CW schedule falling into place

Network pairs 'Melrose Place' with '90210'

By CYNTHIA LITTLETON

CW is partying like it's 1992, slotting its "Melrose Place" revival behind "90210" on Tuesday nights as part of its sked makeover for the 2009-10 season. And it will send "Smallville" into battle on Fridays to get the net back in biz on the night.

CW reps would not confirm the skedding moves circulating on Wednesday. CW rounds out upfront week with presentation to advertisers in Gotham on Thursday.

The original Aaron Spelling-produced "Melrose Place" launched in July 1992 on Fox in the Wednesday 9 p.m. berth behind its Spelling sibling "Beverly Hills, 90210." CW is counting on its revival of "90210's" old skedmate to bolter its Tuesday fortunes. This season's revival of "90210" performed well enough to quiet all of the chatter about the entire network facing the ax.

Monday remains stat with the youth sudser combo of "Gossip Girl" and "One Tree Hill."

"America's Next Top Model" will continue to anchor Wednesdays, followed, natch, by the new ensemble drama about models in Gotham, "The Beautiful Life."

CW's hopes its "Twilight"-esque new drama "Vampire Diaries" can aid its battle on Thursdays against the big guns on the Big Four. "Vampire" will open the night followed at 9 p.m. by the veteran "Supernatural."

"Smallville" slides down from Thursday 8 p.m. to Friday at 8 p.m. CW has had no traction on Fridays since it parted ways with "WWE Smackdown" last year. A "Top Model" repeat will round out the night at 9 p.m.

The net has ceded Sunday night entirely as of the fall in an effort to boost its overall perf and concentrate on fortifying its Monday-Friday lineup.