Though The CW has not followed FOX and ABC in officially making numerous pilot pickups, Variety reports that “Melrose Place” and “Vampire Diaries” are nearly locks.
Producers for both shows have been “aggressively” shopping for staff, a strong indication that they will appear on The CW’s lineup when it is announced on Thursday.
The former a reimagining of the 90s soap in the vein of the network’s “90210” redo and the latter based on the books and from “Dawson’s Creek”‘s Kevin Williamson, both have been considered strong contenders for series pickups throughout the pilot season.
According to THR, a final open spot on the schedule will likely either go to new pilots “Beautiful Life,” “Life Unexpected,” or a second season of “Privileged,” which recently became a solid contender for a renewal.
Once the heart of The CW’s pilot buzz, the “Gossip Girl” spin-off has lost a significant amount of its heat. No longer considered a sure thing (many, in fact, have completely written its chances off), the series, which tracks Lily in her teenage years, might have to hope for a midseason roster slot. The backdoor pilot, built into this past week’s “Gossip Girl,” drew an uninspiring 1.6/3 rating and failed to make industry waves.