The CW has delayed the hotly anticipated, and heavily promoted, return of Smallville and Supernatural from tonight to next Friday. In their place, the network will air encores of Thursday's mid-season premieres of The Vampire Diaries and Nikita.
According to TVLine, the 11th-hour scheduling change was made for two reasons: The Vampire Diaries was preempted Thursday in Chicago for a mayorial debate and in Baltimore for a basketball game. But more importantly, the series is going up against ratings juggernaut American Idol. So rather than let viewership of The Vampire Diaries, and its lead-out Nikita, suffer, executives decided to give their mid-season returns additional samplings.
Here's the revised schedule for the next two weeks, as well as previews of the mid-season premieres of Smallville and Supernatural:
FRIDAY, JAN. 28
The Vampire Diaries (8-9 p.m. ET/PT): "The Descent"
DOOM, GLOOM AND PERSONAL GROWTH -- Stefan (Paul Wesley) has his own ideas about Elena's (Nina Dobrev) new plan for the future. While Damon (Ian Somerhalder) tries to get the truth out of Jules (guest star Michaela McManus), he asks Elena to keep an eye on Rose (guest star Lauren Cohan), a situation that turns unexpectedly dangerous. Caroline (Candice Accola) and Matt (Zach Roerig) try to be honest about their feelings for one another, and Tyler's (Michael Trevino) reaction to Caroline's generosity comes as a surprise to her. Damon struggles to hide his true feelings when a life-and-death crisis hits him harder than he expected. Matt Davis also stars. Marcos Siega directed the episode written by Sarah Fain & Elizabeth Craft (#212).
Nikita (9-10 p.m. ET/PT): "Free"
NIKITA HELPS ALEX ADJUST TO LIFE AS AN AGENT -- Now an agent, Alex (Lyndsy Fonseca) gets a new apartment and is given a cover job. She meets her new neighbor Nathan (guest star Thad Luckenbill) who invites her to a party at his house. Nikita (Maggie Q) warns Alex about getting too involved with people but Alex struggles between her duties at Division and living a normal life. Nikita realizes Division has implanted a kill chip in Alex's head and sets out to gain control of the chip. While interrogating Birkhoff (Aaron Stanford), Nikita stuns Ryan (guest star Noah Bean) by revealing a secret. Shane West also stars. Jonathan Glassner directed the episode written by Kalinda Vazquez (#112).
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 2
Smallville (8-9 p.m. ET/PT): "Icarus"
HAWKMAN AND STAR GIRL RETURN! -- The VRA is in full effect and things take an unfortunate turn of events after the Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) tries to stop a mugging but is attacked by citizens for being a super hero. Clark (Tom Welling) discovers that the civilians who attacked Oliver were all marked with a darkness tattoo. Carter Hall (guest star Michael Shanks) and Star Girl (guest star Britt Irvin) return to help Clark deal with Slade's (guest star Michael Hogan) re-emergence after he kidnaps Lois (Erica Durance). Cassidy Freeman also stars. Mairzee Almas directed the episode written by Genevieve Sparling (#3X6011).
Supernatural (9-10 p.m. ET/PT): "Appointment in Samarra"
DEATH RETURNS FOR A MEETING WITH DEAN -- Dean (Jensen Ackles) seeks out Death (guest star Julian Richings) to help get Sam's (Jared Padalecki) soul back. Death tells Dean he will help Sam if Dean will agree to act as Death for 24 hours. Meanwhile, Sam decides he doesn't want his soul back and asks Balthazar (guest star Sebastian Roché) for a protective spell to keep his soul out of his body. Balthazar tells Sam he needs the blood of his father for the spell to work and since John Winchester is dead, Sam decides Bobby (Jim Beaver) is the next best thing. Mike Rohl directed the episode written by Sera Gamble & Robert Singer (#611).
FRIDAY, FEB. 4
Smallville (8-9 p.m. ET/PT): "Collateral"
CHLOE SULLIVAN RETURNS TO SMALLVILLE -- Clark (Tom Welling), Oliver (Justin Hartley), Lois (Erica Durance) and Dinah (guest star Alaina Huffman) are released by the VRA after being captured at Hawkman's funeral but each of them have flashbacks of Chloe (Allison Mack) holding them against their will. When Chloe returns, Dinah warns the others that Chloe may now be a traitor. Oliver dismisses her concerns but Clark is unsure if he can trust Chloe after she disappeared without an explanation. Cassidy Freeman also stars. Morgan Beggs directed the episode written by Jordan Hawley. (#3X6012).
Supernatural (9-10 p.m.): "Like A Virgin"
DEATH RETURNS FOR A MEETING WITH DEAN - Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Bobby (Jim Beaver) anxiously wait for Sam (Jared Padalecki) to wake up to see if Death (guest star Julian Richings) was able to restore his soul without causing Sam to lose his mind. Meanwhile, Dean and Bobby investigate a disappearance of virgins and discover dragons are behind the kidnappings. Bobby sends Dean to a doctor who owns the only weapon in the world that can slay a dragon, but Dean must prove himself worthy enough to take it. Phil Sgriccia directed the episode written by Adam Glass (#612).
FRIDAY, FEB. 11
Smallville (8-9 p.m.): "Beacon"
MARTHA KENT COMES HOME -- Clark (Tom Welling) is surprised to see Martha (Annette O'Toole) on the news speaking at a pro-vigilante rally. However, surprise quickly turns to horror when he and Lois (Erica Durance) watch as Martha is injured in an attack on national television. Meanwhile, Lionel (John Glover) reveals himself to the world and reclaims LuthorCorp from Tess (Cassidy Freeman) and Oliver (Justin Hartley). Lois and Chloe (Allison Mack) decide to cheer Clark up by showing him videos from thousands of vigilante supporters professing their support for The Blur. Videos were created and submitted by actual Smallville fans. Mike Rohl directed the episode written by Don Whitehead & Holly Henderson (#3X6013).
Supernatural (9-10 p.m.): "Unforgiven"
DEAN FINDS OUT ABOUT SAM'S LIFE WHEN HE HUNTED WITH SAMUEL -- Sam (Jared Padalecki) starts to have flashbacks to a case he worked on with Samuel (guest star Mitch Pileggi) before he reconnected with Dean (Jensen Ackles). Sam receives a mysterious text with coordinates to a small town, so the brothers decide to investigate. Dean is surprised when the townspeople start telling him some of the things Sam did while he lived there. David Barrett directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb & Daniel Loflin (#613).