The CW's Surprise Renewal: British Comedy Returns for Season 2 Amidst Scripted Line-Up Cuts

Summary

The CW has renewed the British comedy Everyone Else Burns for season 2 ahead of its US premiere, demonstrating their commitment to acquiring cost-effective programming.

The CW's decision to partner with Everyone Else Burns as a co-producer is in line with their fresh approach of targeting a broader audience by focusing on sitcoms and using seasoned actors.

By renewing Everyone Else Burns ahead of time, The CW can anticipate any potential setbacks caused by the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike and make the necessary adjustments to their programming schedule.

The CW has renewed the British comedy Everyone Else Burns for a second season before its US premiere, despite cutbacks on scripted programming. The show, which stars Simon Bird from The Inbetweeners, Kate O'Flynn, Harry Connor, and Amy James-Kelly, focuses on the devout and strict Lewis family, with James-Kelly's character, Rachel, navigating her own path outside of her family's beliefs. While the show premiered on Channel 4 and All4 in the UK in January, it will make its US debut on October 26. Additionally, The CW plans to join Channel 4 as a co-producer for season 2, further mitigating the impact of the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Brad Schwartz, The CW's president of entertainment, expressed his enthusiasm about collaborating with the British broadcaster on the upcoming episodes.

Everyone Else Burns' is an outstanding and hilariously witty series that explores the concept of family in the midst of the apocalypse. It stands apart from all other comedies on television, and we are excited to collaborate with the incredibly gifted writers and producers to continue introducing the uproariously funny Lewis family to The CW for another season.

The CW Was Already In The Midst Of An Incredible Change In Direction

Prior to the strikes initiated by WGA and SAG-AFTRA to advocate for improved conditions, The CW found itself in a state of uncertainty after Warner Bros. Discovery sold their share in the network. Controversially, The CW decided to cancel several long-standing shows, such as Riverdale, a significant portion of their DC Comics lineup, and The Winchesters, a prequel to Supernatural. While some cancellations can be traced back to changes in DC's direction under its parent company, Nexstar actively prioritized The CW's shift towards smaller, more cost-effective productions and acquisitions.

As The CW continues to undergo restructuring, only a few scripted shows have managed to survive. The network's parent company, Nexstar, has plans to shift its focus and create content for a broader audience, including older cast members, police procedural dramas, sitcoms, and live sports coverage. However, due to ongoing actor strikes and failed negotiations, the production of scripted programming has been further delayed. In light of this, The CW's decision to renew the show Everyone Else Burns should come as no surprise. The series already garnered positive reception during its debut on UK's Channel 4, indicating its potential to attract viewers in the US. In the midst of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, renewing Everyone Else Burns allows The CW to better adjust for potential delays in its programming schedule for 2024.

Source: Variety