Life is about to get very unexpected for fans of the CW's Monday lineup in 2010 with a daring and original new scheduling approach that will squeeze three shows into two time slots.  One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl and the new drama Life Unexpected will all air Monday nights in 2010, ensuring no repeats.

The new schedule is a bit complicated, so fans may want to start marking their calendars.   Starting January 18, One Tree Hill will return with new episodes at 8pm while the fantastic new series Life Unexpected (starring Dawson's Creek star Kerr Smith and Roswell's Shiri Appleby) will premiere at 9pm.  That duo will run for seven weeks, and then starting March 8, Life Unexpected will move to 8pm and Gossip Girl will return at 9pm.

That new pair will run for six weeks, finishing out Life Unexpected's 13-episode season, and on April 19 the schedule will return to its current lineup with One Tree Hill at 8pm and Gossip Girl at 9pm.

In many ways, this is a brilliant move from the CW.  For many years, my biggest complaint has been repeats and scheduling with the network.  Shows would return for a few episodes, then take a few weeks off, then come back, just to stretch the 22 episodes into a full TV season.  By rotating these three dramas on Monday night, the CW is guaranteeing new episodes every week.

This continues with the same strong showing the CW has had this Fall, airing One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl straight through without repeats.  Sure, it may mean that for two months starting at the end of November there will be no new episodes, but for fans of continuity, it's better to take one long break than a ton of shorter breaks.

To recap, here are the dates to help you plan out your Monday schedules in 2010:

January 18-March 1
8pm: One Tree Hill
9pm: Life Unexpected

March 8-April 12
8pm: Life Unexpected
9pm: Gossip Girl

April 19 to the end of the season
8pm: One Tree Hill
9pm: Gossip Girl

Only time will tell if this new strategy is brilliant or a disaster.  As a TV junkie, I love the idea that we'll be getting new episodes every week without repeats.



-John Kubicek, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image courtesy of the CW)