Breaking News: Supernatural Return Postponed One Week, Back Feb. 4th
This is a breaking story but per The CW, Smallville and Supernatural will not be returning tomorrow night, 1/28. Their returns from winter break have been pushed back to February 4th. No reason has been given. Repeats of tonight’s Vampire Diaries and Nikita will air instead. More info coming as I get it…
UPDATED: Okay, this is the intel I’ve gotten so far. It seems that the network didn’t want to take a blood bath in their “sampling” for the return of “The Vampire Diaries.” There’s a lot of homes without power thanks to the East Coast snowstorm, but the real culprits are Chicago (a constant thorn in Supernatural’s side), Baltimore, and American Idol.
According to Mo Ryan, this is the skinny:
Update from Mo Ryan: Why all the scheduling shenanigans? ‘American Idol’ is the culprit, not surprisingly. Read on for more…
A CW spokesperson said Thursday that the network wants to give ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ the CW’s top series, more exposure when the returns from its winter break. Thus the decision to air it both Thursday (when it’ll go up against ‘Idol’) and Friday (when fans who missed ‘TVD’ and ‘Nikita’ will be able to catch up with those shows). Another reason offered for the double airings of those dramas: There are CW pre-emptions Thursday in Chicago and Baltimore.
Um, yeah, can’t you just feel the love? Sorry fans, this really sucks out loud on so many levels. Complaints can be registered at feedback@cwtv.com.
I read somewhere it was a poorly designed business decision, cause not only was VD preempted tonight, they also feared it going against AI with preemptions.
So not only have they managed to piss off SV, and SPN fandoms they managed to piss off their affiliates as well, cause they had no notice to make the changes in adavance.
But my question is why are they airing our repeats on Wednesday next week? We never aired on a Wednesday lol
If you find out more I would love to hear, the real reason?
Wow, what a sour taste this has left with me. It is an incredibly unprofessional move. I’ve never heard of a network making such a last minute switch — especially coming off of a week of strong promotion and a seven-week hiatus for Supernatural (& Smallville). Supernatural just won the TV Guide fan competition for pete’s sake … (and their listed as “what to watch” on the tvguide online site for tomorrow! what’s up CW? I feel completely let down, angry and frustrated. I did NOT watch The CW tonight and will boycott watching tomorrow night. (There is a movement afoot to boycott the network until next friday, feb. 4th.) It would have made much more sense to have scheduled the reruns over the weekend for Nikita and Vampire Diaries — for heaven’s sake Sunday is a lame (old) movie night on the CW network — why not choose that night to re-run their Thursday line up and not risk alienating so many Friday night fans who have been waiting anxiously for the Jan. 28th return of SN. I wrote to the CW to voice my disappointment and frustration. You can too, go to: feedback@cwtv.com. ‘Til next week …
GROAN! What is there to say? Where is the love?
WHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! 🙁
I’ll just post what I sent to the CW
To Whom It May Concern,
When you made the decision to push the premiers of Smallville and Supernatural back a week, I’m sure you expected people to be a little upset. No doubt you anticipated angry tweets and threatening emails from all of us fans who have been waiting 7 weeks to see new episodes. But in the end, you decided to ignore the potential outrage of the fans in order to make what I’m sure you thought was a smart business decision. And at the end of the day, it really is no big deal. It is just a week, right?
Wrong.
The problem here is not the time frame, it’s the complete and total disregard for not only both shows, but their fans as well. Smallville and Supernatural both predate the CW. These shows have withstood threats of cancellations and heavy competition from other networks and are still around several years later. The fans are exceedingly loyal, staying with the shows despite a rather unfortunate move to Friday night. I would think that having millions of fans vote for Supernatural win the cover of TVGuide would have made the network more appreciative of its fans. It would seem I have been sorely mistaken.
This sudden move, the day before the shows are to air, seems like a slap in the face to us all. First you send out an advance screening of Supernatural to several reporters and bloggers, hyping us up all week for what is sure to be an amazing episode. You’ve been releasing promos since December 10th heralding the return of the shows on January 28th. Every single other CW show is back on the air this week, causing even more buildup because we know our turn is coming soon. Then you wait until there is barely 24 hours to spare before so inconsiderately moving the show back another week. American Idol didn’t suddenly move it’s timeslot this week, because I heard about the move to Thursday weeks ago. Do you always rearrange schedule one day in advance?
I’m sorry, but I just don’t understand.
Do you really think that anyone is really going to watch the Vampire Diaries again when it was on the night before and can easily be found on the internet sans commercials? Do you really think people are going to turn on the CW thinking Supernatural is on but settle for Nikita when they are mistaken? Did you really think it was a good idea to mess around with your fanbase when you have Fringe to worry about as competition for the remainder of the season? Do you honestly think this decision won’t have consequences?
Supernatural, and Smallville, to a lesser extent, has long been treated rather poorly by the network. I’ve seen 90210 and Gossip Girl posters all over New York City and Los Angeles, but I haven’t seen a new Supernatural poster since season 2. There are promos for Nikita and Vampire Diaries on pretty much constantly, but there’s nary a word about Smallville throughout the week. In the press release for season 6 for Supernatural, you used a picture of Jensen and Jared from season 2. That was FOUR years ago. Is the show not worth the energy to do a new photo shoot?
I could continue to rant for several more paragraphs, but I think I’ve made my point. The fans are tired of being treated with such disregard by your network. You would do well to remember that without us, this network would have failed years ago. You know the fans are loyal, and yet you continue to take advantage of us. You should know that our loyalty is not without limits. A successful business cannot function if the customers aren’t satisfied.
And we are far from satisfied.
Regards,
Lauryn A
wow.
I’m outraged and, quite frankly, offended at this decision. I wish there were a way to punish the network without punishing my favorite show. I certainly think there should be more consequences for the CW than just a barrage of easily-ignorable emails.
That being said, Lauryn’s letter (the first comment) is very well worded, and I thank her for sending it.
I’m not only offended on behalf of my favorite show, but I’m also offended as a loyal viewer who has just been treated poorly because of my loyalty, instead of being rewarded for it.
Supernatural is the only show I watch on the CW, and after today, I can promise that it always will be.
I found this article, after hearing that the delay may be Smallville related. I’m not sure of course, but the rumor I heard suggested that they might be re-shooting, or at least delaying the mentioned episode:
“Check out this article on @BuddyTV, “‘Smallville’ Schedules Episode About Congresswoman Getting Shot”. http://buddytv.us/ePOVu7 “
To me, this would be a much more understandable reason for a delay… I mean, how ignorant would the CW people have to be to not realize that AI was on… that show is ALWAYS on…
I’ve now accepted the fact that we’re delayed a week (but that was sure disappointing and surprising news).
I was initially upset by the last minute announcement, but have since calmed down. (Still though, REALLY CW?! Doesn’t seem like the competitor’s programming or the affiliate pre-emptions for tonight were last minute changes …)
In fact, THAT is what still has me unhappy .. the apparent (so far as we know) REASONS why the programming schedule was changed. The REASONS are all about “The Vampire Diaries” and “Nikita” and issues THEY were facing on THEIR night. But, instead of THEM getting delayed until next week, FRIDAY night’s shows are the ones that get delayed.
To be honest, I’m a bit suspicious. I don’t believe that The CW decided TODAY to make this scheduling change. I think they just WAITED until today to announce it. I would think that it’s difficult to “legitimately” pull NEW programming the same day – heck, the afternoon even! – but the day BEFORE .. more doable. And, by waiting until today to make the announcement, The CW was able to make sure that TVD and Nikita still premiered this week … and that Smallville and Supernatural were the shows to get delayed. I don’t necessarily believe that it’s all/only about PR money spent, but I’m pretty certain that The CW spent more $$ promoting the return of TVD and Nikita than they did for SV and SPN. So that *may* be part of it. Plus, The CW has a history of really pushing their newer shows and ignoring the veterans. I realize I have no facts to back up my suspicions (conspiracy theory? LOL), but in my head there’s some logic to it.
I’ve seen the article on Buddy TV about Smallville’s episode where a Congresswoman is shot on Nat’l TV – which WAS orig scheduled to air Feb 4th. IF they don’t decide to hold it for later (or preempt it entirely), it would now be scheduled to air Feb 11th. I don’t believe THAT episode is the reason
why the SV & SPN returns were delayed. It wasn’t/isn’t the ep that was scheduled for tomorrow night. And I really think that if it WAS, then The CW (or Warner Bros since they produce it) would already be making some noise about the fact that they pulled it because ‘too soon, insensitive, etc’ ..
which we may be hearing something to that effect in the near future (since it was supposed to be the 2nd episode after hiatus).
Something to do with advertisers, maybe — what shows/ what weeks they’ve paid to have their ads associated with. I’m very bummed out.
When I read this yesterday, it felt like someone had told me that I couldn’t open my Christmas presents. Bummer. I am disappointed, of course, in particular as I will have to attend a few lectures next week and will not be able to watch the episode before Saturday night. That’s really annoying to me. But, well, shit happens.
I’ll take the good with the bad – a weekend I can sleep in, not rush to the computer early morning to download the episode. I will stay in bed till noon, reading, if possible, enjoy all decadence available. And then look forward to the episode next week.
Cheers, Jas
You know, when I woke up this morning I thought “Oh it´s Friday and finially find out about….” AND NOW THIS!!!! 🙁 🙁
THAT IS EXATLY HOW I FELT! this is what i look forward to on fridays and have waited for for over a month!
Boo, hiss, snarl … By the way, why are the comments all backwards now? Everything’s strange and different, can’t cope … :cry::
It does come across as unprofessional of the network. Surely they knew what VD was facing? American Idol is something nothing really can compete against it is the nature of things . Supernatural and Smallville deserved a little bit better than this and so do their fans.
Who is going to be watching Friday night, oh yeah, SPN and SV fans!! Who will even know that they are doing this but us?!
I (as many others) had carefully planned my Friday to be home to watch live!! (It’s my husband’s birthday, no less-the shenanigans I went through to plan a happy hour party, just for SPN). Huge FAIL, what a way to piss off fans. Dawn O okayed this….come on.
WHAT A RIP OFF! CW should be SHOT for this. GUESS WHAT…many people don’t even care about TVD! I”M MAD!!!!!!!!!!!
Well i totally agree with Lauren and Kalixa on every thing. I backed out of plans for my friends slumber party so i could stay home and watch Supernatural, ‘so thanks CW for screwing up my weekend and making me uber-pissed!’ I wish i could do something about this but i can’t, i’m merely a 16 year old girl who say is nothing to the world YET… soo, this totally sucks out loud! lol guess imma have to keep my mind off of Supernatural for the next few days so i don’t get more mad..
Cacee
I was so looking forward to seeing the new episode tonight especially after reading Alice’s article. Oh, well. I’ll just have to dig out my old DVD’s and/or DVR and re-watch some episodes again. I think the CW needs to rethink their way of doing business. I mean not everyone lives in Baltimore or Chicago. LA is a rather large TV market, too.
To say that I am upset, irritated, frustrated, sad, angry, ticked off – would be an understatement. I just don’t get it CW. TVD already has a strong fan base, so you need not worry about that show. As for Nikita, well, let’s just say now that I USED to watch that show. I no longer care one way or another about that show.
Had they done this switcheroo to us at the beginning of the week it wouldn’t have been as big of a deal. But to do this in the last hours, 24 hours before the airing of our mid-season premiere, especially after all the hype we have received about this episode throughout the week from those that were privileged to receive an advance copy. I was definitely excited about the return of our show and all the wonderful, exciting things that are coming up. This is definitely a low blow to all of the SN and SPN fans. Our show does not deserve this kind of treatment. Not very classy CW.
And Bravo to Lauryn’s letter to the CW. Definitely conveyed all of our feelings and did it in a very classy way. I also sent a letter via the feedback page to the CW. Stating much of which Lauryn said, but not as eloquently, but still respectful and not crass.
Here’s hoping that the CW does something to assuage our hurt and anger as to this latest move. Doubtful, I know, given that suits generally don’t really care about the fans, they only care about numbers, but I still have hope that there is some humanity left somewhere in the world of the Hollywood suits.
Bloody hell. Really?
Thanks very much for letting us know Alice. I have never followed a TV series as closely before as I do Supernatural so do not know if this happens. Especially at such short notice. And what does a preemption mean?
I think Lauryn’s and the other’s letters above say it all when it comes to the CW in all of this. Thank you guys for sending those letters in and to Alice for providing the contact details. Once again, it seems Supernatural soldiers on despite its network rather than because of it.
(Also: the acronym for Vampire Diaries is VD? That is …unfortunate.)
But my question is why are they airing our repeats on Wednesday next week? We never aired on a Wednesday lol
To beat Angel’s record of number of different days to be shown on? Angel was shown on Tuesdays, Mondays, Sunday and Wednesdays during it’s run (the WB had Sunday programming). Supernatural started on Tuesdays, had season one reruns called Beginnings on Sundays, moved to Thursdays, moved to Fridays and now will have a Wednesday credit to its name. The only day we haven’t hit is Monday. Since neither the WB nor the CW programmed for Saturdays, I don’t count that.
This was such a stupid decision and I am so angry. They can’t even go back to the original schedule because too many people know about the switch (although I WILL be checking tonight, just in case the CW changes its mind again. Can’t be too careful).
I couldn’t sleep last night therefore I turned the computer back on and then I read these news. I was completly shocked not even able to leave a comment to that.
I will not add to the bashing of the CW. It’s been done enough. But once I got home from work I checked a few pages for the reactions to those news. And then it suddenly dawned on me.
The CW has done us a huge (giant) dragon sized favour. Why?
For month now, especially during this hellatus, the fanbase had been divided. Pro or contra season 6. And what the level headed articles or comments during that time didn’t manage. The CW did with just one statement.
– Supernatural Like a Virgin will be postponed from January 28, 20111 to February 4, 2011 –
And from one second to the next the fanbase is again what it was. What made me want to be a part of it. A giant family. Our Supernatural family. Suddenly everybody is pulling on the same string again. We are all on the same page again.
So therefor
Thank you CW
Yirabah
PS: I still would love to have our show on this week though
So not cool CW, once again you dissapointed the fans of Supernatural because of your new shows. It doesn’t really bother me that I have to wait another week as it bothers me that they did it because of TVD and Nikita.
They alredy put all of their efforts to promote those shows and they do nothing for Supernatural. And now THIS! They must hear the rage of the fans, we are done being treated like this!
They better renew SPN for a 7th season, or else they’re going DOWN! 😡
Here’s my feedback to the CW:
Thanks for nothing, CW, your precious TVD and Nikita did just fine against Idol and with premptions, for that you have slapped the faces of your loyal SPN and SMV viewers who do the heavy lifting when it comes to promotions for those shows for you.
Sure, you were so afraid your Thursday night lineup couldn’t hold its own (I feel bad for those shows that you have so little respect and confidence in them) and you spent untold dollars on your disgusting Veneral Disease campaign for TVD which up until recently has always been promoted as TVD but you didn’t lose a thing, not one darn thing.
However, you have lost a lot, a lot with the slap to SMV and especially SPN. It was the SPN fandom that got SPN on the cover of TV Guide, you did nothing to promote that voting effort while Chuck actually ran promos during its show. Website traffic has hit a new high for this show after the Dec TV Guide cover and the entertainment industry took more notice of the show and worked hard to promote this return as well as this episode, now all of that effort is gone for new fans will not wait around another week, they’ll move on. You have lost them.
You are classless with your GG and 90210 which are nothing but soft porn television shows, and now your veneral disease campaign for TVD only lowers your classless rating — as if that was possible. Your unprofessionalism astounds, perhaps TV By the Numbers had it right when they tagged the CW as ‘sleeping, do not disturb’ these last seven weeks as you apparently on Thursday noticed that you’d have affiliate preemptions. You are rude beyond belief to the SPN and SMV fandoms not only in your lack of promotion of either of these shows but in your utter disregard in waiting until the last minute to make this decision and then having your company representatives give such untruthful responses such as, legal issues or editing issues before finally issuing the real reason. The least you could have done was admit up front the reasoning and as some salve to the gaping wound you knew (but didn’t care about) would occur you could have announced Supernatural’s renewal for a seventh season.
It’s moves like this that will forever keep this useless netlet as a joke for the entertainment industry. Your programming choices will only keep me as a viewer while Supernatural is on and even that is wavering greatly and I have even more understanding to that as Dawn O’s recent interview stated that the network has been closely involved in this season’s mytharc…perhaps that’s why I hate it thus far. Once I stop watching Supernatural (either because I leave or it ends) so am I…and my purchasing dollars with me.
I am a glass half full kinda gal so I am going to go with a silver lining here. I have been a fan of FOUR seperate ABC shows (over four separate seasons) that were cancelled very abruptly. Night Stalker, The Nine, Pushing Daisies, and Eastwick. Everytime they cancelled one of those shows, I vowed never to watch ABC again but then they drew me back in.
Well, look at it like this. SPN wasn’t cancelled. It was just delayed a week. We still have our show and it is SO much better than most of the other shows out there. Paitence is a virtue and the CW is testing ours! 😈
You know CW, karma’s a bitch: Instead of Vampire Diaries, your network in my neck of the woods aired The Goonies. 😆
I live north of the border and here in Canada we have what is known as Cable Substitution; basically, when a U.S. network and a Canadian network simulcast a program, the Canadian network overrides the U.S. feed so Canadian viewers gets Canadian ads. It doesn’t matter if I click my TV onto The CW or CHCH (the Canadian channel), I’m going to get the CHCH feed either way.
CHCH carries both Smallville and Supernatural and was obviously set to air the new episodes tonight. It is not, however, a CW affiliate so it’s under no obligation to carry the repeat broadcasts of Vampire Diaries and Nikita. So, when SV and SN were yanked, it dipped into standby vault and chose to air The 1985 film The Goonies.
Problem is, apparently no one informed the cable carrier of the change in scheduling so, when the clock hit 9 p.m., the feeds were merged and, instead of Vampire Diaries, The CW began broadcasting The Goonies. Gotta love the irony; that name is also an apt description for the stuffed shirts who made this boneheaded decision, don’t you think?
Oh, someone finally clued in to the mess-up; the feeds have been separated and Nikita is now showing on The CW instead of SN. Sigh.
I’m still ticked. I didn’t find out until 11AM this morning after just getting out of a three hour, early morning class.
I know it’s negative, but I’m really hoping that they don’t get the numbers they’re hoping for tonight. I wasn’t a fan of TVD to begin with, as it’s coming in on the heels of Twilight’s success.
Man I hate the CW sometimes. I miss the WB, as I grew up on that station.
👿 :cry::
The vampire diaries might be the hit show now, but when all the teeny boppers get tired of vampires again, supernatural’s loyal fans will still be around. This station needs to prioritize (just realized i don’t know how to spell that) a little better.
I noticed that on Twitter, Clif (the boys bodyguard) commented that the episode of Smallville dealt with subject matter that was very similar to a negative event that happened in the “real world”.
Now, I totally understand if the CW is being sympathetic to the families of a shooting or murder or whatever this un-named event might be, but if it’s true, why wouldn’t the CW just say so?
I saw someone post on another forum that they were in Chicago and TVD wasn’t pre-empted, so that just makes it even more confusing as to why the CW would push back SuperN’s new episode.
Sigh, it’s just one of those things we’re just not supposed to know, it seems. Oh well, I’m done with my grumpy, angry feelings towards the CW. It’s not doing me any good and it hasn’t gotten the show back on so, on to more positive thoughts. Hope everyone else is able to find something else to make them happy this evening.
Supernatural is the only good show on the CW I’ts my favorite, I don’t like any other shows on the CW they all suck to me (sorry, it’s just how I feel). I was so excited for tonight, this really sucks!
angry letter sent.. screw the CW. hello all for some teenybopper soap opera..”idgits!”
How about this for a silver lining –
In May we’ll have an extra week of Supernatural and therefore one less week to wait until the September premiere if there’s a season 7 =D
I’m angry at the CW but I don’t think they really care how I feel. And I can’t punish them because I don’t watch any other show anyway and I’m not punishing myself or SPN by not watching that show so… STALEMATE. Rest assured I’ll spend my nights trying to dream up a way to make them pay though >.
oh come on, yes I love Vampire Diaries but we all LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE Supernatural- who would watch VD if you just watched it the night before??? Poor decision on the management of this- waited for weeks for it to return, watched all the hype and you screw the fans-SHAME ON YOU111
You see, we are not the only ones upset by events over the last few days 😀
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMjaip2hqPE
The ol’ bait n’ switch:
http://scifipulse.net/?p=40796
My thoughts exactly!
I don’t mean this in a nasty way (it’s just my sense of humor) but we all need to build a bridge and get over it. It’s a delay of one week. Yes, it wasn’t the smartest move for the CW to do this at the 11th hour, but the milk has been spilt, and we’ve vocalised our displeasure. Time to look to the countdown again. 4 days to go.
Oh, and that Hitler vid…LMAO. Entertaining.
lmfao!
(Also: the acronym for Vampire Diaries is VD? That is …unfortunate.)[/quote]