CW Green Lights New Series

The CW is looking to stay in business with Kevin Williamson.  In addition, the network is adding five more new series for the upcoming season, including the Sarah Michelle Gellar fronted comedy that was passed over by CBS.

Gone from the schedule are One Tree Hill and Hellcats while Nikita got a renewal for a second season.

The CW will unveil is schedule tomorrow.

Here’s what’s in, courtesy of the Hollywood Reporter.

The Secret Circle

The drama, which is based on a three-book series from The Vampire Diaries author L.J. Smith, centers on a young woman (Life Unexpected’s Britt Robertson) who moves to a new town only to discover that she’s not only a witch but also the key to unlocking a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil. Like the CW’s Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl, Circle is an Alloy production written and executive produced by Vampire Diaries co-creator Kevin Williamson along with Andrew Miller. Alloy’s Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo also serve as executive producers, with director Liz Freidlander attached to the pilot. The combo of Williamson and another Smith property made a project that was already garnering high marks a must-have, say sources.

Hart of Dixie

The doctor drama centers on a young New York doctor (The O.C.’s Rachel Bilson) after she inherits a medical practice in a small Southern town inhabited by eccentrics. The project comes from Fake Empire’s Josh Schwartz (O.C., Gossip Girl, Chuck), Stephanie Savage (OC, Gossip Girl) and Len Goldstein. Frequent collaborators Leila Gerstein (OC, Gossip Girl) will write and executive produce with fellow executive producer Jason Ensler (Chuck, Gossip Girl) who directed the pilot. After garnering criticism for its heavily serialized, homogenous slate of upper-class-set series, Dixie is something of a shift. Working in the project’s favor: the brand equity of its producers, its non tony neighborhood setting and its potential repeatabilty. Schwartz tweeted the following Tuesday afternoon: “Hart of Dixie hopefully has an old school WB flave – Felicity, Everwood, Gilmore.”

Ringer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Sarah Michelle Gellar is making her return to TV, just not on CBS as many had expected. Instead, the CW has ordered to series a drama about a woman on the run from the mob who hides out by inhabiting the life of her twin sister — until she learns that her twin’s life has a bounty on it as well. Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four) and Kristoffer Polaha (Life Unexpected) co-star in the drama from ABC Studios and CBS Television Studios. Its production team includes still more CW vets, Supernatural writers Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder as well as Peter Traugott (Samantha Who?), Pam Veasey (CSI: NY) and Richard Shepard (Ugly Betty), who directed the pilot. Given the project’s younger-skewing, serialized tone, it is a better fit for the CW, several insiders agreed.

H8R

A reality series hosted by Mario Lopez in which celebrities go head-to-head with civilians who hate them in an attempt to win their “haters” over. From Horizon Alternative Television with executive producers Lisa Gregorisch (Extra), Jeremy Spiegel (Extra) and Lopez.

The Frame

A reality show in which 10 teams of two each live in a single room — one Frame — for up to eight weeks under 24/7 surveillance. The teams in the biweekly show will face challenges, competitions and eliminations all while isolated from the outside world with viewers voting on who stays and who goes home. From Shed Media and Armoza International, Bethenny Ever After’s Nick Emmerson and Jen O’Connell will executive produce.

Re-Modeled

Modeling industry veteran Paul Fisher forms The Network, a group comprised of hundreds of small agencies from around the world, in an effort to both protect small-town agents and empower models to take control of their careers and lead healthier lives. From Fly on the Wall Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television, Plane Jane’s Allison Grodner, Rich Meehan and Amy Palmer will executive produce the reality series.