor" bows, Mike Fleiss -- who exec produces both -- won't have to compete against himself.
"Hitched" comes from RDF USA and Next Entertainment. Besides Fleiss, the show also is exec produced by Chris Coelen, Greg Goldman, Mike Duffy and Jason Ehrlich.
Capital Hills Prods. is behind "Blonde Charity Mafia," which is exec produced by Patty Ivins and Julie Pizzi.
