20 most quintessentially CW shows ever to air on The CW
By Reed Gaudens
Best CW shows of all time
From the minute The CW launched in 2006, it’s been the go-to small-screen destination for guilty pleasures ranging from comedies, dramedies, and full-camp dramas. But what was once the popular haven for series about privileged white youth (there was literally a show called Privileged at one point) has branched out in recent years to welcome a cinematic universe of superheroes and award-winning critical darlings. Never underestimate The CW’s power to rebrand.
Over the years, the network has amassed a diverse collection of series that define its legacy. A network’s quintessential series communicates a lot about its various eras, whether they’re winning streaks or years full of one-season wonders. Of course, The CW launched with fan favorites like Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars and long-running smashes like One Tree Hill, Smallville, and Supernatural. While there have been misses, there have been plenty more hits.
The CW claimed its first teen drama win with Gossip Girl, took a swing at a major reboot with 90210 and lit the Arrowverse fuse with Arrow. There have been throwback small-town dramedies like Hart of Dixie, Golden Globe winners like Jane the Virgin, and more pop culture phenomenons like The Vampire Diaries. In between all of these shows are the rest of the colorful series that are emblematic of television’s hands-down freshest network.
The CW is home to soaps, superheroes, and some of the small screen’s most underrated shows. From Gossip Girl to Arrow, these are the network’s quintessential CW shows.