CW devotees are breathing much easier with this week’s early announcement that six series will definitely return for the fall season: Smallville, Supernatural, One Tree Hill, America’s Next Top Model, Everybody Hates Chris, and rookie sensation Gossip Girl. That leaves 7½-hours yet to fill, and it’s very possible that one or more current shows will also make the cut—such as The Game, Reaper or Aliens in America. One slot could be taken if the network likes the pilot it just ordered for How To Teach Filthy Rich Girls, about a young ex-tabloid reporter hired to be the live-in tutor/life coach for a cosmetic mogul’s granddaughters. Will reality fare Beauty & The Geek, Pussycat Dolls or Crowned get another life? The still-untitled fashion magazine competition is a firm “go,” but which of the network’s other look-see projects will dazzle the programmers? Answers come within ten weeks, as the 2008-09 Upfront Presentation is set for May 15. Tracking potential development slates, The Futon Critic lists four dramas and two comedies on the CW radar:

• The Collection: a dramedy based on the life of famed designer Isaac Mizrahi
• How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: romantic misadventures of a female advice columnist
• Undercover: an updated version of 21 Jump Street
• Maria Sharapova project: drama set inside the world of women’s pro tennis
• Sherri Shepherd project: comedy about a married woman—and her husband’s “other family”
• Nanny Dallas: dramedy about four nannies and the rich families they service

Though 13 episodes were previously ordered for star-laden midseason comedy Eight Days a Week, the writer’s strike seems to have thrown the series in limbo. Hopefully it’s a candidate for this fall. Remember, new ideas for shows are pitched almost daily, so the above choices can quickly expand. What are your thoughts or predictions for The CW’s third season schedule?

I think we can all safely agree that new fashion tycoon Brooke Davis grew up with “mother issues.” Never seen prior to this Season 5 leap year on One Tree Hill, Victoria apparently has great business acumen, but lacks any semblance of parenting skills.  Daphne Zuniga returns to the drama next Tuesday, and will surely offend someone within her first moments on screen.  It’s one of those juicy villainous roles that actresses love.  Off-camera, she and Sophia Bush bonded immediately and are great friends—easily passing for mother and daughter.  However, we’ve found an actress that Daphne really resembles: Sarah Lancaster!  Fans of Everwood will remember her as Ephram’s one-time girlfriend “Madison.”  Whaddaya think, are they a match?

After last night’s episode of One Tree Hill, does anyone believe Nathan and Haley are rid of temptress nanny Carrie? Trust me, you don’t wanna bet the house on it. Behind that beautiful face lurks a dangerous mind with serious issues. On the bright side, pizza guy Tim (Brett Claywell) touched off the first of many reunions with familiar characters, including Rachel, Chase, Bevin, Dan, Karen and Andy—in fact, paths begin to intersect next Tuesday. And some of the homecomings are anything but happy. The continued absence of Deb is a mystery yet to be explained, but given the immense popularity of Barbara Alyn Woods and the sizzling drama she’s delivered for four years, fans are hoping for a bombshell cameo. Who can forget her trademark one-liners, such as telling newlywed Haley to “Shut your selfish little mouth!” or warning estranged-hubby Dan, “She’s young enough to be your daughter—and in this town, she just might be!” Ironically, Barbara’s real-life daughter, Natalie, will play Karen’s 4-year-old, Lily, in the upcoming 100th episode set to air on March 18. It was the final script shot prior to the writers’ strike, and online reports say there were three different cliffhanger endings filmed—so even the cast couldn’t leak the final scene. We’ve got nine new episodes coming up, and if you think the first nine have been laced with squeal-worthy moments…just wait.

This week, fans of One Tree Hill got a preview of two talented music acts that will soon showcase their repertoires here in Cleveland.  In the drama-saturated episode, Peyton and Haley’s young protégé, Mia, delivered an opening set at the Tric nightclub prior to featured headliners, The Honorary Title.  Mia, of course, is played by Bay Village’s own Kate Voegele, and belted out some impressive vocals for the Tree Hill mosh pit.  The 20-year-old singer/songwriter will be downtown at the House of Blues’ Cambridge Room this Tuesday, February 19, performing songs from her debut MySpace Records album, Don’t Look Away, and more.  Then, on Tuesday, March 25, The Honorary Title will rock the historic Agora Ballroom.  The indie band from Brooklyn has released two solid albums, and is featured on the most recent One Tree Hill compilation CD, The Road Mix.  For the world-renowned Agora, this marks the 40th year since they booked their first national act, The Buckinghams (“Kind of a Drag”), and it continues to be a key Rock & Roll Capital destination for up-and-coming musicians like those heard on so many CW series.  If you missed this episode of One Tree Hill, be sure to catch the encore Sunday evening at 6pm.

The conclusion of a nearly four-month-long Hollywood writers strike has TV fans asking one question:  What does this mean for my favorite shows?  In most cases, the news couldn’t be better, according to trade sources Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, TV Guide, Mediaweek and E! Online.  Let’s start with the dramas: Smallville has four new episodes finished (including tonight’s), and will now produce five more this season.  Supernatural will air its remaining two new eps this month, and add another five or six for spring.  One Tree Hill will stockpile six more hours to the six already completed.  Reaper still has three new shows ready, with five or six more ordered—and you can expect the rookie dramedy to delve much deeper into the “deal” mythology when it returns.  Breakout freshman hit Gossip Girl has aired everything produced, but will quickly resume work on up to a half-dozen more stories.  Variety reports that the Upper East Siders may even get an early Season Two launch this summer, following the successful pattern of The O.C.  Life is Wild has ceased production at this time.  On the comedy front: The Game received a solid vote of confidence, with a pickup of eight or nine more episodes—to go with its four remaining new shows.  Everybody Hates Chris (12) and Aliens in America (eight) have enough new laughs in the can, so they won’t produce any more for this season; and Girlfriends, currently the longest-running network comedy, will bid adieu after eight years with a likely one-hour retrospective now in discussion.

Nearly 20,000 readers responded to a survey in this month’s issue of Portrait magazine which asked about our favorite couples on current TV shows—whether the romantics are “together” or not. Fans left little doubt as to which series they’re most passionate about: One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl and Smallville. Those three dramas alone account for nine of the top 11 slots on the publication’s 2nd annual list. Click here to see the reasoning behind each choice, as well as each couple’s best on-screen moment. Here are the top results:

Crowned narrowed its field to the Final Four teams, heading into Wednesday’s unpredictable season finale. As usual, outspoken redhead Laura was front and center, fake-crying that she didn’t want to show “like, any stupidity whatsoever.” (Someone hide the first six episodes from her, please.) Last night’s challenge was the dreaded personal interview, and Laura and Patty were only too happy to finger the team they thought should be sent home: The Dream Gals. Ha! Didn’t happen. Ada and Christan’s replies were even more insipid and had their sashes snipped amid further fake tears. So—big finale in a few days, with a live studio audience and soap star Jack Wagner hosting. In the meantime, you can catch up with the latest Crowned Sock Puppet Theatre parody by clicking here. One night earlier, we were unnerved by several occurrences in One Tree Hill. First, Brooke has no business savvy whatsoever? Apparently she’s nothing more than the face of the company, while Mommie Dearest pulls the strings. Even I had the good sense to wonder how little Tree Hill was going to support a high-end fashion store. Mommie hates Brooke’s friends, calling Lucas an “ill-advised love-interest” and Peyton a “parasitic friend who couldn’t cut it in LA.” Elsewhere, most people have to wonder if Quentin will ever shed his cocky persona. And since Haley found her son’s drawing of himself and nanny Carrie—just before the credits flashed—we have to assume something sinister is brewing there. Only one other city in the entire country had a higher rating than WBNX for this episode. Cleveland clearly loves One Tree Hill’s new format, which hits “rewind” this coming week for some answers we’ve been waiting for.

January is the month when we’re bombarded with entertainment awards too numerous to mention. Often, they go to the same cast of characters—whichever show Hollywood deems hot and trendy at the moment. For a more accurate reflection of what viewers are passionate about, however, the recent E!Online poll is worth noting. It asked website visitors which series they’d like to see more coverage on, and two CW dramas swept up nearly 60% of the votes. Supernatural (29%) and One Tree Hill (28%) dominated to such an extent, they were eventually removed from the ballot to give other shows a fighting chance. Not just here in Cleveland, but across the nation, those serials have a loyal, vocal fanbase. Nominations were also announced for the 39th annual NAACP Image Awards, and, as usual, The CW leads the pack with 18 nods, more than all four of the other networks combined. Girlfriends and Everybody Hates Chris picked up seven apiece in comedy categories, and America’s Next Top Model is also vying for the Outstanding Reality Series title. Finally, TV Guide polled its readers to find the “Most Heartwarming Series” of all-time, and Gilmore Girls topped the list. It was “can’t miss” viewing for me, for sure, but was it more heartwarming than, say, Little House on the Prairie, which nearly always left an embarrassing lump in the throat? Your thoughts?

After spending three hours with the futuristic One Tree Hill folks, we can better evaluate the premise of skipping the drama ahead 4-1/2 years. Overall, I like it a lot, for the simple reason that characters we’ve watched throughout turbulent high school years are now finding out what it’s like to cope in the real world. That is, if your “real world” includes 22-year-old self-made millionaires. Here, then, are ten observations leading into Tuesday’s fourth episode:

1. Victoria is Brooke’s mother?! Maybe I’m just dense, but that revelation caught me off-guard. It certainly adds a new dimension to the overbearing fashion assistant. Can’t wait to find out how she came back into her daughter’s life. Smelled moolah, I’m guessing.
2. Haley and Nathan’s little boy, Jamie, is the most adorable child actor I’ve ever seen. On most shows, when the kids get screen time, I’m running to the fridge. But this guy steals every scene he’s in, both with his looks and amazing delivery.
3. Dear Peyton, if you think K-Fed’s band sounded worthy of a record deal, you need to pursue a different line of work. Bring on Kate Voegele. Quick.
4. Who else thinks the gorgeous babysitter, Carrie, has something twisted up her sleeve?
5. Nate needs to visit Felicity’s hairdresser asap. He doesn’t pull off the grunge look well.
6. Student-athletes like Quentin are why teachers take early retirement. Acting newcomer Robbie Jones pulls off the arrogant jock role brilliantly.
7. If running wind-sprints suddenly turned Lucas’s team into sizzling foul-shooters, I’m wondering what it might do for the Cavaliers? I hope Luke and his way-too-nice girlfriend, Lindsay, have some interesting stories in the cooker.
8. Brooke’s Clothes Over Bro’s is raking in millions, huh? I really need to design stuff with a catchy name. Maybe Hose Over Toes, eclectic tiny coverings for each little piggy?
9. Where is Deb? Of all the One Tree Hill parents, she’s my favorite—especially when she’s acting a little psycho. As for Dan, confessing to murder has pretty much painted his character into a cell. How ‘bout a prison break?
10. This show is a prime time soap opera, and can never move fast enough or have too many bizarre shockers. I love being left stunned, my mouth agape at the end of every episode. How about you?

Back… to the future.  That’s where the One Tree Hill friends find themselves when the teen soap kicks off Season Five this Tuesday.  Four and a half years will have lapsed since HS graduation, and there are changes aplenty.  While some of the parents will be seen on occasion, including jailed murderer Dan Scott, the focus will be on Raven alums’ shattered dreams, career struggles and an expanding post-college circle of friends.  Fortunately, you can meet ten fresh characters by watching the short “New Faces” preview on our One Tree Hill showpage.  Sounds like 6-year-old Jackson Brundage, who plays Nathan and Haley’s son, is a real find.  Maybe you’d prefer meeting the cast in-person?  Well, get your sales pitch ready, ‘cause you could win a walk-on role by uploading a one-minute video here, or by entering at the nearest Casting Call—which happens to be in Columbus, OH on Sat., Jan. 19 at the Easton Town Center Macy’s.  Lucas might quote novelist Thomas Wolfe, who once wrote: “You can’t go home again.”  But this strike-shortened season will offer us 12 episodes to see whether he, Brooke and Peyton can indeed find happiness in their small seaside hamlet.  Series creator Mark Schwahn sees this time-leap forward as a unique chance to “restart” his show from a completely new perspective.  It’s a groundbreaking television experiment we can’t wait for.