When a new show gets on the air, the network usually orders thirteen episodes and if the show performs, they’ll order what’s called “the back nine.”  If you get the order, it means everyone is happy and you have a good chance at landing another season.  So if you’re a fan of The CW Network’s Hellcats, Nikita, and One Tree Hill, you’ll be happy to learn the network has given the back nine order to all three shows.  Dawn Ostroff, President, Entertainment, The CW released this statement:

“This fall, The CW made several strategic scheduling moves, including adding two of the most buzzed-about new series, ‘Hellcats’ and ‘Nikita,’ to our line-up, and we’re thrilled that they’ve paid off for us.  By giving our two freshman series and proven performer ‘One Tree Hill’ full orders, we’ll be able to continue our success and momentum throughout the rest of the season.”

Hit the jump for more:

As the executive producer of The CW’s new drama Nikita, Craig Silverstein wanted to make a female action show, but knew that if he was going to tell the story of Nikita (Maggie Q), it would have to be different from what fans already knew. Instead of doing a rehash, he decided to pick up where the origin story left off and show what has happened to the character after having been in hiding for three years, allowing him to surround the familiar figure with a new, fresh cast.

During an interview to promote the action series, Craig Silverstein talked about how this new Nikita story came to be, what makes the story so compelling and the importance of always surprising an audience. Check out what he had to say after the jump:

In The CW’s new drama Nikita, actress Lyndsy Fonseca stars as Alex, a young woman with a troubled past, who is now leading a double life. Division’s newest recruit, she is a beautiful girl with a violent history and a story that is very similar to Nikita.

During a recent interview to promote the new action series, Lyndsy Fonseca talked about being put through the auditioning ringer for the role, how being a dancer has helped her with the physical side of her role and that the series won’t stop having twists and surprises. Check out what she had to say after the jump:

As a deeply troubled teenager, Nikita (Maggie Q) was rescued from death row by a secret U.S. agency known as Division. Fooled into believing that she was being given a second chance to start a new life and serve her country, she quickly learned that she was instead being trained as a spy and assassin. After being betrayed by the only people she thought she could trust, she did the impossible by escaping, in order to seek retribution and destroy their covert operations.

During an interview to promote the CW’s Nikita, show star Maggie Q talked about taking on the legendary character, her love of action roles and vowed never to wear that red bikini in the pilot episode again. Check out what she had to say after the jump:

At the Television Critics Association Press Tour on Thursday afternoon, Dawn Ostroff, President of Entertainment for The CW Television Network, took some time to talk to the press about the network’s upcoming programming and how it will fit in with it’s current slate of shows.

Last season, The CW premiered The Vampire Diaries, which went on to become the network’s #1 series. This season, the hit vampire drama will be paired with Nikita (which stars Maggie Q)m, in an attempt to bring both shows a wider audience. The other new Fall series, Hellcats, from executive producer Tom Welling and starring Ashley Tisdale and Alyson Michalka, will be paired with Tyra Bank’s reality series America’s Next Top Model.

Along with explaining their Internet marketing campaign, Dawn Ostroff also gave some hints as to what fans can expect from the upcoming seasons of The Vampire Diaries and Supernatural, which has a new show-runner this year, as well as the last season of Smallville. Check out what she had to say after the jump:

At last night’s party for Jerry Weintraub’s new book, “When I Stop Talking You’ll Know I’m Dead”, hollywoodlife caught up with Tom Welling and he told them Smallville is definitely ending next season.  He said, “Season 10 of Smallville will be the last season.”  While many thought this would be the final season of Smallville as The CW moved the show to Friday night’s to die, the show managed to get decent ratings.

While I’m sure some fans will be sad to see the show finally end, there is a silver lining.  By going into the season knowing this is the series finale, the writers can arc out the season before they start filming the first episode and that means they can hopefully wrap up all the loose storylines and give Clark Kent a fitting send off.

I know as a fan of the show, I want to see him finally wear the suit and fly off into the horizon on that final episode.  I think if they do that, a lot of people will be very happy.

The CW Network has announced Smallville has been renewed for a tenth season.  While most assumed the move to Friday night’s would finally put the nail in the coffin, the show is #1 in its time period among men 18-34 and men 18-49.  Also, Smallville has dramatically improved The CW’s ratings in its Friday 8:00-9:00p.m.time period by 67% among adults 18-34 (1.5/6), 200% in men 18-34 (1.8/7), 75% in adults 18-49 (1.4/5), 183% in men 18-49 (1.7/6) and 74% in total viewers (3.12million).

While most networks continue to hemorrhage viewers on Friday nights, The CW has found a show that has people tuning in.  It’s no surprise Smallville is coming back.  The big question is…will this be the final season?  While I would like to say yes, with these ratings, the show might still have a few years left in it.  Who knew.

What’s so unexpected about the new CW show Life Unexpected? That’s it’s actually quite good. And yes, really.

The show, which premieres Monday night at 9 p.m., stars a trio of relative unknowns in the principle roles. Shiri Appleby, perhaps best known as the colorfully named “Jailbait” in Charlie Wilson’s War, plays Portland radio DJ Cate Cassidy. Kristoffer Polaha, who played Carlton Hanson on Mad Men and perhaps will again, stars as Nate “Baze” Bazile, a slacker who owns a struggling bar thanks to the support of his father. And Brittany Robertson is Lux, who turns both of their lives upside down when she shows up on the eve of her 16th birthday after – unbeknownst to them though she was conceived in a one-night stand they had in high school – spending all her life in a variety of foster homes. Also in the mix is Kerr Smith, who viewers may remember as “the gay guy” on Dawson’s Creek and here plays Cate’s fiance and fellow talk radio DJ.

Sound heavier than your average CW show? It certainly is, but hit the jump to find out why it’s a whole lot better too.

The CW Network has announced their midseason schedule.  New episodes start January 18 with One Tree Hill and the series premiere of Life Unexpected.  The Vampire Dairies and Supernatural return the 21^st and Smallville returns Friday the 22^nd.  Finally, Gossip Girl returns Monday, March 8 and 90210/Melrose Place on March 9.  For a full listing of all the shows and the CW’s plans, hit the jump:

The CW Network has announced their fall premiere dates and it’s the status quo – meaning September. The only interesting surprise is “Gossip Girl” and “One Tree Hill” are switching time slots Monday nights. Now the rich kids of New York will be screwing each other at 9pm.

But if you’re looking forward to reliving the 90′s, you’ll get to see “90210″ and “Melrose Place” on September 8^th.

If you watch The CW Network, the full schedule is after the jump:

The CW Network has unveiled their fall line-up and it’s after the jump. The big news is “Smallville” will be jumping to Friday night’s at 8pm and that can only mean one thing – it’s the final season. No show survives on a Friday night. It’s like the network is buying a gravesite and telling the fans it’s over.

But no one thought “Smallville” would make it to it’s 9^th birthday…so what do I know.

The other news is “Melrose Place” is coming back and it’s going to air on Tuesday’s with “90210″. That can only mean one thing – grunge rock is coming back as it’s 1992 all over again.

Finally, no network is complete without a vampire show, so The CW is launching “The Vampire Diaries” on Thursday’s to go along with “Supernatural”. I just read the synopsis and it reads a lot like “Twilight”. I can’t imagine what fans the network is going for with this show.

Whatever. The schedule is after the jump so take a look: