The CW Stops TCA with a Full Blown Production Number

Thanks to some smart thinking on the part of The CW’s publicity team, “West Covina” did it again Tuesday on Day 16 of the Summer 2015 Television Critics Association tour.

But, rather than rely only on the video to stimulate the more than 200 critics, bloggers and reporters who had attended close to 130 press conferences and events since July 27, The CW pushed it through to real life, filling the International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel with dancers (pictured below) who brought the goofy excitement of the video into the room.

I believe this was the first full-blown production number ever executed during a TCA panel, at least during the last 25 years. (An aside: Some of the young bloggers and episode re-cappers who have recently joined the TCA have tried to convince me that it was a “flash mob,” rather than a “performance by dancers.” I don’t agree, but whatever.) It certainly set the stage for the session to come, featuring “Girlfriend” star and executive producer Rachel Bloom and her co-stars, perhaps the liveliest group assembled for any session on this tour. (Runners up: “The Hot Wives of Orlando” cast during Hulu’s afternoon.)

“Girlfriend” is the only new series The CW is going to debut this fall, and it was one of only three panels the network presented Tuesday afternoon. The others were with The CW President Mark Pedowitz (pictured at top) and female executive producers from a number of series on the network. (The morning belonged to Showtime, with sessions featuring Showtime President David Nevins and the casts of the intriguing new series “Billions” and returning shows “Masters of Sex” and “The Affair.”)

In addition to the “Girlfriend” production number, The CW’s afternoon was powered by two giant announcements: Britney Spears will appear as herself on an episode of “Jane the Virgin” and Matt Ryan will reprise his title role as the demon fighter in NBC’s failed “Constantine” on an episode of “Arrow.” (Both characters are from D.C. Comics and both shows are the property of Warner Bros.)

There was also much talk – from the press, not the network – about a reported series based on the modern classic movie “The Notebook.” Pedowitz confirmed that it is in development. He also confirmed that The CW is considering a futuristic version of the classic tale “Little Women” and is developing an hour-long American version of the British series “Dates,” which ran on the network earlier this summer.

Pedowitz was happy to remind the room about the accomplishments enjoyed by The CW during the last year, courtesy of two freshman shows. “The Flash” was the most watched show in the history of the network, and “Jane the Virgin” brought The CW tremendous critical acclaim and many awards, the likes of which, Pedowitz noted, “we have never seen before.”