Reaper, the highly-acclaimed new series from The CW, has just become the latest new series to receive an order for additional scripts.  Reaper hasn't been picked up for a full season just yet, only three extra scripts, but this move is typically a pre-cursor to a full-season order.  Reaper was one of the best reviewed new series of the Fall season, but has fallen short of expectations in the ratings.  The show is routinely losing viewers from its lead-in, Beauty and the Geek.  However, it's obvious that the CW has faith in Reaper and wants to give the show every chance to succeed.

Reaper is the type of show that should pick up a loyal audience as the series moves along.  It's in the right genre, and the similarities to The X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer are too pronounced.  Reaper does well on DVR ratings and should be a big DVD seller as well.  The CW has been giving its new series' a lot of love this season, having already renewed Gossip Girl for the entire season and ordering additional episodes of Aliens in America.  Life is Wild is the only new scripted CW program to not yet receive any word on additional episodes, which is probably because that show's ratings have been abysmal.

Some TV pundits thought that the strength of shows like Reaper and Gossip Girl would catapult the CW into ratings relevance and get them closer to competing with the big four networks.  Personally, I thought this would be a breakout year for the young network.  However, the ratings have been disappointing across the board.  The CW is still a young network and a certain, unfortunate stigma exists when discussing a series on the CW.  Joe and Jane Viewer are just less likely to give a series on the CW a try.  Maybe this will change in time (like it did for FOX), or maybe the CW will go the way of the WB and UPN.

-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
(Image Courtesy of The CW)