Watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix (one of the best streaming services to subscribe to) is a perfect way to spend the fall season, especially if you are not into horror TV shows on Netflix or elsewhere. Of course, if you have already watched creator Amy Sherman-Palladino's dramedy – which originally ran from 2000 to 2007 – enough times to recite the rapid-fire dialogue from memory, you could use your Netflix subscription to check out the four-part revival series, 2016's Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, if you have not already.

Then again, you might be seeking a trip beyond Stars Hollow, Connecticut, this time, but with a series that still bears the same themes of non-traditional families, quirky small-town culture and all-around comforting vibes. I might be able to help you find what you are looking for with the following recommendations for shows like Gilmore Girls and a tip on how to stream them.

Parenthood (2010-2015)

'The daily struggles of the extensive Braverman family.

Why it is a great TV show to check out if you are a fan of Gilmore Girls: Lead Gilmore Girls cast member Lauren Graham, who played Lorelai, later joined NBC's Parenthood cast to play another single mother named Sarah Braverman on yet another comforting dramedy dealing with the joys and pains of family.

• Stream Parenthood on Hulu
• Buy Parenthood on Amazon
• Buy Parenthood on Blu-ray on Amazon

Ginny & Georgia (2021-Present)

Fifteen-year-old Ginny (Antonia Gentry) has a complicated relationship, to say the least, with her 30-year-old mother, Georgia (Brianne Howey).

Why it is a great TV show to check out if you are a fan of Gilmore Girls: Creator Sarah Lampert's hit Netflix series, Ginny & Georgia (which has a Season 3 coming in 2025), immediately earned comparisons to Gilmore Girls as another dramedy about a young single mother and her teenage daughter, but would prove to be a far darker take on the topic.

• Stream Ginny & Georgia on Netflix

Felicity (1998-2002)

A high school graduate (played by Emmy nominee Keri Russell) changes her college destination in an effort to pursue her longtime crush (played by Scott Speedman).

Why it is a great TV show to check out if you are a fan of Gilmore Girls: From creators J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves, Felicity is another popular dramedy from the late '90, early 2000s WB era with some similar themes the same sort of cozy tone as Gilmore Girls.

• Stream Felicity on Hulu
• Buy Felicity on Amazon
• Buy Felicity on Blu-ray on Amazon

Hart Of Dixie (2011-2015)

New York-based doctor, Zoe Hart (former The OC cast member Rachel Bilson) suddenly becomes the inheritor of a modest medical practice in Bluebell, Alabama.

Why it is a great TV show to check out if you are a fan of Gilmore Girls: After The WB became The CW, the network aired Hart of Dixie – another dramedy with eccentric small-town locals and the same cozy tone, in part for the fact that the series used many of the same sets as Gilmore Girls.

• Stream Hart of Dixie on Freevee through Amazon

Virgin River (2019-Present)

Los Angeles-based nurse practitioner Melinda Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) moves to a remote town in Northern California, which proves to have a life-changing effect on her.

Why it is a great TV show to check out if you are a fan of Gilmore Girls: While creator Sue Tenney's Netflix hit is more in the vein of a soap opera than Gilmore Girls is, Virgin River (which has Season 6 premiering in 2025) is still a perfect destination if you're looking for another show with an eclectic character ensemble in a small town.

• Stream Virgin River on Netflix

Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)

After falling victim to fraud, a wealthy family (played by Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dan Levy, and Annie Murphy) is forced to reside in their sole remaining asset: a small town with some quirky people.

Why it is a great TV show to check out if you are a fan of Gilmore Girls: While more overtly and uproariously comedic than Gilmore Girls is, Schitt's Creek (one of the funniest shows on Hulu) is still a perfect destination if you're looking for a series with dialogue-driven, feel-good comedy set in a rural area with eccentric locals.

• Stream Schitt's Creek on Hulu
• Stream Schitt's Creek on Freevee through Amazon
• Buy Schitt's Creek on DVD on Amazon

Freaks And Geeks (1999-2000)

The daily struggles of a group of nerdy freshmen and socially outcast upperclassmen in the early 1980s.

Why it is a great TV show to check out if you are a fan of Gilmore Girls: Gilmore Girls is part of an era of television that Freaks and Geeks (a great TV show cancelled after one season) is often credited with pioneering by offering a more honest depiction of teen life from a uniquely funny perspective.

• Stream Freaks and Geeks on Hulu
• Stream Freaks and Geeks on Paramount+
• Buy Freaks and Geeks on DVD on Amazon

Gossip Girl (2007-2012)

A nosy internet blogger keeps tabs on the private lives of a group of wealthy, troubled teens in New York City.

Why it is a great TV show to check out if you are a fan of Gilmore Girls: Creators Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz's scandalous CW hit follows the Gossip Girl cast as they navigate private high school, much like in Gilmore Girls when Rory (Alexis Bledel) goes to Chilton.

• Stream Gossip Girl on Max
• Stream Gossip Girl on Tubi
• Buy Gossip Girl on DVD on Amazon

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-2023)

A recently divorced Jewish-American woman (played by Rachel Brosnahan) finds a new lease on life after an impromptu stand-up comedy performance inspires her to pursue a new career in the late 1950s.

Why it is a great TV show to check out if you are a fan of Gilmore Girls: For more of Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino's signature style of dialogue-driven comedy, you should definitely check out one of the best comedies on Amazon Prime, the multi-Emmy-winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

• Stream The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime

If you're out on the road, feeling lonely and so cold, all you gotta do is stream these TV shows like Gilmore Girls and you should be set.

Justin Hartley will always be recognized for his starring role on the long-running NBC drama series, This Is Us, but the actor (who is sometimes confused with Glen Powell) had a rather prolific small-screen career long before he played Kevin Pearson for six seasons. With Hartley’s latest offering, CBS’ Tracker, being one of the biggest series on the 2024 TV calendar so far, we thought it would be fun to go back and look at other shows that featured the actor over the years.

From major parts on shows like Smallville to one-off appearances on crime dramas like CSI: NY and Cold Case, Hartley’s done a little bit of everything throughout his career. Let’s take a look at 10 of those shows right now, including two different soap operas.

Passions (2002 - 2006)

Like countless other major stars, Justin Hartley got his start on a soap opera, specifically NBC’s Passions. Similar to other soaps, Passions was heavy on romance, double-crossing, and drama, and Hartley’s Nicholas Foxworth Crane experienced it all throughout the actor’s four years on the show. It’s hard to find clips where the actor isn’t either hooking up with someone, shirtless, or involved in some far-fetched and over-the-top scheme.

But in case you’ve never watched an episode of Passions (which you should change right now), you should know that the soap opera features all kinds of paranormal shenanigans and other dramatic twists. It’s wild, to say the least. 

CSI: NY (2007)

Justin Hartley made an appearance during a CSI: NY Season 3 episode in which a music mogul is found murdered in his penthouse apartment, but he was only around for one scene. Hartley, who played an across-the-hall neighbor to the victim, was shirtless when speaking with the detectives trying to get information about the case in a scene that is barely a couple of minutes long. But this wouldn’t be the last time the actor appeared on a CBS crime procedural in 2007.

Cold Case (2007)

The Cold Case Season 5 episode titled “Justice” saw Justin Hartley take on the role of college valedictorian Mike Delaney, a character who was murdered just hours after his graduation. The case is brought up years later after someone vandalized his grave, which leads to Det. Lilly Rush (Kathryn Morris) and her team uncovering the fact that Mike was allegedly a serial rapist who was on the receiving end of revenge and street justice after his many victims couldn’t find help through the proper channels. 

Smallville (2006 - 2011)

Though the Aquaman TV show, which would have seen Justin Hartley play Arthur Curry, never came to fruition after a failed pilot, the actor would appear in a major capacity on another DC Comics series. From 2006 to 2011, Hartley portrayed Oliver Queen, aka, Green Arrow, on the longrunning Superman prequel series on The WB/The CW. The introduction of Oliver Queen in the show’s sixth season was well-received by fans of the series, and Hartley himself had a blast playing the iconic DC superhero.

Hartley ended up remaining on the series through its conclusion and was part of some of the major storylines throughout his time hanging out with Tom Welling's Clark Kent and the rest of the large ensemble cast of DC characters. It’s just a bummer that a planned spinoff never happened because Hartley made it sound awesome. 

Chuck (2011) 

Justin Hartley had several one-off performances throughout the 2000s and 2010s, including a wild turn as Wesley Sneijder on the NBC action-comedy series Chuck. In this 2011 episode titled “Chuck Versus the Bearded Bandit”, Wesley fakes his own kidnapping so that he can work with the federal government to put his brother away. But no one let Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) or the rest of his team know of the situation, which makes the situation even more of a mess.

Hart Of Dixie (2012)

Remember Hart of Dixie, the medical drama series following heart surgeon Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson) as she moves to Alabama to take over a doctor’s office? Well, the show, which ran on The CW for four seasons before being cancelled in 2015, featured another one of Justin Hartley’s great one-off roles. In the 2012 episode titled “Bachelorettes & Bullets,” Hartley played Jesse Kinsella, the brother of Zoe’s future husband, Wade (Wilson Bethel). 

Emily Owens, M.D. (2012 - 2013)

Justin Hartley continued his run on The CW in 2012 when he joined the Emily Owens, M.D. cast as Will Collins, a first-year surgical intern and former friend of Mami Gummer’s titular character. Throughout the show’s first and only season, Will fails time and time again to realize that Emily has a crush on him, which causes some major tension between the two doctors and pretty much everyone else at Denver Memorial Hospital.

Revenge (2013 - 2014)

Inspired by Alexandre Dumas’ iconic novel The Count of Monte Cristo, Revenge spent four seasons following Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp) as she set out to get back at the families from the Hamptons beach community that harmed her years earlier. A lot of characters came and went during the show’s 89-episode run, including Justin Hartley’s Patrick Osbourne, the long-lost son of antagonist Victoria Grayson (Madeleine Stowe), who showed up during the show’s third season.

Mistresses (2014 - 2016)

In 2014, Justin Hartley joined the cast of Mistresses, an ABC drama series about four female friends navigating life, love, and their respective professions in Los Angeles. Hartley entered the picture as Scott Trosman, a successful plastic surgeon who meets and falls for Josslyn "Joss" Carver (Jes Macallan), resulting in an intense and long-running relationship where the pair learn a great deal about themselves and each other (especially the doctor’s obsession with shoes). Hartley would stick around until the show was cancelled by ABC in 2016.

The Young And The Restless (2014 - 2016)

Justin Hartley got his start in soap operas and so it wasn’t all that surprising in 2014 when the in-demand actor took his talents to The Young and the Restless. During his time on the show, Hartley played Adam Newman, the son of series mainstays Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) and Hope Wilson (Signy Coleman), and was given a tremendous amount of screentime and major arcs. Hartley left the long-running soap in September 2016 when he joined the cast of This Is Us, per TheWrap.

These are just a few of Justin Hartley’s TV appearances and we didn’t even get into all his movie roles from over the years. But hey, maybe we’ll revisit Hartley’s film efforts if Tracker is a success on CBS and with Paramount+ subscribers.

Like millions of other romance fans, my Netflix subscription works overtime whenever a new season of Virgin River hits one of the best streaming services. The romantic drama, which is based on a loooong novel series, debuted in December 2019, and has become one of the streamer’s flagship shows by providing audiences with romance, twisty plots, and just enough drama to make the whole package even more entertaining and bingable.

This doesn't, however, mean that the small town romance is anywhere near being the only show to deliver those kinds of benefits to fans who enjoy a lovey-dovey series with some bite. I’ve put together a list of several shows like Virgin River with feel-good and swoon-worthy romances, surprising storylines, and more shocking developments than you can ever hope for that you can watch right away as we all await the release of Virgin River Season 6 on the 2024 TV schedule!

Jane The Virgin (Amazon)

Jane the Virgin sees Jane Villanueva’s (Gina Rodriguez) well-planned young life become completely upended after what's supposed to be a non-eventful doctor's visit ends with her accidentally inseminated with a sperm sample from her boss, Rafael Solano (Justin Baldoni). Our heroine then has to figure out how to handle a very unexpected virginal pregnancy while juggling college, her job, family complications, being engaged to her incredibly surprised and sweet fiancé, Michael (Brett Dier), and the hopeful future as a published author that she wants for herself.

Why it's a good option for Virgin River fans: I know what you’re thinking, but I didn't just choose this show because the word "virgin" is in the title. This play on tried and true Latin American telenovela tropes (which are quite similar to those that American soap opera fans know well) should be right up the alley of anyone who loves to follow a central love story with several other romances on the margins, and get immersed in lots of good, twist-filled plots. Some of the events in Jane the Virgin are far more bonkers than what we've seen in Virgin River, even five seasons in, but that just makes it extra appealing for a good binge.

Stream Jane the Virgin on Amazon.

Hart Of Dixie (Freevee)

Up and coming New York City doctor Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson) is shocked when she’s invited by a stranger in the tiny town of Bluebell, Alabama to work with him at his medical practice. But, she accepted because she needed a life change anyway. When she arrives, though, Zoe realizes that the strange medical professional in question has actually died and left her his half of the practice as part of his will, putting her in the cross hairs of her new partner, Dr. Breeland (Tim Matheson), and his snooty daughter, Lemon (Jaime King), and leading her to several love connections and a whole new life.

Why it's a good option for Virgin River fans: Hart of Dixie is sillier by far than anything we’ve seen (or are likely to see in the future) on Virgin River, but because of its slightly goofy nature it really is a joy to watch. When you’re still in need of a small town romance, but with unexpected plot twists and lots of nosy towns folk in a fish out of water story, this show is definitely for you. Plus, Tim Matheson plays a “cranky old doc” role here which is not entirely dissimilar to his part as Doc Mullins on the Netflix staple. Check it out with your Amazon Prime subscription on Freevee.

Stream Hart of Dixie on Freevee through Amazon.

Last Tango In Halifax (Netflix)

This BBC One dramedy, which ran for four seasons and aired on PBS in the United States, follows two 70-something widowed people, Alan (Derek Jacobi) and Celia (Anne Reid), who find their way back to each other after many decades apart, when their respective grandsons put their information on social media. The former young almost-lovers start a new romance, and have to unite their (extremely) complicated familial situations, to hilarious, disastrous, and very surprising results.

Why it's a good option for Virgin River fans: Please believe me when I say you have never known small town, family-based drama like the small town family-based drama seen on Last Tango in Halifax. I seriously doubt that anyone could see several of these storylines and additional romances coming as they watch the first episode, and I can pretty much guarantee that these complex relationships and wild plot twists will have you at least considering staying up all night to watch every season.

Stream Last Tango in Halifax on Netflix.

Sweet Magnolias (Netflix)

Sweet Magnolias is a romantic drama that’s a very natural option for anyone who needs additional Virgin River-style storytelling. The drama (which has a fourth season on the way) focuses on the professional and personal lives of lifelong friends, Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott), Helen (Heather Headley), and Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), a.k.a. the titular “sweet magnolias,” as they deal with family, career, and romantic troubles and triumphs in their quaint (and fictional) hometown of Serenity, South Carolina.

Why it's a good option for Virgin River fans: Obviously, once again, we have the small town factor working in our favor, but viewers will also get a series filled with incredibly intricate relationship statuses (both romantic and not) across its three seasons so far, lots of hot and steamy chemistry between the leading ladies and their love interests, and several characters who have to make major decisions (and do make major mistakes) along the way. It's Virgin River with fancier clothes and southern accents, and Season 4 is on the way y'all. Now’s a great time to catch up!

Stream Sweet Magnolias on Netflix.

Gilmore Girls (Netflix)

Gilmore Girls is the still-much beloved story of former teen mom Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and her now teen daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) as they endure all of the ups and downs one goes through when attempting to find your path in life, fall in love (with the right person), and grow up. This happens as the ladies reconnect with Lorelai's rich, strict and largely disapproving parents, who are going to help Rory get into the college of her dreams and want to forge a bond with the granddaughter they barely know whether they overstep the boundaries set by Lorelai or not.

Why it's a good option for Virgin River fans: While definitely more humorous than Virgin River and dramatic in a less twisty/soapy way, Gilmore Girls absolutely delivers the goods. There’s plenty of teen angst, several adult romances, more than one love triangle, roughly a metric ton of emotional family drama, and adorable love stories for several side characters, along with lots of laughs, coffee, and Pop Tarts for good measure. The show is a treat that will warm your heart in several ways.

Stream Gilmore Girls on Netflix.

Sanditon (PBS Masterpiece)

Sanditon is a delightful, three-season, Regency-set historical romance, which follows young Charlotte (Rose Williams) as she leaves her large family and small farming community behind to spend the summer with a few new friends in the eponymous seaside resort town. While she's embraced by several in the community, spirited Charlotte also notices how scheming and ambitious many of those in the seemingly tranquil town truly are, as she looks to make friends and find her place in this new home.

Why it's a good option for Virgin River fans: Remember when Mel and Jack were silently pining for one another because he was still attached to dumb ol', problem-causing Charmaine? Well, as Charlotte and Sidney (Theo James) start their enemies to lovers transition, there is a lot of solid pining to be had, which is transformed in later seasons to a fierce will-they-won’t-they-why-the-hell-can’t-they?! with Charlotte and a brand new love interest. There are also several juicy stories involving things like forbidden love, scheming, lots of double-crossing deals, and more than a few instances of unrequited love.

Stream Sanditon on PBS Masterpiece through Amazon.

Everwood (Freevee)

After superstar Manhattan brain surgeon Andy Brown (the late Treat Williams) is widowed, he moves himself and his two kids to the idyllic mountain town of Everwood, Colorado for a brand new start. Once they arrive, Andy and his teen son, Ephram (Gregory Smith) begin to learn how to open up, both to each other and to love, and learn how to navigate all of the ups and downs that come with their new emotional vulnerability.

Why it's a good option for Virgin River fans: Are you seeing a theme among these choices, yet? Everwood is here for Virgin River viewers who need additional folksy townspeople, medical subplots (one of which involves Ephram's romantic life in a big way), difficult family/community dynamics, forbidden romance, and all of the charm and ooey gooey love stuff you find in a typical episode of the Netflix winner.

Stream Everwood on Freevee through Amazon.

If these options don't keep you busy until Virgin River Season 6 arrives (and after you’ve binged the whole season), it’s possible that nothing will! In the meantime, be sure to check out the 2025 TV schedule and 2025 Netflix TV and movie premieres for even more viewing options!

Netflix has become the champion when it comes to the streaming wars. Though others are trying to take its crown, Netflix is the most consistent with producing a variety of content that appeals to viewers of various backgrounds and entertainment preferences. It’s also constantly producing series and movies that gain a lot of buzz during its initial release. One of Netflix’s current hit series is Sweet Magnolias.

Sweet Magnolias follows the three best friends Maddie (JoAnna Garcia), Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott), and Helen (Heather Headley) as they deal with life in the small-town Serenity. The series begins with Maddie stuck in the middle of a scandal as she just finalized her divorce from her ex-husband Bill (Chris Klein), who cheated on her with one of his nurses Noreen (Jamie Lynn Spears). It’s about Maddie, Dana Sue, and Helen figuring life out and trying to grow through the madness.

Sweet Magnolias is a wholesome series that feels designed for the Hallmark Channel crowd and Lifetime movie aficionados, which makes it perfect content for some feel-good, pick-me-up TV. If you’ve already binge watched the entire first season, because of course you did, here’s some other shows and movies to check out on Netflix.

Gilmore Girls (2000)

Gilmore Girls follows mother and daughter duo Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) as they deal with typical growing pains (e.g. love, work, kooky co-workers and friends, etc.). What usually gets this dynamic pair through it all is each other. Gilmore Girls is a show very much about the powerful bond between a mother and a daughter.

Why It’s a Good Option for Sweet Magnolias fans: Gilmore Girls and Sweet Magnolias share in their belief in the power of the family bond. Dana Sue and Maddie may not be perfect moms, but they definitely give everything to their children, for better or worse, and that’s the same kind of energy Lorelai gives to Rory.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Our Souls At Night (2017)

Robert Redford and Jane Fonda play Louis and Addie, two widowers who have been next door neighbors for years. Addie finally decides to make a connection with him and the two start a platonic friendship to help them deal with their mutual loneliness, which grows into something deeper.

Why it’s a Good Option for Sweet Magnolias fans: Our Souls at Night has the same general sweet, simple small town vibe as Sweet Magnolias. It also deals with two people finding love after a major loss. Maddie starts to find love after the divorce with Cal (Justin Bruening), and Addie and Louis start to find love with each other after their spouses die. Our Souls A Night and Sweet Magnolias both show that love can happen even when you least expect it.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Queer Eye (2018)

This reboot series follows five gay men as they use their expertise to help transform everyday people into the best versions of themselves. The Queer Eye team consists of Jonathan Van Ness, Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Karamo Brown, and Bobby Berk.

Why It’s a Good Option for Sweet Magnolias fans: Queer Eye and Sweet Magnolias are both feel good TV. They’re TV shows that you can watch and they help you feel better about your life and the world. These series make you hopeful and inspired. Sweet Magnolias and Queer Eye are both series to watch when you need a little mood boost.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Good Sam (2019)

Good Sam stars Tiya Sircar as Kate Bradley, a reporter who tries to find the mysterious Good Sam, a person who leaves cash, seemingly, randomly on strangers’ doorsteps. As Sam tries to find out the good samaritans identity, she finds love and learns the power of acts of kindness.

Why it’s a Good Option for Sweet Magnolias fans: Good Sam and Sweet Magnolias are stories of hope. For Good Sam, the hope comes in the generosity of strangers. In Sweet Magnolias, the hope is from the bonds of these three women, and also their love and belief in this town. Good Sam and Sweet Magnolias are also great content to watch with the family (though Sweet Magnolias does have at least one scene that may not be appropriate for younger audiences), and to give the local cynic a little bit less cynicism.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Hart Of Dixie (2011)

Rachel Bilson plays Zoe Hart in this former CW dramedy. It follows New York doctor Zoe as she moves to Alabama. The new change of scenery helps Zoe discover herself, and find the charm in the South. Hart of Dixie ran on the CW for four seasons.

Why it’s a Good Option for Sweet Magnolias fans: Sweet Magnolias and Hart of Dixie are both set in fictional towns in the South. Therefore, they rely partly on Southern charm, and the small town life narrative to tell their stories. The colorful townsfolk and town pride are important characters in both series. They also have a bit of a fish out of water storyline going on, with Hart of Dixie, Zoe is that character. With Sweet Magnolias, Helen is from Serenity, but she’s also still an outsider because she left and tried to escape it before returning home.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Like Father (2018)

Like Father stars Kelsey Grammer and Kristen Bell as Rachel and Harry Hamilton, an estranged father and daughter pair. Rachel gets left at the altar, then binge drinks with her father, whom she hasn’t seen in years, and they end up on her honeymoon cruise. They’re stuck on a boat together, so all they can really do is try to repair their relationship.

Why it’s a Good Option for Sweet Magnolias fans: Even the best parents have complicated relationships with their children. We see Dana Sue and Maddie try their best to do things right for their children, but it’s still not quite enough. We also see the opposite in Maddie and Dana Sue’s ex-husbands. Who aren’t exactly in the running for fathers of the year, though Bill at least tries in his own way. If you’re in the mood for more child-parent drama after finishing Sweet Magnolias, then Like Father is a great choice. It’s funny, while still being heartfelt and sincere.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Anne With An E (2017)

Anne Shirley rises in this reboot series based on the Anne of Green Gable book series. Anne with an E follows spirited Anne (Amybeth McNulty) as she comes to live with unmarried brother and sister Marilla (Geraldine James) and Matthew (R.H Thomson) Cuthbert. Her dreamer sensibility and determination makes anyone who crosses her path fall in love with her.

Why It’s a Good Option for Sweet Magnolias fans: If strong female characters are your thing then you’re in luck because Anne Shirley, Maddie, Dana Sue, and Helen are the kind of strong female characters that are kind, determined, and ready for a great adventure, in any way it might strike.

Stream it on Netflix here.

When Calls The Heart (2014)

When Calls the Heart is a Hallmark original series that follows a young teacher named Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow) as she leaves her high-society life in the early 1900s to work her first teaching job in a coal-mining town in Western Canada. She finds love and herself along the way.

Why It’s a Good Option for Sweet Magnolias fans: Love, adventure, growing up, and small-towns are both prominent aspects of When Calls the Heart and Sweet Magnolias. Each series gives their own special spin on the beauty that comes with the community small towns bring. It’s a 'we’re all in this together' kind of sentiment that radiates from both series.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Northern Rescue (2019)

This Canadian drama follows a recently widowed father of three, John (William Baldwin), as he moves back to his rural hometown of Turtle Island Bay to give his family a new start. He moves in with his sister-in-law Charlie (Kathleen Robertson).

Why it’s a Good Option for Sweet Magnolias fans: Northern Rescue is another series about a family having to cope with a major change and using the power of family to overcome it. In Sweet Magnolias, Maddie’s family is adjusting to their new life post-divorce. In Northern Rescue, they’re adjusting to a new life, in a new town without their mother. Both of the main parents in these series, after a major shake-up, put a lot of time and effort into making life comfortable for their families.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Virgin River (2019)

This Netflix drama follows Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge), a nurse practitioner who becomes a midwife in the town of Virgin River. She leaves her life in LA to escape her past and heal.

Why it’s a Good Option for Sweet Magnolias fans: Add a dash of small-town, painful past, nosey neighbors, city girl who doesn’t quite fit in at first, but makes it work later, and then you have the premise of many shows and movies but this time it’s the plot for Virgin River. Clearly, Sweet Magnolias shares many of those similar themes, including finding a new romance.

Stream it on Netflix here.

The entire first season of Sweet Magnolias, and all these other series and movies, are streaming on Netflix. If you need some good ol’ small-town hospitality, then this is the collection of shows and movies to watch. You’ll feel a little bit more hopeful after watching them.

In recent weeks, a number of celebrities have played a role in the discourse on the spread of COVID-19. Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson played a role in changing the public’s knowledge of the spreading virus after they both tested positive for COVID-19 in Australia. Idris Elba has also opened up about not having symptoms of the virus even after testing positive as well. Now Jumanji child actor and Hart of Dixie actress Laura Bell Bundy has announced she has coronavirus as well.

The 38-year-old actress decided to talk at length about her symptoms of COVID-19 and the steps she’s been taking since while quarantining in her home with her husband and her infant son. Here’s what Laura Bell Bundy said:

Laura Bell Bundy assured her fans to not be alarmed by her announcement because she is doing OK and taking the necessary supplements recommended by her doctor. She also pointed out that she feels her symptoms have been as minor as they are because he has been taking care of her health. In her COVID-19 message, she also explained that she got tested on Friday March 19th and found out she had tested positive for the virus on Monday.

The actress played Bonnie Hunt’s younger counterpart in 1995’s Jumanji starring Robin Williams long before it became a huge box-office earning franchise starring Dwayne Johnson. She has also been a prevalent player in the world of Broadway, as the original Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray and Elle Woods in the stage version of Legally Blonde. Laura Bell Bundy was also a series regular on FX’s Anger Management from 2012 to 2014 and was a regular actress on Hart of Dixie during its run.

Laura Bell Bundy also made a point of expressing some of the thoughts that crossed her mind while she in fact has coronavirus. She thought she might be paranoid about it and actually have allergies or acid reflux, so it sounds like it's a good thing she caught the real diagnosis. Bundy also clarified that she did go to two separate events prior to quarantining herself on March 12. As she continued on her Instagram, she echoed the widespread message to stay home and said she believes a lot more people have it than we realize. Check out the complete message below:

Her message continues a trend of celebrities going to social media to connect with fans about the global pandemic. However, not every actor has been gracefully recieved by its audience. Fans are roasting Gal Gadot for her “Imagine” video and Vanessa Hudgens for her hot take on the virus.

Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more updates on how COVID-19 is affecting highly-anticipated movies and TV shows along with celebrities.

Welcome to the 22nd edition of The Cord Cutter Podcast! With the fall finale of Star Trek: Discovery coming up this weekend, now seems like a good time to give our thoughts on the newest entry in the Trek franchise! After an interminable hiatus of 12 years, fans finally have new Star Trek on television, and this week Mick, Adrienne and their guest Mike Reyes will discuss whether or not Discovery is a worthy successor to the franchise. And, after they discuss this week's streaming news and go over what they've each been streaming lately, you can count on this trio to get down to the nitty gritty and talk about everything that's got us excited (or not so excited) about the freshman season of Star Trek: Discovery.

After eight episodes of Star Trek: Discovery on CBS All Access, some fans have made a lot fuss over the fact that the show, which is a prequel that takes place 10 years before The Original Series, not only has a look that's more advanced than that show, but also features some tech that either seems like it shouldn't be around or that doesn't show up in later Trek shows. They'll be getting into that thorny discussion, as well as talk about their favorite characters, if they think the serialized storytelling works, Captain Lorca, the new Klingons, that F-bomb and what exactly is up with two characters who might not be quite who they seem anymore, along with many more intriguing conversational points. Ready to dive in? Great! Read on to get the lowdown on this week's podcast and then listen for yourself above!

2:57 -News (Netflix cuts ties with Kevin Spacey, Netflix email scam, Lord of the Rings TV show)

12:52 -The Weekly Queue (The Hateful Eight, Sleight, Hart of Dixie, Stranger Things S2)

19:32 -Star Trek: Discovery full spoiler discussion

25:17 -The dynamic of following a non-captain character

30:07 -Can Michael ever become a captain?

32:49 -The controversial F-bomb

34:40 -Captain Lorca

37:08 -Serialized vs Episodic storytelling

40:57 -The Klingon War

48:25 -What's up with Stamets?

51:45 -Favorite character(s)

57:39 -Game Time! The Klingon Language Lesson

Now, get in on the fun and have a listen to The Cord Cutter Podcast #22! Join us next time when we reveal all your options for streaming true crime shows! And, be sure to subscribe to The Cord Cutter podcast on iTunes, right here and follow us on Twitter through @CordCutterPod!

The Hart of Dixie cancelled or renewed debate can pretty much be put to bed. The CW southern charmer is in the middle of airing a shortened fourth season on the network, and a shortened season is often the kiss of death for a show. While the network and the production company have stayed mum about whether or not Hart of Dixie will return to the schedule next year, showrunner Leila Gerstein has officially confirmed that there are only three episodes left until the end of the series.

The showrunner took to Twitter earlier this week to confirm the news in a flurry of tweets.

The blunt but lovely comments about the series confirm that we will not be seeing Hart of Dixie on the schedule next year. This shouldn’t be a shock to anyone who has been keeping tabs on the series, however. Not only has Hart of Dixie not been crushing in the ratings, when the shenanigans-filled show finished filming in the fall of 2014, several cast members, including Wilson Bethel and Scott Porter, both all but said they were finished with shooting the series forever. Here’s Porter’s goodbye to the set.

And here’s Bethel’s even more obvious goodbye.

Following the fall tweets, the CW stated that no decision had been made regarding the series, but it seemed pretty obvious the show was done. It’s nice that Gerstein finally came out and put the rumors to rest, for once and for all.

On the bright side, while we may be saying goodbye to the Hart of Dixie family, the CW has already made a ton of renewal decisions related to shows on the network. Not only will the popular superhero shows, Arrow and The Flash, be returning, but the entire supernatural lineup will be back as well, including Supernatural, The Originals and veteran series The Vampire Diaries. And just in case you were worried about some of the network’s other shows, Jane the Virgin, The 100 and Reign have been renewed. In addition, Beauty and the Beast is set to return this summer and then has earned an additional renewal order.

As far as HOD goes, there are still three episodes for fans to engage with. On top of this, Hart of Dixie has done a good job of treating this last set of episodes as a series ender, whether or not the show knew it was cancelled when the writers began putting together episodes. Wade and Zoe are having a baby. Lemon and Lavon are finally coming together, and even George and Annabeth seem to be getting a happy ending. Gerstein even says the series finale will be “satisfying.” All’s well that ends well in Bluebell, especially when it involves high jinks.

In with the new unfortunately means out with the old. Or well, old-ish anyway. CW's Star-Crossed only just got its start this year, and The Tomorrow People debuted last fall, but both dramas have been cancelled by The CW, along with veteran series The Carrie Diaries. On the bright side, in addition to some new series, which have been given the greenlight at the network (The Flash and iZombie among them), CW has renewed their promising sci-fi drama The 100, as well as Hart of Dixie and Beauty and the Beast.

Deadline reported the updates, including the cancellations and renewals. Here's the full rundown of what's in (including the previously renewed series and what's out.

Renewed

Reign

The Originals

Arrow

Supernatural

The Vampire Diaries

The 100

Hart of Dixie

Beauty and the Beast

Ordered to Series

iZombie

The Flash

Jane the Virgin

The Messengers

Cancelled

The Tomorrow People

Star-Crossed

The Carrie Diaries

Pilots that didn't get ordered to series

Identity (Alex Kurtzman/Roberto Orci project involving an organ transplant and a terrorist plot)

Bloodlines (Supernatural spinoff)

Of the new CW shows returning for a second season, I loved The 100 when it premiered earlier this year, and have stuck with it since then, so I'm glad to see the sci-fi drama will be back (and curious to see if the network moves it to the fall for 2014-2015). I can't say the same for Star-Crossed or The Tomorrow People, neither of which held me beyond the first couple of episodes. But I'm sure there are fans out there disappointed to know the dramas won't be coming back. The same for the Sex and the City prequel drama The Carrie Diaries, which wrapped up its second season back in January and will not be returning for a third.

Supernatural fans may also be disappointed to know they won't be getting the Bloodlines spinoff, as that one was among the projects that didn't get a series order for 2014-2015. On the bright side, Supernatural will return, so it's not all bad news there.

On the spinoff front, Arrow fans have The Flash series to celebrate and anticipate. We're especially hopeful that the spinoff and DC adaptation will live up to the high standard set by Arrow. Here's everything we know about The Flash so far.

Hopefully The CW will give us a peek at their upcoming new series after their Upfront presentation next week. In the meantime, it looks like there's much more to celebrate than their is to mourn, as most of their shows are coming back next season, along with a few new ones. All the same, farewell Tomorrow People, Star-Crossed and The Carrie Diaries.

The Heat Blu-ray Combo Pack

The Heat offers fans an uproarious 117 minutes comedy starring Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock, who plays Ashburn, an FBI agent, opposite McCarthy’s Mullins, a detective, in the film. The two team up to take down a drug cartel in Boston, leading to crazy hijinks and plenty of infighting. But when Mullins’ family becomes involved, the women get serious and decide to bring “the heat.”

Mostly, The Heat offers Bullock and McCarthy the chance to improvise and play two outside-the-box female characters in an inside-the-box buddy cop format. It’s exciting to see a buddy female cop comedy work, just as it’s exciting to see a couple of women play weirdo characters with no romance involved. Bullock’s more of the straight woman in the equation, while McCarthy gets most of the no-holds barred lines. McCarthy can occasionally border on the obnoxious, but her character thrives with this type of subject matter.

Director Paul Feig recently spoke to us about how he tried to edit the film to feature all of his preferred takes. This sometimes meant splicing a part of a wide shot with a close-up. Occasionally that leads to background continuity problems, which is a small critique and fortunately, one many viewers likely won't even notice.

At it’s heart, if it is anything, The Heat is enjoyable, and it’s the type of film that remains as funny upon rewatch. For a comedy, that's pretty high praise.

You can order The Heat over at Amazon.

Best Special Feature: There is just an overload of extras available with The Heat set. I think there are more extras with this disc than I have ever seen with a comedy, and they actually don’t suck. Bloopers and deleted scenes are always good with a comedy, but they even have a cool name on this disc (see: “All The Stuff We Had To Take Out But Still Think Is Funny”). Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of audio commentaries, but there are multiple on this disc and they are all worth a listen. One features Feig, another features the ridiculous Mullins family, another features other cast members from the flick, and a fourth was even put together by the Mystery Science Theater 3000 guys and features amusing lines like, “How much did the FBI pay for product placement in this movie?”

Typically comedy sets are amusing, but Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’s The Heat is majorly enjoyable and is actually worth spending some time with to get through the extras.

Other Special Features:

Unrated Version

“Mullins Family Fun”

Von Bloopers

“Police Brutality”

“Let’s Get Physical”

Acting Master Class

Supporting Cast Calvacade

Over and Out

“All The Stuff We Had To Take Out But Still Think Is Funny”

“How The Heat was Made”

“Attend the Premiere of The Heat”

Pacific Rim Blu-ray Combo Pack

At the outset, Pacific Rim offers fans everything a big budget summer movie should have, plus some. The film is big, bold, and full of fight choreography. It’s made up entirely of massive and CGI-necessary concepts, and it even sounds loud and explosive at home, thanks to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment’s incredible DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 and 5.1 surround tracks that keep battle noise at a maximum while still making the dialogue audible. As a bonus, the film is built around an entirely unique concept that nods at both monster and robot films. It falls a little short in a few areas, but mostly Giullermo del Toro’s film comes through in all of the best ways.

The film is set in 2025, during a time period when humanity is waging a war against alien creatures known as the Kaijus, who reached Earth via an interdimensional portal in the Pacific Ocean. To combat against these large monsters, humanity creates large robots manned by two connected pilots known as Jaegers. The events in the film largely follow a small crew of pilots attempting one last reckless plan to cut the Kaijus off from Earth for good.

The focus in this crew is on Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunman), a retired pilot who is asked by his former commander Pentacost (Idris Elba) to return to the front. There, he is joined by Majo Mori (Rinko Kikuchi), Herc Hanson (Max Martini), Chuck Hansen (Robert Kazinsky) and more to command the few remaining Jaeger machines as part of Earth’s last big defense. The whole premise of the plot is very serious, but luckily fans have Charlie Day’s scientist character Dr. Newton Geiszler and Ron Perlman’s Hannibal Chau to fall back on for comedy in the film.

Del Toro’s not immune from giving us some bland pep talks and longwinded scientific explanations. However, there’s no insipid but attractive female, there’s no ridiculous romance, and honestly, del Toro does so many things right with Pacific Rim that its few issues become less glaring. It’s a lengthy but enjoyable summer film, and it still holds up as fall rolls around.

You can order Pacific Rim over at Amazon.

Best Special Feature: The Pacific Rim set is nicely put together and the regular Blu-ray even features some cool 3D cover art. There are several bonus features with the set, but the coolest is the interactive featurette “The Director’s Notebook,” which features plenty of sketches and notes del Toro created before the movie went into production. The segment is lengthy and it takes a while to peruse through, but if you navigate the set correctly you’ll get comprehensive notes along with video segments from the director explaining which portions of his original ideas did or did not make the film.

Other Special Features:

“Drift Space”

“The Digital Artistry of Pacific Rim”

“The Shatterdome”

Deleted Scenes

Blooper Reel

Defiance: Season 1 Blu-ray

Syfy’s Defiance, in many ways, has become known for its multi-platform video game probably more the accompanying television program. Regardless, Season One of the science fiction drama introduced us to a brand new Earth offering plenty of culture clash coupled with a frontier mentality. The city of Defiance is located in the remains of St. Louis. The community as a whole is largely unstable and, throughout the first season, infights between the alien communities that have flocked to Earth are as common as fights with populations attempting to take over the city.

When Defiance first hit the schedule, it was largely a show following Joshua Nolan (Grant Bowler) and his adopted daughter, Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas). The cast quickly expanded out to include Mayor Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz) and her brotherl-owning sister, Kenya (Mia Kirshner), ambitious Castithans Datak and Stahma Starr (Tony Curran and Jaime Murray), mine owner Rafe (Graham Greene), and Indogene doctor Doc Yewll (Trenna Keating).

Many of the themes in Defiance are retreads. We’ve seen frontier communities in science fiction before, as well as different alien races attempting to live and work together. However, characters like Tarr and his wife, as well as Doc Yewll help to keep things interesting through Season 1. Datak’s an ambitious blowhard with a manipulative personality who has no idea he is a puppet compared to his wife Stahma and her own ambitions and manipulations. Yewll, on the other hand, is a smart and sarcastic doctor, with a slew of secrets in her past. It’s these characters and more that bring Defiance to life, and it’s these characters who have helped the drama to earn a second season.

You can order Defiance: Season 1 over at Amazon.

Best Special Feature: Some of the extras on the disc are pretty disappointing, including the Deleted Scenes and the segment “A Transmedia Revolution,” which is basically advertising for the series. The “Making of” segment features interviews with the show’s producers and actors explaining the show’s intentions and some of the challenges the production team faced regarding portraying different alien races. This includes a lot of information on the makeup and visual effects used on the film. If you are into the world of Defiance, there’s a ton of behind-the-scenes information available in this extra.

Other Special Features:

Deleted Scenes

Gag Reel

“Defiance: A Transmedia Revolution”

“Behind the Scenes with Jesse Rath”

Vikings: The Complete First Season Blu-ray

There are a lot of really nice sets out this week, but none really compares to the Vikings: The Complete First Season set, which was carefully designed to impress fans. The collectible outer packaging swoops down into a stylistic “v,” and opening the outer shell reveals a 3-disc Blu-ray set jam-packed with hours of extras. A&E Home video typically puts together the sets for The History Channel’s shows, but Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is behind the Vikings: The Complete First Season set, and it shows.

If the set is nice, the episodes are even better. There’s a lot of detail in Vikings, from the costumes to the weaponry, and it all looks spectacular in HD picture. Vikings is a drama that is unlike anything else on television. It has its own pace, its own rhythm, its own time period and setting. Creator Michael Hirst did a good job of placing Vikings in a unique world for television, and it’s no surprise that millions of viewers stuck with the drama through its first season run.

Season 1 largely focuses on a young Viking called Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), a dreamer and a schemer who wants more for his wife Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) and his son, Bjorn (Nathan O’Toole). During the course of the first ten episodes, he puts in motion a set of events that will change his Viking community forever by building a set of longships with his friend Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard) that leads to raids in a brand new territory. Clive Standen, Donal Logue, and Gabriel Byrne also star in the first season of the drama.

What is most enjoyable about Vikings is its storytelling, which intertwines moments of escalating violence and hardship with mystical premises and sharp dialogue. History’s new series is the full package, and if you give it a shot, it’s doubtful you’ll be disappointed.

You can order Vikings: The Complete First Season over at Amazon.

Best Special Feature: I can’t say enough nice things about this set. During the extras, I felt as if I was halfway watching documentary material and halfway invested in a set that looks like the The Lord of the Rings. There are interactive maps and behind-the-scenes segments. There are videos featuring professors of history talking about the historical relevance of the series and cast members talking about their experiences. My favorite segment is “A Warrior Society: Viking Culture and Law,” which really goes into depth about what we know about the Vikings and how this information is used in History’s series.

If I have any complaints, it is that the audio commentaries and deleted scenes are spread across several of the discs and the menu isn’t extremely easy to navigate. Most of the time, sets have the pop-up menu feature available, but with this set I kept having to find the back button to return to the main page.

Other Special Features:

Deleted Scenes

Audio Commentary on Select Episodes

“A Warrior Society: Viking Culture and Law”

“Birth of the Vikings”

“Forging the Viking Army: Warfare and Tactics”

“The Armory of the Vikings”

“Conquest and Discovery: Journeys of the Vikings”

Other October 15 Releases Blu-ray

Halloween hasn’t even happened yet, and we’re already at the first wave of huge release sets for the Holiday season. No, really. This week’s Hi Plains Drifter and The Untold History of the United States would look great in dad’s stocking. Besides, what woman wouldn’t want a Blu-ray copy of the 10th Anniversary Edition of Love Actually? That set comes complete with a heart-shaped ornament, just to prove it’s supposed to be a stocking stuffer. Lionsgate Home Entertainment even already put together a Holiday 4-Film Collection to make it clear it is time to start putting together lists of presents for those we love.

Of course, there are a few random releases in the batch. I’m not sure what Hart of Dixie: The Complete Second Season is doing out two weeks after Season 3 already premiered on the CW. Although Season 2 is only available on DVD, I will say that set is worth a purchase just to see Wade admit his love to Zoe Hart only to get rebuffed by her over and over again. That scene really gets to me, although the set itself lacks bonus features.

You can check out some more of October 15’s releases, below. Unless otherwise noted, the films and programs are available on both DVD and Blu-ray.

Love Actually 10th Anniversary Edition

Hi Plains Drifter: 40th Anniversary Edition

The Untold History of the United States

Holiday 4-Film Collection DVD

Abducted DVD

Hart of Dixie: The Complete Second Season

Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain

Ingenious DVD

Dracula: The Dark Prince DVD

Maniac

Dirty Wars DVD

Notting Hill Blu-ray

Star Wars: The Clone Wars –The Complete Season 5

Shrek: The Musical

The Colony

The bulk of The CW’s programs are dark dramas that frequently have some sort of supernatural component. Black costumes and handsome dudes abound at the network, but for the last couple of seasons Hart of Dixie has gone in a pretty different direction than most of the network’s programming, giving the CW a small town drama with plenty of southern charm—although handsome dudes still abound.

Hart of Dixie has a pretty loyal following but doesn’t crush in the ratings, so when the show was on the network’s bubble regarding a cancellation or renewal, I got the feeling that Hart of Dixie would try to tie up as many loose ends as possible in the Season 2 finale. As it turns out, however, I was wholly incorrect. Our characters ran in a thousand different directions. Zoe Hart inappropriately spoke out about her feelings for George, causing a rift between George and Tansy. Then, she hopped into the sack with her ex, Wade, who broke her heart earlier in the season by cheating on her. Then, she decided to head to New York for the summer, leaving Bluebell behind. Elsewhere, Tansy and George broke up and Lemon got a little nostalgic thinking about her feelings for Lavon; regardless, when she saw how happy Annabeth and Lavon are together, she perked up a little. In short, there were a lot of relationship switch-ups in Season 2 and in next week’s premiere, it looks like there will need to be a lot of cleanup.

In the opening moments of Hart of Dixie’s Season 3 trailer, we see Zoe’s big return—with bagels! She might be enthused about coming back, but unfortunately, people don’t seem too happy to see her. Honestly, Zoe doesn’t look particularly surprised in the trailer that she’s gotten on people’s bad sides, but she should feel a little ashamed. She spent the first two seasons trying to ingratiate herself into the community and get the residents of Bluebell to trust her, yet she managed to make a complete mess of things in just a couple of episodes at the end of last season. Zoe’s not always the most self-aware individual, so we’ll have to wait and see if she is able to work her way out of the mess—although, since the show wouldn't be the same if it wasn't set in Alabama, you would think her occasional charm and ability to help people as a doctor will shine through again at some point.

In the trailer, we get to see everyone from Lemon to Cricket to Tom express dislike for Zoe. One of the reactions I am more interested in seeing, however, is that of Brick Breeland. Zoe shared a practice with him in Bluebell for nearly two years before she opted to just jetset to New York for the summer, leaving Brick presumably in the lurch. I’m hoping her return to the practice will be addressed in the new episodes. Even if Brick was cool with Zoe leaving, her decision certainly left him with more work for the summer and I’m guessing it might mean extra hours for the tiny doctor.

Hart of Dixie has generally been more about the characters and their relationships than any doctoring, and I’m looking forward to the return of Leila Gerstein’s drama not only for the relationships, but also for the quippy dialogue. The new season premieres on Monday, October 7 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.

It’s been a big couple of weeks for Hart of Dixie cast members. Late last month, Scott Porter (who plays George on the charming CW series), tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Kelsey Mayfield. Now, HOD’s Jaime King is getting ready for her own big event. While King’s small screen character, Lemon, has been unlucky in love of late, in real life the actress is married to director Kyle Newman and the two announced this weekend that King is pregnant with the couple’s first child.

Newman and King have been happily married since 2007, following a ceremony at Greystone Park in Los Angeles, where the two had their first date. They seem to be a settled, happy couple, and King frequently posts pictures of herself, her husband, and their dogs to Twitter, exuding the image of a peaceful, happy life. I’m not shocked the 35-year-old actress and her husband are ready to add a baby to the mix, but I am curious to see how they will play the pregnancy off during the fourth season of Hart of Dixie, which was recently renewed by the CW and should hit the schedule next fall. However, if King’s pregnancy lasts for longer, I could see the network pulling a Bones and airing the new season a little later than usual.

According to The Daily Mail, King confirmed the news via a statement from her representative, as well as through a comment and a photo unveiled on her Twitter account that depicts King, her husband, and her beloved dogs.

King isn’t saying how far along she is, yet, and there are no details on the gender of the new baby. Suffice to say, we wish both King and Newman the best of luck throughout the pregnancy and are keeping our fingers crossed that the whole process will go smoothly. We’ll keep you updated as more baby news breaks in the coming months.

Well, that didn't take long! A day after The CW aired the back-door pilot for the Vampire Diaries potential spinoff series The Originals comes the official word from the network that they've ordered the pilot to series, which means more vampire drama on the CW, as the network had previously announced word of its renewal of TVD for a fifth season.

The Originals centers on Joseph Morgan's character Klaus. The backdoor pilot aired during The Vampire Diaries last night and had Klaus visiting his past in the town he and his family helped build, only to find that his former protege Marcel (Charles Michael Davis) has taken over the human and supernatural population. Apparently, The CW is happy enough with the pilot to give The Originals a series order for next season. The new drama Arrow, Supernatural and TVD among the series the CW already has lined up for their 2013-2014 season. Also set to return next season are Beauty and the Beast and Hart of Dixie. Like Arrow, Beauty and the Beast was one of CW's newcomers this season. Inspired by the classic tale, the drama comes from Sherri Cooper and Jennifer Levin and stars Kristin Kreuk as the titular beauty and a police detective, while Jay Ryan plays the "beastly" Vincent Keller, a former doctor turned soldier who was part of an experimental super soldier program.

Clearly, people took to Beauty and the Beast as they did to Arrow this season. Cult wasn't so fortunate, but the creepy drama's cancellation may leave room for one of CW's pilots in development to find a spot on the line-up.

2012 was a good year for drama, which made it tricky for us to come up with our Top 10 favorite TV dramas for the year. It's not all about shocking moments, plot twists and dramatic reveals. A great drama has a little of everything, including compelling stories, complex characters and the kind of momentum that keeps us eager to tune in each week and on the edge of our seats as we watch each episode. We feel confident that our list of fantastic dramas, presented in no particular order meet this criteria and then some.

SPOILER WARNING: If you are not caught up on the featured series, read on at your own risk!

Breaking Bad

Since its first episode Breaking Bad has pushed the envelope and provided an experience unlike any other series on television. With the decision to make Season 5 the last, the show was challenged with wrapping up a lot of loose ends while keeping the intensity of the previous seasons; and in 2012 Breaking Bad did just that while still leaving us wondering how things will conclude next year.

With a stellar cast led by the amazing Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad proved this year that it remains one of the best dramas around. Walter White, once an unlikely drug lord, has become more lost in the world in which he has trapped himself, while Jesse, once pegged as a hopeless case has come into his own. Over time the reversal in roles, the unusual friendship between the two and their loyalty to each other in spite of the odds against them has been the backbone of the story, and 2012 has brought that strange relationship to a head. Walter White’s character has been a study in how a once-good person can be led down a dangerous and destructive path, and the show has never shied away from the reality of his transformation.

With the second half of Season 5 yet to come in 2013, Breaking Bad has left fans on the edge of our seats as usual, waiting to find out what Walt will do when confronted with his secret. It’s also left us with one of the best dramas of 2012.

Parenthood

Parenthood is the most stressful show on television. Between Kristina’s cancer treatments, Sarah’s consistently terrible decision making and all the other struggles the members of the Braverman family find themselves confronting on a regular basis, it’s often an excruciating hour to get through, but in a way, that’s actually high praise. We emotionally invest because we care, and we care because the Bravermans are collectively the most carefully written, fully fleshed out and painfully familiar large family on television. Their low points might be traumatic to get through, but all that muck makes their successes feel even more joyful.

Since the show’s premiere in 2010, Jason Katims and his team of writers have been adding layers to each and every character. For the first two seasons, this process occasionally felt a bit overwhelming, but now that personalities have been long-established and the dynamics between all of the Bravermans have been explored, the show is able to convey so many emotions using just looks and brief interactions. With the additions of Victor, Hank and to a lesser extent, Ryan and Amy, 2012 has brought wonderful new faces to the table and used these people, along with story lines such as Kristina’s cancer, Crosby and Adam’s new studio and Joel’s new job, to push the people we know in exciting new directions. Here’s to hoping this gem stays around long enough to get the award show love it deserves.

Sherlock

It aired a long time ago but it’s hard to forget Series 2 of the BBC’s adaptation of Sherlock. It was a great New Years Day for UK audiences as they got to enjoy the beginning of 2012 with a brand new batch of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman solving crimes with incredibly chemistry in the reimagining of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic deducer and his doctor and, uh, blogger companion. For those of us stateside, well, the four full months waiting for PBS’s Masterpiece Mystery! to air the second season of the modern day Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson stories was pure agony. Why? Because, like so many, we had seen the first season of the British series and couldn’t wait to see more of Stephen Moffat and Mark Gatiss’ had in store for the characters. Oh, and how they were going to resolve that bloody cliffhanger with Andrew Scott’s memorable Moriarty.

All we were hoping for heading into Series 2 was something that came even close to the brilliance that came before it and the cast and crew behind Sherlock didn’t disappoint. Structured the same as the first season - three 90 minute installments, basically movies - the second oddly suffered from the same bit of second episode-itis (sorry, “Banker” and “Baskerville”) but the first and the last were so damn good that they had to be included. “A Scandal in Belgravia,” featuring Lara Pulver as Irene Adler, would probably rank highly among the films of the year if Paul McGuigan’s ‘Sherlocked’ adventure played on the big-screen. The third installment, “The Reichenbach Fall,” wasn’t just great immaculately plotted television but the way that the creators also kept mum on whether or not the series would continue (not to mention that it was based on “The Final Problem,” hint, hint...) raised the stakes and made it even more suspenseful.

Suits

Despite a fantastic starting premise, USA’s Suits got off to a tough start when the series first aired two years ago, becoming a show that landed somewhere in the middle of the pack of new and returning shows. However, in Season 2, Suits returned strong, and boldly began answering the question, “What might happen should Mike’s (Patrick J. Adams) secret be found out?” While Season 2 of Suits plays out with an ensemble cast of characters, Mike’s eidetic memory and his secret life as a lawyer who hasn’t passed the bar often takes on some Dexter-like complications, but with more quick wit and whole lot less blood. Letting partner Jessica in on preserving Mike’s secret added a nice balance to the plot.

Speaking of complicated, Season 2 tried to branch out a little further from it’s initial run, creating new cases and extra plotlines that spanned over multiple episodes, thus rewarding all the eager fans who tuned in each week. New characters were capably introduced and also gave the cast an added edge in terms of featuring a sort-of “villain” in the office. In short, there were a lot of great additions to the show that amped up it’s game and made the series a major player in 2012. With a likeable cast and a continually revolving format, Suits has become a stronger player in the TV realm,and viewers should expect more great moments from the program when 2013 rolls around.

Dexter

Recent seasons of Dexter haven't quite lived up to the series' earlier seasons. But Season 7 brought the Showtime drama back to greatness by returning the primary focus to the lead character and wrapping up some of the additional story arcs early on, leaving those last free of clutter and at the same time, packed with suspense and drama. Season 7's pacing is a big part of why Dexter ranks up there with some of the best TV had to offer this year.

From the start of the season, the suspense began building, with LaGuerta's investigation almost buried behind other issues, including Deb's anxiety as she tried to understand and accept her brother's dark passenger. Also introduced was the death of one of MIami Metro Homicide's own, which eventually led to Dexter getting mixed up with a Ukrainian criminal on a mission for vengeance. And then there was Dexter's developing romance with Hannah. These arcs played out and just as some of them began to wrap up, LaGuerta's growing suspicion of Dexter turned to accusation. She went full-on Doakes with him, putting her own career in jeopardy and coming dangerously close to proving Dexter was the Bay Harbor Butcher. The final episode of the season proved to be one of the more stressful pieces of scripted television this year, for all of the right reasons. The show set itself up to leave us guessing and unable to fully predict just how things would turn out. In the end, we were left with yet another brilliant game changer in the final moments of the season, as one character redefined themselves with the pull of a trigger.

Hart of Dixie

Last spring, the CW’s southern drama, Hart of Dixie set up several complicated love triangles that either needed to be broken up or expanded as the fall rolled around. It’s those initial love triangles that sucked many fans in, but by the end of the first few episodes this fall, more inter-town romances and partner swapping, as well as plenty of hurt feelings could have derailed the show. Luckily, Hart of Dixie is more deftly woven than its previews might indicate, and Season 2 has managed to play off Season 1’s epic ending, moving a few chess pieces around in prominent places and forcing many of its characters to take a more grown-up turn.

At the heart of this is Jaime King’s Lemon Breeland, who brings attitude and charm to the table, but whose character development between last spring and this fall has helped the show to move forward as a whole. Sure, Hart of Dixie’s a delightful small town story that relies on its romance more than Rachel Bilson’s Zoe Hart’s predicaments as a doctor, but those set-ups and heartbreaks are what has always been the most satisfying part of the show. If romance and pop culture references aren’t your cup of tea, Dixie may not be a show for you, but the show knows exactly what it is, and if you gave up or have not given the show a chance, Season 2 has been better than the show’s first, and one of the better sophomore efforts this fall.

Spartacus: Vengeance

After a prequel season to fill the space between Blood and Sand and the series' return, Spartacus was back with a Vengeance this year, picking up where the first season left off, with Liam McIntyre stepping in to take over the titled role. Celebrating the return of some of our favorite characters was short-lived as the writers eventually killed a number of them off in spectacular fashion. But the bloodbath that was Spartacus: Vengeance's season finale isn't the only reason the Starz series makes the list for Best Dramas in 2012. As anticipated from Blood and Sand's finale, Vengeance took the story away from the arena and began a successful transition from gladiator-fighting show to the start of a rebellion of slaves against the Romans.

And then they killed everyone off. Well, not everyone, but a lot of the main characters were given some gloriously violent and disturbing send-offs as Vengeance wrapped up, reminding us of just how high the stakes are in a series like this. It's difficult to picture the series without many of the characters who were lost this year, but their exits, (spoiler alert!) which include one character swallowing a sword, another being subjected to a forced caesarean section, and another tipping backwards over the cliff while clutching a baby, are surely burned into our minds. Vengeance took Spartacus to the next level, setting the series up for the upcoming final season and delivering some of the most exciting, suspenseful, bloody and action packed drama on television.

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones came to television with a couple of major challenges to face: the first, proving to fans of the books that the show would live up to them, and the second was proving that high fantasy on a Tolkien scale could translate to the small screen. If the first season overcame those challenges, the second season left absolutely no doubt.

In 2012 Game of Thrones became one of those shows that goes beyond its pre-determined fan base of loyal readers. It proved itself a drama of depth, with incredibly nuanced performances from a cast that is huge but talented right down to the least of the roles. The series took on epic battle, magic, betrayal and love and did it all without become trite or cheesy as a fantasy series is always in danger of doing. Somehow, in spite of the fantasy world in which it is played out, Game of Thrones provides characters that are relatable, loveable and hateable as well, which is what any drama needs to succeed.

Led by the inimitable Peter Dinklage in the role of Tyrion Lannister, a character who came into his own during the 2012 season in a spectacular fashion, Game of Thrones was easily one of 2012’s best dramas. The wait for the third season and the coming of a new threat hasn’t been an easy one for any fan.

The Good Wife

At its best, The Good Wife is a wonderful balance between the unique intrigue of a legal procedural and the overarching forward momentum of a serial drama. It lets all of its main characters cultivate rich and extensive personal lives with real consequences and still manages to show a riveting courtroom chess match between opposing litigators each week. In that way, viewer loyalty is rewarded but not necessarily required, though anyone who missed a moment of 2012 surely missed out. From Will’s disbarment to Lockhart/ Gardner’s unceremonious plunge into bankruptcy, the writers definitely didn’t play it safe this year, and more often than not, the places they took the show were riveting and mentally stimulating.

The addition of Nathan Lane’s trustee Clarke Hayden was a masterstroke, offering Diane Lockhart and Will Gardner both a helping hand and a judgmental boss to answer to, and many of the guest stars including Martha Plimpton (who won an Emmy) and Jason Biggs made the most of their episodes. Best of all, the characters we’ve grown to love like Alicia, Kalinda and Will all grew richer, more vibrant and more intriguing. Things might not be blissful inside the once thriving law firm of Lockhart & Gardner, but from a viewer’s perspective, things have never been better inside this fictionalized version of Cook County.

Boardwalk Empire

Not many returning series had as big a mountain to climb as HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. The prohibition era drama set in Atlantic City was facing said hyperbolic challenge because of the ballsy yet series shattering conclusion of the second season. The show, uh, shot itself in the face a little by murdering Michael Pitts’ Jimmy, because he wasn’t just a co-lead but a lot of the heart and, on a more perfunctory level, the storylines and characters depended on his presence. But creator Terence Winter, and his band of writers, were more than up to the task, crafting a novel of a third season that somehow both extended its sprawl, elevated the emotion and wrapped itself up, oh so tightly. And bloodily. But the third season of Boardwalk Empire was about so much more than just littering the screen with corpses, delivering a run of episodes as good as any on the small-screen this past year.

It began with an explosive few installments before switching gears into (what some thought was too much of) a slow burn but the final six were undeniably engaging, emotional, shocking, and ultimately satisfying. And that’s all on top of Boardwalk Empire always delivering luscious costumes, impressive sets and stunning cinematography, not to mention the actors, both returning and new - Steve Buscemi, Kelly Macdonald, Jack Huston, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham, Charlie Cox and Bobby Cannavale - who make an ensemble that should rival any series come awards time. If not, they could easily bribe and intimidate the judges or, if it comes to it, take them out.

Check out our Top 10 Comedies of 2012 HERE.

Thanksgiving may only happen once a year. However, for the past week, TV programming has gone ahead and gotten its tryptophan fix in, gratifying themselves with over-eating and an abundance of pilgrim jokes. There are two types of TV shows: those that indulge in Thanksgiving-themed episodes, and those that breeze by the holiday with only a reference to the happening. Regardless of how a show chooses to commemorate the family-based experience, there are only a few modern families that would actually be a hoot to hang out with, or should I say a gobble?

After fighting, coaxing, and getting into our fair share of nitpicking, TV Blend has come up with a list of our five favorite current TV families whose Thanksgiving celebrations we would be more than willing to crash. So pick those turkey remnants out of your teeth, grab a glass of wine, and sit down to see if you agree with our list. As usual, if you feel we’ve missed a few, argue your case in the comments, below.

1. Parenthood’s The Bravermans

The Bravermans’ lives are filled with a ridiculous amount of drama. This season alone, they’ve tackled new relationships, cancer, job transitions, and veterans of war. However, if there is one thing that can be said about the Parenthood family, it’s that they come together in the moments that count most. The show is so intimate, many fans probably think of their drama as our drama, and I can think of nothing better than sitting down for a meal with the Bravermans.

In the cozy atmosphere, we could probably score some recipes from Camille, talk about books with Mark, keep our fingers crossed there are no mishaps between Sarah and Amber, get into some cool kid antics with Max and Jabbar, and maybe even get Zeek to tell us a story about the good old days. After eating way too much food in that super cozy outdoor space decorated with the cross-hanging lights, we would probably get a game of basketball in. If there’s anything Parenthood does really well, it is ending on the perfect note, and Thanksgiving is no exception.

2. Suburgatory’s The Shays

The members of the Shay family might be overbearing and dangerously close to crazy at times, but they also know how to have fun. They like to laugh, gossip about people in the neighborhood and best of all, play games. There are some people out there who place board games in the awkward, forced fun category, or even worse, in the bored category. Not me. And definitely not the Shay’s. They enjoy playing Monopoly and a slew of other activities, and with the possible exception of Lisa, they are all always very emotionally invested in the game’s outcome. Ryan is even prone to dancing and taking his shirt off during key gloating moments.

As a woman who knows the value of appearance, Sheila is also zealously determined to make a good impression and in her eyes, that involves food, decorations and recreational activities. A Thanksgiving at her house would be delicious and energetic. Plus, if previous holidays are any indication, there’s a chance guests might get an eyeful of Lisa’s naked body, which would make for a good, borderline-illegal story.

3. Modern Family’s The Pritchetts, Dunphys, and Tuckers

The members of the Pritchett, Dunphy and Tucker families might look at the world in different ways and walk through their lives on different paths, but they all fit together like strange, misshapen tectonic plates. It’s only noticeable when the entire lot is assembled in one place, and there’s no better day of the year to watch that magic than on Thanksgiving. From Cam and Jay’s football conversations to Claire and Mitchell’s ice skating routines, their memories and methods of bonding are as diverse and colorful as their personalities, and spending a few hours amidst that bizarre love would be a hell of an experience. And more than likely, a loud one.

The pieces might fit together, but that doesn’t mean there’s not always the potential for an earthquake. Haley’s on-again, off-again boyfriend is always a candidate to play overly sexualized songs, and Phil is always a candidate to leer a little too long at Gloria’s impressive physique. Not all of the memories are the most pleasant or the bonding methods completely fine-tuned, but luckily, the good and the bad are both ultimately just fodder for more connections and more stories down the line. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

4. The Good Wife’s The Florricks

The Florrick family has had a bumpy ride over the last few TV seasons. This is mostly due to Peter and Alicia, whose busy lives and intrigue have allowed them to live pretty separate lives, despite sort-of getting back together. The couple’s kids, too, are growing up, and they are learning to navigate the world without a reliance on their parents, who spend long hours at the office. One would think this would mean the Florrick’s would be a terrible family to spend Thanksgiving with, but we would beg to differ.

Not only do Peter and Alicia have interesting opinions, their kids are growing up to think outside the box, as well. We’d get a little bit of cattiness between Alicia and Peter’s mother, and since the latter woman is going a little bit crazy, that could be pretty fun, as well. Hopefully, Alicia’s daughter would bring her trainwreck new boyfriend, who happens to be a smoker and an intern on Fox’s Bones. Besides all this, we’d get a chance to see Eli in action, popping up every five minutes to inform Peter about how the campaign is going. There would never be a dull moment, and if you like your drama, Thanksgiving would be a good time for a healthy dose of The Good Wife cast, right alongside your gravy.

5. Hart of Dixie’s The Breelands

Two weeks ago, I likely wouldn’t have considered the Alabama royalty a suitable Thanksgiving option. Brick can barely pick out his own clothing let along contribute to the domestic holiday load, and Magnolia is too self-centered, lazy and incompetent to help, which would leave poor Lemon to handle everything. Now that she’s started a catering business with Annabeth, however, the Breeland household would make an enjoyable, well-rounded Thanksgiving option.

Nothing is ever simple in Bluebell, Alabama. The holiday festivities might be planned for just a handful of people, but by the big day, Zoe, Wade, Lavon, Crickett, George and maybe even Dash would wind up breaking bread at the Breeland’s, bringing with them a swarm of activities to do and people to talk with. Plus, there are few things more delicious than a Southern Thanksgiving. Up North, people might be concerned about calories and organic alternatives, but in Alabama, those preparing the meals are more focused on making everything as delicious as possible, regardless of how many sticks of butter and pounds of cheese such a noble goal requires.

Hart of Dixie is not the type of show that a huge audience is going to gravitate to. Its heartfelt problems and small town setup—in the deep south, nonetheless—push forward at an extremely slow pace that lacks in the action department. However, Hart of Dixie: The Complete First Season has a knack for sucking you in and not spitting you out until you’ve reached the season’s conclusion.

The highlight of Hart of Dixie is the show’s cast of eccentric characters. The show primarily follows Dr. Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson), a newcomer to the small town of Bluebell, Alabama, but it also gives onscreen precedence to Mayor Lavon Hayes (Cress Williams), lawyer and all-around nice guy George Tucker (Scott Porter), southern belle Lemon Breeland (Jaime King), and bad boy Wade (Wilson Brethel). Immediately, the show sets up a bizarre “Will they or won’t they” love triangle between Hart, Wade, and the most certainly engaged George. Things get even more complicated when Lemon and Lavon own up to some past misbehavior.

As eccentric and wonderful as the characters are in given moments, sometimes they inexplicably deviate from character or revert back to former versions of themselves. This seems to be a writing problem, first and foremost. There are 22 episodes in Season 1 and throughout the middle of the season, it’s almost like the writers ran out of new ideas and retreated into some of their old fodder instead of pushing forward. For an example of this, you only have to look as far as Brick Breeland (Tim Matheson), the doctor who shares Zoe’s practice and who initially wants Zoe to return to the big city she hailed from. Partway through the season, he begins to warm to Dr. Hart, but then flips back to despising her, and then, out of nowhere, begins acting like a father figure. Brick should never have been such a bipolar character, and as much as I wanted the hate-to-love transition, it isn’t effective.

It’s a shame the writing spends so much time lingering on plotlines like Brick’s, because there are certainly enough townsfolk to warrant side stories that are a little more outside the box. Hart of Dixie is set in small town, leaving plenty of opportunity for recurring characters to pop up now and again. One of the CW’s other shows, Gilmore Girls, was set in a similar small town environment, but definitely managed its ensemble cast of townsfolk a whole lot better than Hart of Dixie does. While Season 1 increases the use of recurring characters later on by giving Annabeth (Kaitlyn Black), Dash (Reginald VelJohnson), and Tom (Ross Philips) more to work with, it comes too late.

None of this detracts from the charm of Hart of Dixie. The cutesy dialogue in the show is always easy, and the nature of the town taking a while to warm up to a woman who isn’t willing to change her city habits works perfectly in the show. As the selfish–but-charming Zoe Hart, Bilson is entertaining and gives us a character to root for, but the fashionable actress doesn’t even begin to hold a candle to King’s Lemon, who capably plays a pseudo southern belle with a sorostitute attitude and a funky vintage wardrobe. Lemon is bold and modern, and always offers new surprises. If the rest of the show was half as clever, Hart of Dixie could be one of the better programs on television.

It’s not, but that doesn’t mean Hart of Dixie is a bad program. In fact, I’ve constantly found myself impressed with the way Leila Gerstein’s effort manages to create its own niche in today’s television schedule. Despite my former mention of the past program, Gilmore Girls, there is nothing like Hart of Dixie on television. The townsfolk, while not without problems, are genuinely goodhearted people and don’t delve into hardship and sorrow like other small town dramas (e.g. Friday Night Lights). The jokes manage the wit and cultural references that are trendy in network comedies, while the writers cultivate their own distinct culture and landscapes onscreen. Hart of Dixie is delightful, and you don’t have to look any further than “Planksgiving” to determine that.

The Complete First Season is a nice little set that doesn’t ever bridge the gap into fancy or extensive. The 5-Disc DVD comes with deleted scenes on each of the discs. I think this is meant to keep the deleted scenes nearer the episodes they would have appeared in, but since I just watched them all at once, it was kind of a hassle to continually change discs. The big extra is the featurette, “Straight From The Hart of Dixie,” which is your basic behind-the-scenes segment about the characters and life in Bluebell. What was most strange—and most interesting—is that none of the actors with southern accents on the show have accents in real-life. They all sound California crisp, except for maybe King, who I would guess has more of a middle American lilt. Rounding out the special features is a gag reel that reads more like an outtakes feature.

If you plan to purchase, it shouldn’t be for the extras, the bland discs, or the DVD picture. If you plan to buy Hart of Dixie: The Complete First Season, it should be for the show itself. You won’t find anything like it on television, and if you do get sucked in, I won’t even say “I told you so.”

Length: 968 min.

Distributor:Warner Home Video

Release Date: 10/02/2012

Starring: Rachel Bilson, Jaime King, Cress Williams, Scott Porter, Wilson Brethel

Directed by:David Paymer, Joe Lazarov, Tim Matheson

Written by: Leila Gerstein, Donald Todd

Word has come down regarding the CW's freshman dramas Hart of Dixie, Ringer and The Secret Circle. It's good news for one of the series and bad for the other two. It's also been reported that the network has picked up five new drama series to add to their line-up next season.

First, the bad news. TVLine has reported that Ringer has been cancelled. The series, which starred Sarah Michelle Gellar, had some great moments and though I'll admit I found it confusing on occasion, due largely to Gellar's double-role as twins, it had sort of a guilty-pleasure appeal to it. RIP Ringer. Also cancelled was supernatural-themed drama The Secret Circle. The good news is, freshman drama Hart of Dixie managed to earn itself a second season.

As for the new shows on the horizon at the CW, The Hollywood Reporter posted news of the five pickups, stating that the CW has given series orders to The Carrie Diaries, Arrow, Cult, Beauty and the Beast and First Cut. Here's the skinny on each of them:

Arrow - Executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg the series stars Stephen arnell, Jamey Sheridan, David Ramsey, Colin Donnell, and, pending The River's status at ABC, Paul Blackthorne. It's an hourlong drama described as a modern retelling of DC Comics' Green Arrow, who's set to be played by Arnell. Perhaps Arrow will fill the void left by Smallville at the network.

The Carrie Diaries - Executive produced by Amy Harris, Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, Len Goldstein and Candace Bushnell this series stars AnnaSophia Robb, Austin Butler and Brendan Dooling, and is based on a book by Candace Bushnell and follows Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw during her younger years in the 1980's, when she was first coming to question love, sex, friendship and family. Given the high school/Manhattan setting, my guess is that Gossip Girl fans may get on board with this one. As a Sex and the City fan, I'll admit that I'm curious to see how Carrie Bradshaw is portrayed in this series.

Cult - Executive produced by Rockne O'Bannon, Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, Len Goldstein, and Jason Ensler, Cult stars Jessica Lucas as a young production assistant who works on a popular TV show and teams up with a blogger (Matt Davis) in an investigation when they discover that there may be fans of the show re-creating crime scenes featured in the series. The show-within-a-show concept is interesting, as is the dark twist involving possible fan-committed crimes. This might be the one I'm looking forward to most among these recently ordered series.

Beauty and the Beast - One of two network TV takes on Beauty and the Beast this season (the other is for ABC), this one comes from Jennifer Levin, Sherri Cooper, Paul J. Witt, C. Anthony Thomas, Ron Koslow, Bill Haber and stars Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan as Beauty and the Beast respectively. The series is described as a modern day retelling of the classic story and loosely based on CBS' 80's series by the same name. I'll admit, I'm less interested in Kruek starring as I am in the story itself, but if it's done right, this could be an interesting drama. The original story is certainly timeless enough to be adapted.

First Cut - Executive produced by Jennie Snyder Urman and Dan Jinks, this one stars Mamie Gummer as a new doctor who's trying to figure out the ins and outs of working at a hospital, which she soon discovers is not all that different from high school. Also among the cast are Justin Hartley, Michael Rady, Jack Coleman, Kelly J. McCreary, Aja Naomi King and Necar Zadegan. Not that TV needs another medical drama, but the CW's sort of short on those so First Cut could fill the void there.

If the results of TiVo’s survey are to be trusted, Prime Suspect, Hart of Dixie and Revenge may be among the series destined for cancellation. The DVR service is set to release a report that analyzes the promotional conversion rates based on a survey they did.

The Hollywood Reporter posted the story, stating that TiVo surveyed 35,000 of its users to analyze the correlation between the number of new ads users watched and whether the ads convinced them to tune in to the show. Those who did tune in to the premiere episode after watching at least three promos qualified as “a successful conversion.”

Apparently, the Bottom 5 new series in this survey were ABC’s Charlie’s Angels (canceled), The CW’s H8R (canceled), ABC’s Revenge, The CW’s Hart of Dixie and NBC’s Prime Suspect. As the Reporter notes, none of the the series among last year’s survey’s Bottom 5 were renewed, which is not good news for the three yet-to-be renewed series in this year’s Bottom 5. Of course, the Reporter also notes that the third-highest conversion rated series was CBS’ How to be a Gentleman, which has already been canceled. Free Agents was #8 from the top and the NBC comedy has also been cancelled, so the survey isn't a perfect indication of which series will fail and which will succeed.

Maybe this is blind optimism here, especially as Revenge has become one of my favorite TV shows this season, but this data is based on the series premieres. In the case of Revenge, while the drama series pulled in just over 10 million viewers for its premiere, it seems to be retaining most of its viewers, bringing in over eight million viewers for last week’s episode. By comparison to Free Agents, which premiered to 6.12 million viewers and then dropped steadily, reaching 3.25 million viewers in its last episode, Revenge is looking ok. Or maybe I just don’t want to consider the possibility that it won’t be back for a second season.

Prime Suspect’s numbers have been declining steadily. The police drama, which stars Maria Bello, brought in 6.05 million viewers for its premiere and was down to 4.03 million by last Thursday’s episode. Hart of Dixie’s numbers have stayed more or less the same, with the series bringing in 1.88 million viewers for its premiere, and drifting down, then back up to 2.01 million viewers between then and last week’s episode.

As for which shows fared the best on TiVo’s survey, CBS’ 2 Broke Girls and Fox’s New Girl were at the top of the list. While 2 Broke Girls has already received a second-season pick-up, Fox’s New Girl’s ratings have seen a decline from week to week, premiering to 10.28 million viewers back in September, and dropping to 7.42 million viewers for this week’s episode. The slightly sharper drop between episodes 3 and 4, which marks a difference of over a million viewers, may be due to the month-long gap between episodes due to the World Series knocking New Girl off the line-up for a few weeks. Hopefully things will bounce back a bit for the series throughout November.

For all of a week, it looked like Nancy Travis would be one of the busiest actresses on television. Two of her pilots, Last Man Standing and Hart Of Dixie were picked up by ABC and the CW, respectively, but since the latter only made her a recurring character, the former superseded any agreement she had with Hart Of Dixie. Under Travis’ contract with Last Man Standing producers 20th Century Fox, they have the final say on whether or not she can appear in a recurring or guesting capacity on another show, and those powers that be have decided she cannot work on Hart Of Dixie.

This has put the CW’s new offering in a vulnerable position considering Nancy Travis was prominently shown in the program’s upfront presentation. Rather than re-appealing to Twentieth Century Fox, Hart Of Dixie producers have decided to go ahead and recast her part. In the long run, it’s probably better for the show. Even if they had somehow gotten Travis, her appearance schedule would have been at the mercy of Last Man Standing. But in the short term, the loss of such a credible actress will no doubt take a toll, forcing the show to at minimum reshoot a portion of the pilot.

According to Deadline, there’s no word on who the CW might go with to replace the departing actress, but with a spot on the fall line-up in place, that decision will need to be made quickly. We’ll keep you abreast of the latest casting developments when they become available.

Starting this fall, The CW has new series Hart of Dixie set on the schedule to follow returning drama Gossip Girl. Dixie follows a young doctor who leaves New York and heads down south to practice medicine in a small clinic.

I’m guessing people will call her a “yankee” and she will complain about not being able to find an open deli past dark. I won’t pretend this is my type of show but I will admit it does look charming, regardless of whether or not it succumbs to the more obvious stereotypes in culture-clashes between New Yorkers and Southerners.

Below is the CW’s full synopsis for the series and further down are some videos.

Hart of Dixie will air on Mondays (9-10 p.m.) on The CW starting Fall 2011.

CLICK HERE to view The CW’s Fall 2011 Primetime Schedule.