News

“Days of our Lives” alum True O’Brien is set to star in “Recipe for Romance,” one of six original primetime movies slated to premiere later this fall on The CW, inspired by beloved and bestselling Harlequin novels.

In the movie, would-be enemies turn into heartwarming lovers in the story of two warring businesses in Little Manila. Sari (O’Brien) is given the long overdue opportunity to prove herself when her parents head for vacation, placing the family’s coffee shop in her hands. Sari’s big plans are derailed when a bakery run by the annoyingly handsome and charming Gabe opens right next door. This launches a prank war to end all prank wars, bringing Sari and Gabe together in a story of love, family, community, and irresistibly delicious pastries. In the week leading up to the big Little Manila Festival, the two competitors clash, kiss, and make up as...

The CW is turning up the romantic heat with a slate of six original primetime movies premiering later this fall, based on beloved and bestselling Harlequin novels. Presented by CW Originals, Centinel Media, and Bell Media, developed in association with Fremantle, and produced by Neshama Entertainment, these heartwarming romances feature fan-favorite stars from hit CW series.

Kicking off the lineup in cinematic style, The CW has teamed up with Fathom Entertainment, the leading specialty distributor of content to theatrical partners worldwide, to premiere the first of these movies, Montana Mavericks, in select theaters nationwide on August 26-27, giving fans an early, big-screen experience before the film’s television debut.

Montana Mavericks

“The CW has been building a passionate weekend audience of movie lovers, and this new slate of original films is for romance fans everywhere,” said Heather Olander, Head of Scripted and Unscripted Content.

“These feel-good stories, inspired by hugely successful blockbuster Harlequin novels,...

It's a great day to be a romance lover, because it has recently been announced that the CW will be adapting six Harlequin romance novels into original primetime movies. Harlequin has been a leading publisher of romance novels for decades, and they've shown no signs of slowing down, especially as the genre continues to dominate the book market. Fans of cowboy romance books especially have reason to be excited, as one of the CW's Harlequin adaptations will be of the beloved Montana Mavericks series.

Per Variety, in addition to Montana Mavericks, the other CW Harlequin romance adaptations include: Ordinary Girl in a Tiara, Paws in the City, Recipe for Romance, Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell, and Second Guessing Fate. Prior to its debut on the CW this autumn, the network has partnered with Fathom Entertainment to release Montana Mavericks in select U.S. theaters August 26-27. Montana Mavericks will...

The CW is getting into the primetime movie business with six upcoming films based on Harlequin romance novels.

The network will begin airing the original movies in Fall 2025, but the first one will get a limited theatrical release this summer thanks to Fathom Entertainment.

Montana Mavericks, starring Katherine McNamara, will be released in theaters from August 26-27 ahead of its network debut later in the year. The other five movies will all premiere in primetime.

“The CW has been building a passionate weekend audience of movie lovers, and this new slate of original films is for romance fans everywhere,” CW’s head of scripted and unscripted content Heather Olander said (via Variety). “These feel-good stories, inspired by hugely successful blockbuster Harlequin novels, are the perfect blend of nostalgia and escapism, and thanks to our exciting partnership with Fathom Entertainment, we’re thrilled to bring these films to the big screen...

Fans of the Harlequin books? Lucky for you, The CW is releasing six new original movies all inspired by some of their bestsellers! The new partnership kicks off with Montana Mavericks, starring Walker: Independencestar Katerine McNamara and kicks off in August of this year! The six movies are being presented to audiences by CW Originals, Centinel Media and Bell Media and are, per the press release, "heartwarming romances feature fan-favorite stars from hit CW series including Gossip Girl,Walker: Independence, and The Flash."

Montana Maverick is the start of the lineup and the six films are being released in a "cinematic style." The film will be released in select theaters around country starting on August 26-27. Montana Mavericks will have McNamara starring as Heather, "a New York City girl and a best-selling author on a mission to conquer writer’s block and avoid paying back an advance on her next book.

The CW’s yet-to-be-revealed fall slate will include a half-dozen TV-movies based on “beloved and bestselling Harlequin novels,” it was announced on Tuesday.

Danielle Panabaker (The Flash), Katherine McNamara (Arrow, Walker Independence) and Amber Riley (Glee) are among the movies’ headliners.

More from TVLineNetflix's Perfect Match Adds a Former Bachelor and Bachelorette to Season 3 Cast - See the Full LineupVampire Diaries Boss Julie Plec Still Has Ideas for Another Spinoff: 'All Anybody Has to Do Is Ask'The Pitt Season 2 Adds Sepideh Moafi as New Series Regular Katherine McNamara and Danielle PanabakerCourtesy of Everett Collection

First out of the gate will be Montana Mavericks,...

The CW has ordered six new primetime movies inspired by Harlequin romance novels, with “Walker: Independence” star Katherine McNamara set to star in the first one, “Montana Mavericks.”

In addition to “Montana Mavericks,” the CW has ordered five other movie adaptations for the books, including “Ordinary Girl in a Tiara,” “Paws in the City,” “Recipe for Romance,” “Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell,” and “Second Guessing Fate.” The movies feature stars from beloved CW series, like “Gossip Girl’s” Kathryn Gallagher and “The Flash” actress Danielle Panabaker.

Those five films will air solely on the CW’s primetime lineup this fall, while “Montana Mavericks” gets a theatrical release in August through a partnership with Fathom Entertainment. As part of the deal, “Montana Mavericks” will be released nationwide in select theaters Aug. 26-27, before debuting on the CW this fall.

“The CW has been building a passionate weekend audience of movie lovers,...

The CW has ordered six original primetime movies based on Harlequin romance novels, the first of which will get a theatrical release in August in a partnership with Fathom Entertainment.

Starring “Walker: Independence” actress Katherine McNamara, “Montana Mavericks” will be released nationwide in select theaters Aug. 26-27. The film will then debut on the CW broadcast network this fall, followed by primetime-only airings for the other five movies in the channel’s Harlequin series: “Ordinary Girl in a Tiara,” “Paws in the City,” “Recipe for Romance,” “Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell,” and “Second Guessing Fate.”

Presented by CW Originals, Centinel Media and Bell Media, developed in association with Fremantle and produced by Neshama Entertainment, these films star a curated list of CW vets like McNamara, including actors from “Gossip Girl” and “The Flash.” The six movies will be distributed internationally by Fox Entertainment Global.

The film announcement comes as...

Today, The CW Network announced that it has renewed family game shows Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble for 30-episode second seasons to air in 2026. Fan favorite Emmy Award-winning actor, director, producer, and podcaster, LeVar Burton will return to host and executive produce Trivial Pursuit.

Multiple Grammy-nominated, Peabody, and Emmy Award-winning actor, writer, producer, director, and comedian Craig Ferguson joins Scrabble as the show’s new host. Former Scrabble host Raven-Symoné (That’s So Raven) stays on board the hit game show as an executive producer for Season 2.

Both are series based on the classic board games and are produced by Hasbro Entertainment alongside Lionsgate Alternative Television, with Mattel Television Studios co-producing Scrabble.

“We are excited to continue growing family game night on The CW by bringing a supersized order of 30 new episodes of both Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble to the network next year,” said Heather Olander, Head of Unscripted Programming, The CW Network.

Comedian Craig Ferguson is taking over as host of The CW’s Scrabble, replacing Raven-Symoné, who will remain an executive producer on the recently renewed game show.

Both Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit, hosted by LeVar Burton, have been picked up for 30-episode second seasons to air in 2026 on The CW.

More from TVLineShark Tank Says an Emotional Goodbye to Mark Cuban - Will You Still Watch Without Him?Casting News: Ernie Hudson Joins Boston Blue, Elle Adds Van Der Beek and MoreMichael J. Fox Joins Shrinking Season 3, Marking His First TV Role in 5 Years and Reunion With Bill Lawrence

“We...

The fallout around The CW’s layoffs is starting to emerge.

Deadline understands that scripted boss Liz Wise Lyall and Betsy Slenzak, who is the second in command in terms of unscripted programming, are among those affected.

Earlier today, Deadline revealed that the Nexstar-owned network cut around 35 people, a move that newly installed President Brad Schwartz called “one of the hardest decisions a company can make”.

Wise Lyall was SVP, Scripted Programming, essentially the company’s head of scripted content, overseeing current programming and development including international co-productions (such as its recent ITV co-pro Joan). She has been with The CW for over 14 years, having joined in 2010 from Lifetime. She has worked on series such as Riverdale, The Flash, Arrow and The 100.

She took over both current and development last year.

Slenzak, meanwhile, was VP, Unscripted Programming, having joined from NBCUniversal last year. She reported to Head of...

Hollywood’s top unscripted executives and producers will gather together at Los Angeles’ Skirball Cultural Center on Oct. 29 to attend the first-ever Unscripted Executive Summit.

The one-day event will explore the future of the industry, featuring panels on creative trends, emerging business models and investment strategies, IP and rights retention, international partnerships and co-productions, brand-driven content and more.

It will also include sessions with top buyers, including Netflix Non-Fiction Series and Sports VP Brandon Riegg, ABC Entertainment and Hulu Originals’ Unscripted and Alternative EVP Rob Mills and The CW Network Unscripted Programming head Heather Olander.

The conference is hosted by unscripted production industry trade association Npact and Talent Systems, the software company behind talent and crew discovery platforms Staff Me Up, Cast It Reach, Casting Networks and Spotlight.

“In this time of momentous change in the industry, we’re excited to bring top executives together to explore the strategies and...

The CW Network has announced a new unscripted series, The Wranglers, set to premiere on Thursday, 24 October. The eight-part series will document the personal and professional lives of young staff members working at the Circle Bar Dude Ranch in Montana, providing an insight into the world of these cowboys and cowgirls. Heather Olander, Head […]

The CW Network Announces New Unscripted Series The Wranglers...

Exclusive: The CW is exploring the world of professional cowboys and cowgirls on a Montana dude ranch in an eight-part docuseries.

The network is launching The Wranglers, which comes from 90 Day Fiancé producer Sharp Entertainment. It comes as the Nexstar-owned network moves into a new phase with a raft of new series leading its fall lineup including game shows based on Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble as well as WWE Nxt.

The Wranglers, which launches on October 24 at 9pm, follows the personal and professional lives of young staff members working at the Circle Bar Dude Ranch in Montana.

Owned by no-nonsense second-generation rancher Russell True, the Circle Bar Dude Ranch helps guests experience the real American West. The staff members of the dude ranch work tirelessly to cater to the needs of their demanding clients while also juggling their personal lives and the inherent drama that comes from living and...

The CW’s fall schedule includes a number of new unscripted series such as a game show night on Mondays with Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble as well as the return of Whose Line Is It Anyway?

But there was no room for one of the network’s longest-running hits, Penn & Teller: Fool Us.

Much like in scripted, The CW has a number of decisions to make and the return of the magic competition series is one of them.

The show has run for ten seasons and more than 150 episodes since launching 2011. Its tenth season premiered in October and recently wrapped a 20-episode order.

The CW President of Entertainment Brad Schwartz told Deadline that it has the fourth quarter “locked”. “If there is a new season of Penn & Teller, that’ll be top of 2025,” he said.

“Penn & Teller has obviously been just a crazy consistent performer and we...

The Miss USA pageant is expanding its relationship with The CW, sealing a three-year deal that adds Miss Teen USA to the mix. The network announced Thursday that the 73rd Miss USA Pageant will air live on Sunday, Aug. 4., at 8 p.m. Et on The CW, while Miss Teen USA will also air on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. Et.

This reps the second year in a row that Miss USA aired on The CW. Last year’s telecast was the pageant’s first broadcast airing since 2019, while Miss Teen USA streamed on the CW’s app and website on the same day.

According to The CW, last year’s Miss USA broadcast “ranked as the network’s No. 1 new special of the year and delivered the pageant’s strongest performance of the last three years on television.” When Miss Utah, Noelia Voigt, was crowned Miss USA, viewership peaked at over 1.1 million total viewers.

The CW is adding the Miss USA Pageant to its roster of programming.

The network has signed a three-year deal to broadcast the pageant, beginning with the 73rd annual competition in August. The new agreement comes after The CW aired Miss USA in a one-off deal in 2023, which delivered the biggest audience (811,000 same-day viewers) of any new special on the network last year.

The deal also includes the Miss Teen USA pageant, which will return to television for the first time since 2007. For the past 16 years, Miss Teen USA has only been shown online; last year’s contest streamed on the CW app.

“We are honored to continue our partnership with the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Organization to broadcast these two quality competitions that resonate with legions of fans across the country,” said Heather Olander, head of unscripted programming at The CW. “We look forward to continuing the storied tradition of these pageants,...

The CW is sticking with Miss USA.

The network has struck an exclusive, three-year deal to keep the Miss USA Pageant and the Miss Teen USA Pageant on its schedule.

It comes after the network acquired the rights to the beauty pageant last year. The broadcast ranked as its number new special of the year, per The CW, with viewership peaking at over 1.1M, per Nielsen, for the final moments of the show including the crowning of Miss Utah, Noelia Voigt, as Miss USA.

The 73rd Miss USA Pageant will air live on The CW on Sunday, August 4 after Miss Teen USA airs on Thursday, August 1.

Miss USA has bounced around a number of networks over the years including on NBC, Reelz, Fox and Fyi.

This year’s event will see the age limit for contestants scrapped with women over the age of 29 now eligible to compete after last year it allowed divorced,...

FGirl Island is no more.

The CW has rebranded its FBoy Island spinoff. The network revealed that the show, which is a female take on the raunchy dating format, will be known as Lovers and Liars.

The show will premiere a sneak peek episode at 9 p.m. Monday April 1, following the season premiere of All American, before moving to its regular timeslot of 9 p.m. Thursday on April 11.

The series sees three single men on a tropical island must determine which of the 24 women are there for love or cash in order to win $100,000.

Related: ‘All American: Homecoming’ Season 3 Likely To Debut In Summer On The CW; ‘Superman & Lois’ Final Season Headed To Fall

It comes after the third season of FBoy Island aired in the fall, premiering in October. However, the show — which was originally commissioned and aired by HBO Max before it moved out of unscripted originals — didn...

The CW is officially in the Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit business, closing deals on a pair of game shows based on the classic board games.

Both have been in the works for some time; Deadline reported on Trivial Pursuit being in the works last summer. The CW declined comment Wednesday, but an official announcement is expected shortly.

Both game shows come from Hasbro Entertainment; Lionsgate Alternative Entertainment, which acquired the eOne assets from Hasbro last year; and The CW. Scrabble is also produced by Mattel Television Studios.

There are no hosts attached to either project, but LeVar Burton previously had been attached to the Trivial Pursuit adaptation.

Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit are the latest unscripted orders from The CW’s reality chief Heather Olander, who last year told Deadline she was looking to launch a game show with “some IP along with it.”

Related: When To Expect Return of ‘All American...

Motorsports docuseries 100 Days To Indy will return for a second season at CW. The network has renewed the series from Penske Entertainment for premiere on the network this spring.

The six-part unscripted series takes viewers behind the scenes and onto the track with the Ntt IndyCar Series superstar drivers as they prepare to compete for racing’s greatest prize: the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

“We are thrilled to bring another season of 100 Days To Indy to The CW and continue to grow our portfolio of quality sports programming,” said Heather Olander, Head of Unscripted Programming, The CW Network. “Last season gave fans unprecedented access behind the scenes of IndyCar racing leading up to the biggest race of the year, the Indy 500. We featured Josef Newgarden’s journey to the Brickyard in Indianapolis to become last year’s Indy 500 winner. We look forward to another season riding along with the...

Here is a wrap-up of all the news you need to know from Thursday, September 21, 2023.

CBS is switching up its plans for NCIS: Sydney.

The latest entry in the iconic franchise will now launch Tuesday, November 14, at 8 p.m. Et/Pt.

This is an upgraded time slot because the series was initially set to air on Mondays at 10 p.m. out of NCIS encores.

Now, NCIS encores will air on Tuesdays at 9 p.m., while FBI True will air in the 10 p.m. slot.

"With rising international tensions in the Indo-Pacific, a brilliant and eclectic team of U.S. NCIS agents and the Australian Federal Police (Afp) are grafted into a multinational taskforce to keep naval crimes in check in the most contested patch of ocean on the planet," the official synopsis for the new procedural teases.

The series stars Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey and Todd Lasance...

The CW has ordered ten episodes of “Crime Nation,” an anthology series focused on true-crime and justice. Set to debut in early 2024, “Crime Nation” will delve into real-life mysteries, cold cases and investigations.

Each two-hour episode will include new details and exclusive interviews from ripped-from-the-headlines stories, including the Delphi murders, the Lori Vallow Daybell case, the Gabby Petito murder and the Gilgo Beach murders.

“As the first true crime series in the history of The CW, ‘Crime Nation’ will provide a fresh new spin on the genre, giving viewers a deeper look into a variety of thrilling and compelling cases,” The CW’s head of unscripted programming Heather Olander said in a statement. “The social media conversation around true crime is bigger than ever, and the ‘Crime Nation’ team will explore the relationship between the public narrative and official investigations for each case.”

In addition to incorporating exclusive reporting and expert analysis,...

The CW is pushing further into the unscripted realm with an order for a true crime series.

The network will debut Crime Nation, a 10-episode show from Candle True Stories and executive produced by former ABC News president James Goldston, in early 2024. The series will delve into several recent high-profile cases, including the Delphi murders, the Lori Vallow Daybell case and the Gilgo Beach murders, promising new details on each via a combination of expert analysis, new reporting and previously unaired interviews.

“As the first true crime series in the history of The CW, Crime Nation will provide a fresh new spin on the genre, giving viewers a deeper look into a variety of thrilling and compelling cases,” said Heather Olander, head of unscripted programming at The CW. “The social media conversation around true crime is bigger than ever, and the Crime Nation team will explore the relationship between the...

The CW has given a green light to “Crime Nation,” the network’s first true crime series. The 10-episode justice anthology, set to launch in early 2024, delves into real-life mysteries, cold cases and tense investigations.

Each two-hour episode features a ripped-from-the-headlines crime and uncovers new details, complemented by on-camera interviews with the people at the center of the cases. “Crime Nation” is executive produced by head of Candle True Stories and former ABC News president James Goldston.

“As the first true crime series in the history of The CW, ‘Crime Nation’ will provide a fresh new spin on the genre, giving viewers a deeper look into a variety of thrilling and compelling cases,” Heather Olander, The CW’s head of unscripted programming, said in a statement. “The social media conversation around true crime is bigger than ever, and the ‘Crime Nation’ team will explore the relationship between the public narrative...

The CW is officially moving into true-crime.

The broadcaster has ordered Crime Nation, a 10-part series, from former ABC News president James Goldston.

It comes after Deadline revealed that the Nexstar-owned network was developing its own true-crime strand in the vein of NBC’s Dateline, CBS’ 48 Hours and ABC’s 20/20.

The series, which will premiere in 2024, will follow mysteries, cold cases and investigations. Each episode will be two hours long and will feature ripped-from-the-headlines stories and interviews.

Related: 2023 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming

Cases will include the Delphi murders, the Lori Vallow Daybell case, the Gabby Petito murder and the Gilgo Beach murders.

The series is produced by Candle True Stories, the production arm of Candle Media set up by Goldston. He will exec produce will Steven Baker and Mike Sheridan.

“What’s nice about true crime is it also can be scaled,...

The Miss USA pageant is waltzing its way back to broadcast television this year. The competition’s 72nd edition will air exclusively on the CW on Friday, Sept. 29 starting at 8 p.m. Et/Pt, the first time the show returns to broadcast airwaves since it aired its 2016 edition on Fox. Before that, the show aired on NBC from 1996 to 2015.

The network will also showcase the Miss Teen USA pageant, making it available to stream on The CW App and cwtv.com on the same day as the telecast.

“The Miss USA Pageant and Miss Teen USA Pageants are time-honored traditions. We are thrilled to be collaborating with Laylah Rose and Renato Basile for what is sure to be a night of exciting entertainment,” Heather Olander, the CW’s head of unscripted programming, said in a statement.

“I am incredibly excited about the collaboration with The CW for the broadcast of the...

The 72nd Miss USA Pageant will air live on the CW on Sept. 29. This will be the pageant’s first broadcast airing since 2019.

Additionally, Miss Teen USA will stream on the CW’s app and website on the same day. Hosts and judges for both pageants are yet to be announced.

Both Miss USA and Miss Teen USA will take place at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nev. Titleholders from each state will compete for the national titles, which will be crowned by Miss USA 2022 Morgan Romano of North Carolina and Miss Teen USA 2022 Faron Medhi of Nebraska, respectively. 2023’s Miss USA titleholder will go on to represent the U.S. at the Miss Universe 2023 competition later this year.

“The Miss USA Pageant and Miss Teen USA Pageants are time-honored traditions,” said Heather Olander, head of unscripted programming at the CW. “We are thrilled to be collaborating with Laylah Rose...

The CW is taking on some pageantry: it is becoming the exclusive home of Miss USA.

The 72nd annual Miss USA competition will air live on Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. Et. In addition, Miss Teen USA will be available to stream on the CW app and cwtv.com on Friday.

This is the first time the pageant has aired on a broadcast TV network in nearly a decade.

“I am incredibly excited about the collaboration with The CW for the broadcast of the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants. We are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to present viewers with a modern and progressive approach to a 70-year-old tradition, and we’re looking forward to the moment when this year’s deserving champions are crowned,” expressed Laylah Rose, President/CEO of the Miss USA & Teen USA Organization.

“The Miss USA Pageant and Miss Teen USA pageants are time honored traditions,” said the CW’s Heather Olander,...

The CW is closing on a deal to turn Trivial Pursuit into a gameshow hosted by LeVar Burton.

It comes nearly two years after Burton signed up to host the adaptation following his guest stint hosting Jeopardy!.

Burton was one of the popular Jeopardy! guest hosts but didn’t land the job full time. Afterwards, he told The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah that he was looking for the “right” game show to host.

He will also exec produce the series, which comes from eOne through his LeVar Burton Entertainment banner. The CW insiders cautioned that the deal was not done yet.

It is the latest version of Trivial Pursuit to head to the screen; Freeform precursor The Family Channel ran a series hosted by Wink Martindale in 1993/94 that was loosely based on the game, while a syndicated version, Trivial Pursuit: America Plays ran in 2008/09.

The IP is owned by Hasbro,...

Exclusive: It’s a tough time to be a mid-sized unscripted production company right now.

A slow-down of greenlights amid cost cutting within all of the major media conglomerates, and seemingly no bump from the writers and actors strike despite what many were expecting, has led to doom and gloom across the non-scripted sector.

This has led to many companies having to undergo layoffs. Deadline understands that companies including Bunim/Murray, Half-Yard Productions and Propagate Content have all cut staff recently and more are expected to follow suit. ITV America-backed High Noon Entertainment informed its local production staff in Denver that due to production cycles, the number of workers contracted when shows weren’t in production would be reduced. We hear Hot Snakes Media is in a similar situation.

“It’s the toughest time to be in unscripted that I can remember,” one unscripted producer told Deadline.

Another source...

The CW and the Roku Channel have teamed up to announce their collaboration on “Fight to Survive,” an eight-episode survivalist competition.

Hosted by “American Ninja Warrior” alum Akbar Gbajabiamila, the social experiment pits 17 competitors— including former “Survivor,” “Alone,” “Naked and Afraid” and “American Ninja Warrior” contestants —against each other in an attempt to survive 25 days on a remote tropical island while facing brutal conditions to win $250,000. In one of the most intense survival of the fittest competitions ever televised, the competitors battle one another for essential tools and resources in the fight to survive. The first season cast includes Yuda Abitbol, Nathaniel Allenby, Amal Alyassiri,(“Naked and Afraid” Season 9), Dani Beau, Missy Byrd (“Survivor” Season 39), Robby Canton, Matthew Clarke, Sarah Danser, Afften DeShazer (“Naked and Afraid” Season 4), Stephanie Gonzalez (“Survivor” Season 36), Keali’i “K” Ka’apana (“Called to the Wild”), Zane Kraetsch (“Alone: The Beast”), Christina McQueen,, Jonathan Monroe (“Naked and Afraid” Season 7), Makani Nalu,...

The CW Network has teamed with Roku on Fight to Survive, the previously announced reality series hosted by American Ninja Warrior’s Akbar Gbajabiamila.

Fight to Survive is one of three new series ordered by Roku in January slated to launch this year.

The eight-episode survivalist competition series will premiere Thursday, August 10 at 8 Pm on The CW. All episodes will then be available to stream on Roku Channel and The CW App on September 29, the day after the broadcast finale.

“By bringing together the best of The CW and the best of Roku Channel, Fight to Survive will be able to reach the largest audience possible across both broadcast and streaming,” said Brad Schwartz, President of Entertainment, The CW Network, and Brian Tannenbaum, Head of Originals, Roku. “By working together in all aspects of distribution, marketing, press and advertising, we will expose this edge-of-your-seat series to millions of fans in brand new ways.

The CW and Roku are moving ahead with a first-of-its-kind collaboration with the survivalist competition series “Fight to Survive.”

The series will follow 17 contestants, which include former “Survivor,” “Alone,” “Naked and Afraid” and “American Ninja Warrior” stars, as they try to survive 25 days on a remote tropical island. The grand prize winner will take home $250,000. The eight-episode series will be hosted by former football player Akbar Gbaja-Biamila.

“By bringing together the best of The CW and the best of The Roku Channel, ‘Fight to Survive’ will be able to reach the largest audience possible across both broadcast and streaming,” The CW’s president of entertainment Brad Schwartz said along with Roku head of originals Brian Tannenbaum. “By working together in all aspects of distribution, marketing, press and advertising, we will expose this edge-of-your-seat series to millions of fans in brand new ways.”

“With its dynamic cast of reality personalities and...

Katie Thurston is switching up her dating game.

The Bachelor/Bachelorette star has officially joined the cast of The CW's FBoy Island Season 3.

Thurston's reality TV journey began as one of the contestants on The Bachelor Season 25, aka Matt James' historic season.

After standing up to the bullying inside the mansion, Thurston became a fan-favorite on the ABC dating series.

After striking a chord with viewers, Thurston headlined The Bachelorette Season 17.

Ultimately, she chose Blake Boynes, but their relationship hit a snag months after the August 2021 season finale.

It was then revealed that Thurston was dating John Hersey, but they broke up last summer.

"This decision was not made lightly, and it was obviously not an easy one to make," John said in an Instagram Story statement at the time.

"I appreciate every one of you that has supported us throughout this journey. We could not (and would not) be here without you.

Heather Olander knew she would be taking on a challenge when she joined The CW as its first Head of Unscripted Programming.

Former NBCUniversal exec Olander, who previously oversaw shows such as Temptation Island and The Biggest Loser at USA Network, joined the broadcast network in January after Nexstar acquired it and following the hire of Brad Schwartz as President of Entertainment.

“If you take the idea of a broadcast network and completely transform it into something brand new, that’s massive,” she told Deadline.

Heather Olander

The CW was moving to a new model; out were the majority of its youth-skewing scripted dramas and in were lower-cost co-productions and a healthy dose of unscripted television – Olander says around 50% of the schedule will be unscripted.

She admitted there were “red flags all around” but that was one of the reasons that she took on the challenge, comparing it to moving...

The CW, which is under new ownership following Nexstar’s acquisition last year, is developing its own true-crime strand.

Heather Olander, Head of Unscripted Programming at the CW, told Deadline during an hourlong keynote panel at Realscreen West on Tuesday that the network is currently working on its own version of NBC’s Dateline, CBS’ 48 Hours and ABC’s 20/20.

“What’s nice about true crime is it also can be scaled, you can do a lot of episodes, and it’s very efficient,” she said.

“Broadcast does crime under banners, mostly in conjunction with their news groups, there’s 20/20, Dateline and 48 Hours. We are working out what is our overall brand in which we can insert all sorts of different crime stories,” she added.

Olander, who joined the network in January, said that putting various true-crime stories under one strand gives it efficiencies, so it can...

In 2000, when Upn landed The Hughleys from ABC as well as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Roswell from The WB Network, industry insiders dubbed it the “Used Parts Network.” Flash forward two decades and The CW’s roster of homegrown scripted originals has tumbled from 18 in the 2021-22 broadcast season to only two shows, with three remaining on the bubble at press time.

The writing has been on the wall for what has become of The CW — whose current name represents its former owners, CBS Studios and Warner Bros. TV. But what is The CW’s brand under station group Nexstar, which has vowed to make the formerly younger-skewing network profitable by 2025? With CBS Studios and Warners now owning a mere 12.5 percent of the network each and Nexstar’s new focus on low-cost acquisitions and unscripted fare, The CW’s brand now may best be described as “Castoffs Wanted” or even “Curated Wreckage.

Nikki Glaser, Cj Franco, Sarah Emig, and Nakia Renee in ‘FBoy Island’ season 1 (Photograph by Julie Corsetti/HBO Max)

HBO Max chose not to renew the reality dating series FBoy Island after two seasons. However, the show’s been rescued by The CW and will return for season three this fall.

Series host Nikki Glaser predicted the series’ return in a December 2022 interview with Entertainment Weekly.

“It was a huge success; season 2 more than season 1. And we can’t wait to make another, but we have no word yet,” stated Glaser. “But I’m really confident that there will be more. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life when it comes to a show being picked up again. And I’ve had many of my TV shows canceled and not return, but I have no worries that this one will either be back on HBO or find a place somewhere else,...

“Fboy Island” has a new life and a new home.

The reality TV dating series, hosted by Nikki Glaser, has been picked up for a third season by The CW after being canceled on HBO Max. The third installment of the series is set to air on The CW this fall.

In addition to the season order, the network also has plans for a spin-off titled “Fgirl Island” where the gender roles are reversed. Glaser is slated to host the spin-off series that will begin back-to-back production this summer as “Fgirl Island” eyes a midseason debut.

Also Read:

‘FBoy Island’ Creator Elan Gale Dissects the Anatomy of a Great Reality Dating Show

“With its innovative and modern twist on the reality dating genre, incredibly talented host Nikki Glaser, and truly unforgettable title, ‘Fboy Island’ on The CW is a perfect match,” The CW head of unscripted programming Heather Olander said in a statement.

The CW's foray into unscripted programming during the 2023-24 season is coming into focus.

As teased last month, the network has officially picked up FBoy Island for a third season, months after its HBO Max cancellation.

Additionally, a spinoff titled FGirl Island has been ordered for midseason.

Host Nikki Glaser will return for The CW's iteration of the franchise.

"With its innovative and modern twist on the reality dating genre, incredibly talented host Nikki Glaser, and truly unforgettable title, 'Fboy Island' on The CW is a perfect match," said The CW's unscripted boss, Heather Olander.

"Along with our partners at STXtelevision, we look forward to growing the franchise on The CW with the gender-flipping spinoff 'Fgirl Island' and cannot wait to introduce the next generation of FBoys and FGirls to existing fans as well as a new broadcast audience."

"I'm so damn excited that my favorite reality TV show is coming back,...

FBoy Island is moving locations.

The reality dating competition series has been picked up for a third season by The CW after its cancellation at Max with returning host Nikki Glaser.

The franchise also announces the new spinoff series FGirl Island, also hosted by Glaser — a seed that had been planted by creator Elan Gale when he launched the series (more on that below).

Both unscripted series go into production back-to-back this summer, with FBoy airing in the fall of 2023 and FGirl slated for a midseason debut.

“With its innovative and modern twist on the reality dating genre, incredibly talented host Nikki Glaser, and truly unforgettable title, FBoy Island on The CW is a perfect match,” said Heather Olander, head of unscripted programming at The CW Network, in a statement. “Along with our partners at STXtelevision, we look forward to growing the franchise on The CW with the gender-flipping spinoff...

The CW has confirmed that it is going on a date with FBoy Island and its female spinoff FGirl Island.

Deadline revealed in March that the network had picked up the two shows as new unscripted boss Heather Olander’s first major buys since joining earlier this year.

Nikki Glaser remains as host and exec producer of FBoy Island, which previously ran for two seasons on HBO Max. It will air as part of its fall lineup.

FGirl Island, which will also be hosted by Glaser, will have a midseason launch.

Both series will go into production back-to-back this summer from STXtelevision. The series were created by Elan Gale who is executive producing for TheYearOfElan Productions alongside Jason Goldberg for STXtelevision, Nikki Glaser, Noah Fogelson and Bob Simonds.

Related: 2023 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming

FBoy Island, which was one of HBO Max’s most-watched original non-scripted shows,...

The CW has always had a thing or two for an international acquisition, and it seems that this strategy is continuing under new ownership.

The network has acquired British supernatural drama series The Rising and Australian surfer drama Barons for its summer lineup. Both series will debut on Monday, May 29, with The Rising airing at 8 p.m. and Barons at 9.

It comes after Nexstar acquired the network and brought in Brad Schwartz to oversee programming. Deadline has revealed that the network will lean further into unscripted programming, with the hire of Heather Olander and the recent pickup of FBoy Island, and it seems global drama is also on the cards as it trims its original scripted budget.

The Rising comes from Sky in the UK, as Deadline revealed back in 2019, and is a remake of Belgian supernatural crime thriller Hotel Beau Séjour.

It tells the story of Neve Kelly (Clara Rugaard...

Exclusive: The CW is continuing its push into unscripted.

The network has hired former NBCUniversal exec Betsy Slenzak as VP, Unscripted Programming. She reports to Head of Unscripted Programming Heather Olander and will develop and run current production on alternative reality series, events and specials for the network.

Slenzak was previously VP, Entertainment Unscripted Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, where she worked across reality competition, talent competition and game show formats for networks NBC, Bravo, E! and USA Network and streamer Peacock.

Her slate included series including NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, Peacock’s Love Island, The Traitors and Frogger.

The move follows the departure of Cyle Zezo, who was VP and Head of Alternative and Digital Programming, who Deadline revealed was leaving after nine years and was planning a move into production.

Olander joined earlier this year and has already been busy outlining the Nexstar-owned network’s unscripted strategy to producers,...

Exclusive: Cyle Zezo, who oversaw alternative programming at The CW, is leaving the broadcaster.

Zezo, who was VP, and Head of Alternative and Digital Programming, is leaving after having spent nine years at the network.

His departure was somewhat expected after former NBCUniversal exec Heather Olander was hired to head up the CW’s push into non-scripted programming. Zezo is expected to move into production.

“Cyle is following his passion to be a producer,” a spokeswoman for The CW told Deadline. “He will continue to executive produce many unscripted shows for The CW and we look forward to continuing to work with him.”

Before The CW was acquired by Nexstar and brought in former Pop TV chief Brad Schwartz as President of Entertainment, Zezo worked closely with Gaye Hirsch, who was EVP Development and left as part of a round of layoffs in February.

Before the Nexstar acquisition, Zezo oversaw...

Exclusive: FBoy Island, the breakout HBO Max reality format, is getting another date.

Deadline understands that The CW is lining up a third season of the STX-produced show after beating out a number of other bidders.

Interestingly, the network, which was recently acquired by Nexstar, is also set to pick up a spinoff – FGirl Island.

STX has been shopping the project for the last few months and we hear that The CW has won out, although sources warned that there’s no ink on the deal yet.

It is a major statement of intent from the broadcaster, which last month hired Heather Olander to head up its drive into more alternative series. We hear that Olander has been busy meeting producers as she begins her buying spree, one that comes as unscripted programming could make up around 50% of its schedule with a mix of high-profile, big-budget projects like FBoy Island...

The CW has a new business affairs boss.

The network has hired former Masterclass, Quibi and Fox exec Tom Martin as Head of Business Affairs and General Counsel.

The hire is the latest at The CW, which recently brought in Brad Schwartz as President of Entertainment, Heather Olander as unscripted boss and Chris Spadaccini as Chief Marketing Officer, following its purchase by Nexstar.

Martin has experience structuring and negotiating business models and deals for scripted, unscripted and documentary programming for broadcast television, cable television and streaming platforms, which will be useful given The CW’s new focus.

Martin most recently served as the Head of Business Affairs at educational platform MasterClass. Before that, Martin was the BA Lead for Quibi, where he worked to create the business model and deal structure for Jeffrey Katzenberg’s short-form streaming platform. Prior to Quibi, Martin served as the SVP, Business Affairs at Fox Broadcasting Company,...

Chris Spadaccini has been tapped as chief marketing officer for The CW Network, where he will oversee the network’s broadcast and digital marketing divisions.

“It is very rare that any company gets to add someone of Chris Spadaccini’s stature to its team,” Brad Schwartz, president of entertainment for The CW, said in a statement. “When it comes to marketers who have built and defined legendary brands for decades and created passionate emotional attachment between content and audiences, Chris is a true pioneer and the best in the business. As the broadcast and digital landscape changes at a rapid pace, we are building a dream team with the excitement and experience needed to drive The CW forward. I just wish he could have brought ‘The White Lotus’ with him.”

Also Read:

The CW Names Heather Olander as Head of Unscripted

An award-winning marketing veteran with more than two decades of experience building media,...

In what appears to be a new wave of layoffs, several senior scripted executives have left the broadcast network, including Gaye Hirsch, EVP, Development, who is departing after more than 15 years, and fellow CW veteran and head of department, Michael Roberts, who had been at the network (and its predecessor the WB) for 21 years, sources tell deadline.

Also said to be leaving alongside Hirsch and Roberts are Ellen Rand, SVP of Current Programming and Steve Tao, VP, Current Programming, I hear. The full extent of layoffs is unclear. Reps for the CW did not return calls and emails seeking comment.

The high-profile departures come three months after new CW owner, Nexstar, named former Pop TV topper Brad Schwartz as President of Entertainment.

In his first major executive move, he just hired former NBCUniversal executive Heather Olander as Head of Unscripted, an area that will have a big presence on the network in its new incarnation,...