The CW, or the network no one is watching is trying to change that with another youth developing project titled Sherwood, an hour-long period drama with a female lead character.
I am sure the network is trying to capture the same success as with another CW period drama Arrow that opened to strong numbers for the CW. Sherwood, which has received a script commitment at the network, is set in 1072 England and revolves around a young noblewoman who sets out to free her boyfriend, who has been wrongfully imprisoned by ruthless Norman occupiers. Are they any other kind? The fact she has a modern day boyfriend is the first part to laugh at. So she seeks help from yes a youthful Robin of Locksley with the body of an underwear model. You know those merry men. Now anyone who can read history knows that the year 1072 was an especially hard time for a women in this once magic kingdom. 98% of the total population were not educated and women could not own property or have a voice of any kind. Many could not travel alone, but not our lead, she will wheel a sword and have snappy dialog written for her. I am sure the writers will not concentrate on the injustices of the downtrodden of this time-line or the role the Church played in creating the period we now know as the dark ages. The show is really about attracting youthful buyers to purchase more of the products they dont need or can barely, afford. Here is a bit of a history lesson about this romantic time in history the CW is so keen to exploit. In 1358, 200 million people died from the black Death. If your going to do a period drama do it. See PBS’s Cadfael. (Available on Acornonline and PBS.com) This is the middle ages done correctly.
Can the CW not have just one original idea? There have been comedies like Men In Tights, dramas with Kevin Costner not to mention the Errol Flynn classic. NBC is already doing a show for fall with a Robin Hood spin titled Hood. BBC has beaten the Robin Hood story line to death, with several period dramas but in traditional CW fashion there are always the last to arrive at the party.
Another slice of Nottingham please.
Tze Chun (Cashmere Mafia) will pen the script. His talented story-lines will be created at the CBS studio lot. The Oscar winning Producer for American Beauty Dan Jinks will executive produce. Sherwood becomes the latest high-profile youth based concept to be upchucked into development joining Amazon, a Wonder Woman story from Grey’s Anatomy’s Allen Heinberg and Chad Hodge contemporary Alice in Wonderland drama. Hodge produced the great but short lived The Playboy’s Club (the CW should have rebutted that show. Great job Chad).
If the network would program for the audience who is actually watching television and not the one the advertisers wish was watching television we might just find some bold new show concepts in development. But until then the CW is still well the CW or as we call it the Cant Work Network.
Dear Santa please bring the program directors at the CW a clue for Christmas.
Lou Ceffer
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I know it’s not one of the major networks, but the CW has plenty of loyal viewers that work with me at DISH. We all love Arrow, and I say that the more archers we have, the better. I’ll give Sherwood its chance too, because my DISH Hopper stores up to 2,000 hours of entertainment, and I can save anything I’m remotely interested in. Cheers to the bow and arrow; whether it is 1072 England or modern day.