Supernatural article at EW.com

[agt_spooky]

Did anyone post this over the weekend? I didn't see it anywhere. It's from Entertainment Weekly's website. (FYI - I removed the Smallville spoiler at the beginning of the article so I could put this outside a cut)

The CW's identity crisis: Are 'Supernatural' and 'Smallville' better than 'Gossip Girl' and '90210'?
by Ken Tucker

I kept seeing commercials for new March episodes of Melrose Place and 90210 and Gossip Girl and Life Unexpected. I have a soft spot for the lovably twee Life, but it’s not really amounting to much. As for the rest: blechh. Seeing all that promotional posing and pouting, I thought, I’ve pretty much had it with the CW’s cool-hip brigade. And that so includes One Tree Hill.

The CW has never had huge ratings, and it’s struggled to establish its brand identity. So here’s an idea. Why not rededicate itself to being the home of Supernatural, Smallville, and Vampire Diaries (its best cool-hip show primarily because its cool-hip is enlivened by its fantasy element), and develop more shows in this genre?

I know the business counter-argument to this: the network can assert that it gets more ad dollars by dangling youth and beauty. That Leighton Meester makes more of an impact in the media than Jensen Ackles.

But I don’t write a business column; I advocate for what’s interesting to watch. And at this point in their respective histories, I am certain that Supernatural is more fun to follow than Gossip Girl is, and I know that the people who are doing amusing variations on the Superman mythology in Smallville are giving us better entertainment than the talented folks who are trying heroically to breathe life into the wheezing 90210 legacy.

Am I wrong?

~~~~

You're not wrong, Ken! I agree with you wholeheartedly. I mean, can't the CW look at it's own ratings week to week and realize that VD, SPN and SV are always at the top of the pile? Why keep forcing all this teen-angst-drama-who's sleeping with who this week crap down our throats when you've got a formula that's working. And that draws in the female audience you're looking for. I just don't understand what Ostroff is thinking.

And if they DID give Jensen (and Jared) some press time, they'd see our two boys are as big a draw as Leighton Meester is.

What do you guys think? Thoughts? Opinions?

Comments

[morganslady.livejournal.com]

They've never pomoted SPN.. They seem to love the teen angst crap,I'd love to know the behind the sceens stuff with that..

[hezio2.livejournal.com]

DUH!
I totally agree with you. I don't understand how that network is still functioning. w/o SPN I'd never watch it.

[gaelicspirit.livejournal.com]

Who's Leighton Meester?

Sounds like a character from a Dr. Seuss book.

SPN is the only show I watch on the CW and I heap praises upon my DVR because if I start watching about 15 minutes into the show, I can skip past all of those (freakin' annoying) promos for the other shows.

If they had any sort of finger on the pulse of their audience base, they would be putting as much Jensen Ackles and Jared Padelecki as they could in their network promos.

I miss the WB. At least with them we got a little "scary just got sexy" buzz.

[seesmooshrun.livejournal.com]

Bummer, gaelic took all my good comments. But The CW seriously needs to get a clue.

[queeberquabbler.livejournal.com]

Ken Tucker has redeemed himself for me now (Havenn't forgiven him for something he said years ago, and no, i don't want to talka bout it cuz it gets me SO MAD). The CW needs to wake up and start promoting it's GOOD shows, like Supernatural. I hope the powers that be read that article and think "say, that's true!" and change their ways. Won't happen, but a girl can dream.

[daniel-shadow.livejournal.com]

It is a shame that SPN got next to no promo at all. CW has put all their money into soap rubbish which no one has got any interest into watching.

They should get a hint at how Living Channel has promoted the show in such fun and creative ways.

[tracys-dream.livejournal.com]

Supernatural has gone from strength to strength and I've found that shows like Gossip Girl and 90210 just recycle old material.
And if Supernatural had the same amount of press as these other shows then a lot more people would see just strong it is too.

[mummyluvr314.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to see what happens to that network after next season, because SPN will be gone, Smallville will (hopefully, if there is a God and He truly loves us) be gone (and this isn't my own biases abut killing of Pa Kent, I've talked to legit SV fans who recognize that the series died in season five and is on life support now), and the CW will be left with Vampire Diaries and... did you hear some of the pitches for pilots this year? Have you seen previews for their new reality show about some "famous" chick no one's heard of (her name is Tinsley, which sounds like a communicable disease to me). It's just... no.

Wow. Long rant. TL;DR: CW will die in 2011/2012. The network will blame us for not watching crap.

[deanvica23.livejournal.com]

where is the spoiler on smallville. i think there is choices for all. Lot of fans one tree hill, gossip watch too supernatural.
I don't understand that no one think at a episode cross crover smallville supernatural.I watch me smallville in this moment with jensen. In a episode season 5 i believe it was on a ghost with chloé but nothing to see with supernatural. that remain smallville what.
Tom welling is good when it play evil clark but nice clark no. Not good the scenes emotions at the opposite of jensen perfect.and i found jensen perfect in jason , couple so hot with lana.

The channel promote the shows for the sex,love as gossip,one tree hill. sniffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
we haven't even not the promo season 5 pics.

[aidanirl.livejournal.com]

freaking finally!!!!

how can they think that sappy soap is better and more sexed-up then Supernatural???

...idiots...

[agent-jl36.livejournal.com]

My fave shows have always been the SPN, X-files, Twin Peaks genre. I never understood the shows that's all about who's sleeping with who and pregnant with the other guys sister's best friend's husband.

I also know that I'm not the only one out there that feels that way. If the promotions people would just pay us a little attention, they could see what a fiercely loyal fanbase this genre has.

Agree

[winchesterwoman.livejournal.com]

I have never seen gossip girl or 90210. Never, but, some times I have seen some shorts, and it is just for the superficial people. and people who just want see, sex, sex, sex and see that all share and slep the samne guy or girl. that´s awful! but, some times that is what it. for some reason vampire diaries is above to supernatural. and because the supernatural thing is not that interesting as see how is dating with who in vampire diaries and if damon wants to kill setefan or elena is in danger. anyway. that´s true. smallville, in spite it is so wear. is better than the others. but like I said. the people just want watch sex.
Do you watched "superman returns"? what Peter white said? only three things sell in this world. : sex, violence, and superman." well, that part of violence I don´t think so :P

[khek.livejournal.com]

I don't know why CW thinks their future lies in soaps...they're trying to chase down the notoriously fickle teenage girl. And they don't seem to do it very well, because, for the most part, they're alienating the parents, who would be allowing the kids to watch the shows.

They'd be much better off turning their backs on the superficial and promoting the good storytelling they currently ignore.

[riveryklown.livejournal.com]

Definitely, if Jensen and Jared were as exposed as Leighton was, they'd be just as known. And it's ridiculous how popular SPN is considering THEY NEVER PROMOTED IT. So, like take your teenage drama and stick it where the sun don't shine, CW. If you're too blind to see the numbers, we're not too blind to see the quality.