The CW Source

We're all responsible for what we put out into the world. To excuse things we know are trashy, vulger or dehumanizing as "just entertainment" or "just giving the people what they want" is a cop-out.

Show business is a business before it is an artistic endeavor, and the CW won't survive unless it makes money, but vapid, hypersexual soaps and trashy, exploitative 'reality' programming are not the only alternative to shows that aren't competing well in their timeslots.

I had look forward to many year of watching great show on my local CW network KTLA with great hit from it WB past like Gilmore Girls and Smallvile family frindly and thoughful show but that over your network is trash with junk like Top Model and Beauty and the Geek. The WB will always have a place in my heart and it show well be found on my dvd racks but i will never watch CW agian u ran GG to the ground and then end it with this lame ass parting you guys killed and i hope your network fails. I look forward to boycotting your networks and call on your sponsor to pull the plug on your junk

I SO Agree Vular comes to mind! Demolarlizing is another! Just one more show for little girls to see women popping their hips out there gyrating sexually objectifying women as things and not people. With actual educated brains that can act like proper ladies. Not raunchy trash gutter snipes that all they know how to do is swear and cuss and cut down another person to get ahead. Disgusting Behaviour!

It is trash. I loved the WB - but the CW is mostly UPN acting like the WB. They promote Erica Durance dressing up in pleather over either of the two smart, working women on SV. They promote the Pussycat dolls rather than coming up with more dramas. It's a highly insulting network for woman.

And the sad part is that it's a WOMAN putting this degrading crap on the air.

"Just watch, next season Supernatural there will be a love triangle between Sam, Dean and some girl who sleeps around and can't decide who she wants."

Amber, have faith.
Kripke and the writers at Supernatural have taste and are creative.

As long as the CW keeps their noses out of it and doesn't put pressure on Kripke to change Supernatural to the trash they prefer to air, we shall be safe from SPN from turing into another prime time soap.

Trashy is an undeniable side of the CW. there is nothing smart or interesting surrounding shows top model or PCD.
But if this network has no objection to being a teen boys outlet when they cant get porn let them do it.
I will nolonger sit by and watch. mainly because the only two show I watch on the network are Veronica Mars and Gilmore Girls and well the girls are gone and the best damn Privet detective since Magnum really has no chance there is nothing I'm going to be watching. even Supernatural I watch on another network I just have to wait an extra Day (it's the space channel if you were wondering)
I just cant wait untill the articule about how the entire network is failing comes out because all I will do is think they asked for it.
it's not there was an entire half a brain to combind between the first two networks any ways.

I 100 percent agree with McFarland. The CW has turned most of its shows into trash, and these ridiculous shows like The Pussycat Dolls merely perpetuate the objectification of women.

Not only are they seemingly getting rid of shows with strong women, they are pushing aside the female characters in shows that also stand for strength and empowerment.

IE: Smallville's Chloe has become a plot device, while girls who tramp around and show off their bodies are put front and center. I think this trend definitely has something to do with Dawn Ostroff and the future path of the CW.

Most of the shows have turned into soaps. Just watch, next season Supernatural there will be a love triangle between Sam, Dean and some girl who sleeps around and can't decide who she wants. (I'm saying this, because it's the only show that hasn't created triangles in their series...yet).

The CW has turned most of the shows that were once good into trash. And they keep on bringing in new trash. IE: Gossip Girl. I think the name says it all. You couldn't pay me to watch that.

The CW is all about marketing and promoting women's bodies so as to gain more viewers. I for one am highly considering the possiblity of boycotting the station out of respect for women everywhere. Susan B. Anthony would be proud!!!!!

Maybe if more women fought for what is being shown on television like this McFarland, we'd actually have shows with a touch of class instead of a touch of trash!

She makes some excellent points. Now with the Gilmore Girls gone, 7th Heaven (which I quit watching this year when it moved to Sunday night from Monday night & when I would catch it on, the storylines and new characters were so awful I could hardly watch more than 30 minutes at a time) & possibly Veronica Mars going... there really will be no reason for me to be tuning into The CW.

If a intelligently written & well acted show like GG (well, this year wasn't so great since the Pallidinos left, but I still tuned in to watch) & VM is pulled from this network for more Pussycat Dolls type shows, I won't be tuning in any longer. I can see quality programming is no longer a concern to this new network.

please! One Tree Hill is not like that at all. maybe if he actually watched the show he'd see that it sends great messages while it is still totally entertaining - for example, the last class assignment episode.
"coveting the best clothes"? please, Haley wore a poncho half the first season.

I guess she has never seen an episode of One Tree Hill. I don't think that they are "coveting the best clothes, purses and, like, stuff.” This has nothing to do with the personalitiys that are on the show. Sure Brooke has a clothing line, but she was pursing a DREAM, and she made it. Music maybe, material, disigner things NO!

"Can one network provide both smart and silly?"

Sure, BUT some CW programs such as PCD and B&G DEGRADE women. That is not being smart and it is not funny. Buffy is the perfect example of a smart & funny show not degrading to women and gave young women a wonderful role model to look up to.

i'm gonna have to say that she makes some good points....it is quite obvious where the trend of the CW has gone....i'm not saying that I dont like this station...cause, most of the shows that I watch are from this network...but there are some trends that show that the tv is getting trashy....and yes, the CW marketing/advertising crew has been very suspect recently. Let's think of some examples:

1) Pussy cat dolls: somewhat interesting....got tons of promotion

2) Veronica Mars: where they do against the stereotype of the "dumb blonde" to have an intelligent woman....why is that show being threatened?

3) Smallville: PRIME EXAMPLE! there were certain episodes like Justice etc that got little promotion, yet, you spend WEEKS promoting the soap opera that was Promise...and say that love conquers all when there is a marriage, baby, and some adultery going on..but that's ok? really?

CW needs to get back on track and remember that your viewers are intelligent ppl with brain cells.

She has a point and for someone who writes a tv blog should know that you shouldn't say
Or is she – and other critics – taking TV programming way too seriously?
That's like saying TV is just entertainment. There is no such thing as just entertainment. With what I've been hearing about the impending doom or Veronica Mars (even though I don't watch it) and the continued success of Pussycat Dolls I'm a little saddened with the taste of television shows the CW's viewers seem to have. It's not entirely the networks fault like you said the reality shows bring in the viewers, but in a world where a young girl would rather watch a show about women who make livings off of being hot instead of a show about a smart, cool girl who solves mysteries.
Now underpromoting the actual dramas of the show thats the CW's fault. I'm a hardcore Supernatural fan and I'm very upset with the lack of backing the CW has been giving my show. Of couse I've seen previews for ANTM and PCD every few second on the network. From a viewers point of view you don't support the smart dramas but only the reality shows which are cheaper to make and make the money. Instead of supporting good television you support what can make you a buck despite what the morals or ethics you might be teaching young girls who tune into PCD and think that what life is. Making money by being hot.

I don't really see how One Tree Hill is trashy.. it is the best show around right now in my own opinion. It deals with real issues, its not trashy at all.. yes there is teen pregnancies..and one of the main characters is sorta promiscuous but thats REAL..the people on that show could be your child,your best friend or your neighbour.. its not LA Rich kid trash like the OC was.

The fact is that the CW would have loved to have had Gilmore Girls for another season, however the negotiations with Lauren and Alexis stalled and the network couldn't very well do the show without the lead actresses. Reality shows had nothing to do with GG's end.

Whether you want to believe it or not - tv is a business. Networks are beholden to both advertisers and stockholders and no matter how much you love a show, if the ratings aren't there it's going to get canned. If you don't do your job to your employer's expectations, you get fired, rght? It's the same deal in television.

i mostly agree. I watch the CW mostly because of veronica mars. i love the show. She is smart, witty, sassy, and can still pull off a slammin outfit for "altra-prom".

I have watched some of OTH, there is nothing wrong with the show. It's funny, eye catching and has a HUGE fan base.

But i gotta say, i couldn't stand that PCD pulled in better ratings then veronica. Is that really want we want our children to learn. That shakin your ass and having designer clothes make you who you are? No, we don't. If and when i have kids. I would want them to be more interested in things that could effect their everyday life. the PCD is a joke as to what women should stand for. rolemodels my a**.

We watch NO (that's right - 0 - zero) reality shows. NONE. and now we will be watching NO CW shows. That's right - 0 - zero - NONE. With the end of Gilmore Girls and Reba, there is NO reason for anyone with 3 brain cells to rub together to watch the trash programming they have sunk to. I have taken them off my remote's favorites.

She is not a big fan of the WB now CW shows and the stars of those shows. She has made that quite evident. I think though that she has a lot of points but she is generalizing. EVen though I would prefer more intelligent shows that the other types I wouldnt generalize the way that she did. ANTM is actually a good show if you see it for what it is and also realized the changes that it makes in many women's lives.

This is the blog that called the Mother/Daughter beauty pageant show, Crowned "deliciously trashy" and you're taking offense when other critics are finally picking up on the trend of your shows?

I agree with Mcfarland in most of what she says. The new shows Hidden Palms and Gossip Girls are equally trashy and frankly the same like the OC/Dawson's Creek etc that came before it. I tried Smallville for a bit this season, but T&A-Lois Show is insulting and I've watched in horror as the show has descended into soap-opera hell since Promise. That's a prime example of a character in Chloe being shuffled off (and being made unattractive thanks to sucky wardrobe and style) despite her intelligence and recent harsh life lessons...because hey, she's no pleather-clad Lois. It's not worth my time anymore, finale or not.

About the only thing I do watch is Supernatural, a show for which I am eternally grateful isn't afraid to realize that their audience has an IQ above a woman's bust size.

i disagree i love one tree hill its got great fan base and don't think it should be cancelled i want another season so do many more fans from what I've seen on Internet most fans will be disappointed in the cw if they drop this show for other reality tv show. I mean some are good but you don't get the drama or suspense, which keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting more each week from a reality tv.

I agree to an extent because I like AMNTM, but the only solid reason why I watch the CW is for Veronica Mars.

I'm torn... I mean, I can appreciate silly reality shows like ANTM, Beauty and the Geek, and even PCD. Sometimes you just want to lose yourself in escapist TV. But I don't think the author makes that great of a point. If she's trying to say that everyone's watching trashy TV on the CW, well, she's wrong. Yes, PCD did better than Veronica Mars. But Gilmore Girls, which all the critics love and is praised as a smart, well-written show, has always scored huge ratings. It's not like Gilmore started suffering when PCD and ANTM came to the network. And Veronica has never had great ratings. I don't blame that on the success of PCD. They're two totally separate issues.

Tracy, I agree with you that The CW isn't supporting all its shows equally. I felt like PCD got way too much exposure -- it was airing several times a week. Same with Top Model. Did Veronica even get that chance?

i certainly agree with melanie mcfarland...most of the shows that CW11 currently have on its line up is nothing but trashy, garbage shows..adding insult to injury Gilmore Girls is coming to an end...a big loss to quality programming, writing..in a way, it feels good that Gilmore Girls will finally bow out because quite frankly after the abrupt ending of other quality programs, Everwood and Reba, i was left with only one reason why bother to depress the number 11 on my remote...and that was Gilmore Girls...smallville has become a mess, too. and i hate to point out the obvious but after the merger, CW11 became a network for the ghettos!

All though the comments were a bit harsh in nature they were not off base at all. When shows like ANTM and PCD are put above intelligent and captivating dramas such as Veronica Mars and Supernatural you have to wonder what the network really stands for.

I myself have been incredibly disapointed by the CW lately. They need to promote their shows equally before dumping one for another. Of course people tuned in and stayed with shows like PCD and ANTM. What was seen in the previews was what happened in the show. Veronica Mars and Supernatural (along with Gilmore, ONTH and Smallville)are either under represented or misrepresented in promos and previews. If they let Rob Thomas come up with the Veronica Mars previews more people would tune in and stay with the show because it is what the expected and wanted to see. I'm a hardcore VM fan and if I didn't know what the show really was the promos would turn me off of the show.

Anyone else agree that the CW isn't supporting all of their shows the way they should?

PCD show was cool

PFFFFFFFFFFFFF

I agree about PCD & ANTM

but i disagree concerning One tree hill

it's the best show i have ever seen

To put a good show on hiatus to only then replace it with softcore porn. Of course Pussy Cat dolls is going to do well. It's half naked girls jumping up and down swaying/dancing/gyrating to music. It'll get old in a year or two while Veronica Mars has the potential to be great if TPTB would only pull thier heads out of thier.... Uh hmmm

And come on with GG and 7thH leaving how many viewers are going to show up for CW's sophmore year if they let UPN's VM go? please let's keep the veterans at least for a 13 ep pick up and actually see Veronica Mars (Good writting willing) have a run on The CW.

I can't speak to the quality of the reality shows, not being a fan of any of them, but since Veronica Mars has become a trashy, offensive, convoluted mess I can't see how it could possibly make the network classier. I mean, really. Coma babies? Musical-chair rapists? Laughing at male rape? Faking rapes? Characterizing feminists as monsters who would give their friends an abortion pill or commit male-rape? No, we don't need any more of Veronica's type of 'classy' tv.

On the other hand, the ending of Gilmore Girls (while it did have some problems this last year) is quite a loss to quality programming.