The WB vs. CW

On January 11, 1995, a network named The WB debuted. And on September 18, 2006, that network was reborn as The CW.

Both were home to some beloved teen dramas. But which channel you prefer probably depends on what other kinds of television shows you like.

When The WB launched, it did so with a slate that included “The Wayans Bros.,” “The Parent ‘Hood,” and “Unhappily Ever After.” In other words, the network premiered with a comedy heavy-lineup. But when people mention The WB today, those shows probably aren’t what come to mind first.

Just before the fall season kicked off in 1996, “7th Heaven” premiered, marking another chapter in the storied career of Aaron Spelling, the TV mastermind who executive-produced “Beverly Hills, 90210.” The family drama became one of The WB’s flagship shows and it was followed in 1998 by the debut of another seminal coming-of-age series: “Dawson’s Creek.”

Soon The WB, though always trailing the “Big 4” networks in the ratings, became known for a mix of both dramas (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Felicity,” “Charmed,” “Angel,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Everwood”) and comedies (“The Steve Harvey Show,” “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “Reba,” “What I Like About You”).

Some were more successful than others. There was “Smallville,” but there was also “The Mountain.” There was “Smart Guy,” but there was also “Do Over.” (Incidentally, both “The Mountain” and “Do Over” starred Penn Badgley, who would finally find success with “Gossip Girl” on The CW a few years later). The WB’s programming was often considered youthful, family-friendly, female-skewing, and just on the cusp of boundary-pushing.

So, what changed when The WB and UPN combined and morphed into The CW? Well, for as youthful as the new channel still was, it started to blow right through those family-friendly boundaries. Sure, the wholesome “7th Heaven” was among the shows carried over from The WB, but the launch of “Gossip Girl” in 2007 marked a salacious turning point. “90210” followed in 2008, and both shows probably seem tame now in comparison to, say, “Riverdale” today.

Like its predecessor, The CW has had its fair share of successes and failures. Among the former you can count “The Vampire Diaries,” “Arrow,” and “Jane the Virgin,” while “Star-Crossed” and “Katy Keene” would surely be grouped in the latter category. The CW of today, though, likely wouldn’t be described as female-skewing, with a slate inspired by comic book fare expanding the network’s target demographic. There’s also nary a scripted comedy on the network’s schedule.

Of course, besides “7th Heaven,” there were some shows that managed to survive on both The WB and The CW, such as “One Tree Hill” and “Supernatural.” Somehow, they fit both brand identities. But as for which network is “better”? It’s really just a matter of opinion.

What some see as the “glory days” of The WB may pale in comparison to what others see as the “heyday” of The CW. You may prefer the The WB dramedies of yesteryear or the action-packed and interconnected universes of The CW. I don’t think there’s a “right” or “wrong” here. And while The CW’s linear ratings are even lower than the low ratings The WB had, the advent of DVRing, on-demand viewing, and streaming has made it harder to compare them from a data standpoint.

This much is certain, though: The CW already has The WB beat in terms of longevity. While The WB met its demise after 11 years, The CW is still going at nearly 16. Notice I didn’t say “still going strong.” The future of the network is up in the air as its parent companies consider a sale. The outcome could eventually mean not just another change in direction as far programming goes, but also another new name.

To explore the history of The WB in depth, I highly recommend reading Season Finale: The Unexpected Rise and Fall of the WB and UPN, co-written by Susanne Daniels, who was the president of The WB for part of its run. And in terms of the transition to The CW, I also suggest reading “How UPN Ushered in a Golden Decade of Black TV — and Then Was Merged Out of Existence,” published by The Hollywood Reporter just last month.

It may be just matter of time before we’re treated to The Unexpected Rise and Fall of The CW. And, for better or worse, I already can’t wait to read it.