Reaper Gets a Partial Renewal

Reaper, a good show that's always been the recipient of strong buzz and a forgiving attitude by its network, The CW, has been renewed for a second season – kind of.

Reaper will return next year as a 13-episode midseason replacement, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Renewing Reaper was a nail-biter; anxious fans even launched a campaign to save the series by sending socks to the network, playing off the character of "Sock" (Tyler Labine).

The network attitude has been positive, but less-than-stellar viewing figures have regularly placed the show in jeopardy (recent episodes have pulled about a 1.1 rating). CW executives are fond of Reaper by all accounts. More than that, the CW is facing a recurring problem: scheduling. It's teen dramas like Gossip Girls don't play well with its fantasy hits Supernatural and Smallville; the network needs a suitable Thursday night partner for Supernatural (instead of replacing it, thankfully), especially if Smallville's eighth season is, as seems likely, its last. Reaper ratings also often climb a higher percentage than any other series when DVR use is factored in.

The improving focus of the show itself is probably the most important factor. Unlike Moonlight, which was canceled this week because the post-strike shows were both low-rated and uninspired (Mick facing off against tabloid shutterbugs? Really?), Reaper has developed and mined an ongoing storyline for both jokes and drama. Of course, it's hard to see how Sam could really be... But the point is that Reaper is a fighter, making the most of its opportunity and goodwill; and it's sharp enough to be worth watching.

In any event, the network's long-term considerations about Reaper as a partner for Supernatural post-Smallville strongly suggest that Reaper is expected to have a future after is half-sized second season, especially if it can get its ratings off the ground.