After months of cuts at the network, one key The CW executive is sharing insight on why only four shows have survived the ongoing cancellations. After originally being owned by CBS Corporation and Warner Bros./WarnerMedia, The CW was acquired by Nexstar in late 2022 while Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery only retained 12.5 percent ownership stakes. This acquisition has led to widespread cuts at the network, including the cancellations of Batwoman, Charmed, Dynasty, Legacies and The Winchesters, among many others.

Following the recent confirmations of certain shows' fates, TheWrap spoke with The CW's President of Entertainment Brad Schwartz to discuss the various cuts. The network exec explained why only four shows have ultimately come out above the rest in getting futures and planned series finales, citing their streaming numbers as being promising enough to keep the shows going, as well as their deals co-producing them with other studios making them financially viable. See what Schwartz explained below:

‘Homecoming’ and ‘All American’ specifically are a large percentage of our streaming. Those shows are monsters. It was very easy to focus on those four as our biggest shows and best performers. And then it was also easier to have conversations with CBS and Warner about ‘How can we make these shows work for everybody?’ because there was a successful track record. CBS and Warner Bros. know what they make on them internationally, know what they make from their Netflix and HBO sales. We know how they do for us. They can project what a library of 60 or 70 episodes is going to make for them forever. You can put all the math together and be like, ‘Is there a path for us as partners?' For those four shows? We made it happen.

What Shows Have Survived The CW's Cuts & Their Potential Futures

At the time of writing, the only four shows to hae survived the ongoing cuts at The CW have been that of Superman & Lois, All-American, its spinoff All-American: Homecoming and the Jared Padalecki-led Walker reboot. The sole DC TV show after the Arrowverse's conclusion and action crime drama have earned season 4 renewals while the sports drama will be returning for season 6 and its spinoff for season 3. A major caveat of these renewals have been massive cast cuts and shorter episode orders.

Though the network cuts may have initially been the explanation for the latter change to the shows, the ongoing Writer's Guild of America strike is sure to be a further impediment for The CW's remaining titles. The CW did move forward with scheduling its 2023-24 broadcast season, though a further roadblock facing this schedule is the potential SAG-AFTRA strike in the works. Should the acting guild begin picketing their productions following the July 12 negotiation deadline, the four remaining shows may have a harder time making their way back to screens.

While an elongated production cycle and release delay could be a negative factor for The CW's remaining shows, it could also be a blessing in disguise for their futures. Considering Superman & Lois season 3 ended on a major cliffhanger of the fight between the Man of Steel and Doomsday, that conclusion alone is one that audiences are sure to be willing to wait for, let alone the continuations of All-American, All-American: Homecoming and Walker.

Source: TheWrap