The CW is known, primarily, for its DC superhero series, the various Archie series, and whatever other YA supernatural-ish soap that is coming down the pike next. But now, the network seems to be branching out and adding a… [Checks Notes]…political anthology series tackling serious social issues produced by Steven Spielberg and Hillary Clinton. Huh?
According to THR, The CW is set to be the home of “The Woman’s Hour,” a new political anthology series that will tackle a variety of topics surrounding women and voting, which has been in development for a couple of years already. The initial idea for the series is inspired by the book of the same name by Elaine Weiss. The first season of the show is expected to be completely based on the book and talk about the ratification of the 19th amendment, as well as the drama surrounding the decision.
As mentioned, the series is produced by Spielberg, through his Amblin production company, and Clinton. However, it’s Clinton who appears to have a more hands-on approach to the show. It is being reported that the former Secretary of State and 2016 US Presidential nominee played a crucial role pitching the series and will continue on to act as someone who will consult on casting decisions and choosing a director.
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“The Woman’s Hour” is going to be scripted by Angelina Burnett, who previously worked on “Halt and Catch Fire.” And honestly, with that pedigree of writer, Spielberg and Clinton’s involvement, and the very dramatic, political nature of the show, it’s fairly shocking that The CW is going to release it. This sounds like a Hulu, Amazon, Netflix series and not something that will slot into a schedule that features shows like “The Flash,” “Supernatural,” “Riverdale,” and “Legends of Tomorrow.”
Of course, while that may seem like I’m throwing shade at The CW, it’s more due to the shock of having such a different show on the network than any condemnation of the quality of the current programming. Perhaps this shouldn’t be so shocking, as The CW has consistently been one of the most diverse and inclusive networks on TV, having female-led series for years now and always including diverse casts. But still, this is a whole different caliber of series. And maybe, a new reason to tune into The CW.