The more things change in television, the more old habits they retain: The CW revealed its premiere dates, crowding most of its shows back to new episodes before the big networks are expected to start their shows in late September.

The moves continue a longstanding tradition among smaller networks of getting their stuff on the air a few weeks before the big boys, hoping for a little splash and viewer recognition before Grey's Anatomy and CSI start blowing them out of the water.

Another notable change: the buzzed-about youth drama Gossip Girl moves to 9 p.m., switching places with less buzzed-about youth drama One Tree Hill. The CW's new shows mostly feel like new spins on old concepts -- a Melrose Place revival, Vampire Diaries (or, as I called it after watching the pilot, Twilight the TV show) and The Beautiful Life (Gossip Girl in the New York fashion world).

Might be fun. The CW's announced schedule come September: 

THE CW NETWORK ANNOUNCES FALL PREMIERE DATES, (New shows in bold.)

** Tuesday, Sept. 8

8:00-9:00 p.m. -- “90210” (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 p.m. -- “MELROSE PLACE” (Series Premiere)

** Wednesday, Sept. 9

8:00-10:00 p.m. --  “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL” (2-Hour Season Premiere)

** Thursday, Sept. 10

8:00-9:00 p.m. -- “THE VAMPIRE DIARIES” (Series Premiere)

9:00-10:00 p.m. -- “SUPERNATURAL” (Season Premiere)

** Monday, Sept. 14

8:00-9:00 p.m. -- “ONE TREE HILL” (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 p.m. --  “GOSSIP GIRL” (Season Premiere)

** Wednesday, Sept. 16

8:00-9:00 p.m. --  “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL”

9:00-10:00 p.m. -- “THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE: TBL” (Series Premiere)

** Friday, Sept. 25

8:00-9:00 p.m. --  “SMALLVILLE” (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 p.m. -- “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL” (Encore Episodes)

June 17, 2009 (Burbank, CA)  -- The CW Network has set its fall premiere
schedule, featuring the debut of three new series, returning favorites
and a timeslot flip for the hit Monday night team of Gossip Girl and
One Tree Hill.

The CW’s new schedule begins Tuesday, September 8 with the season
premiere of sophomore drama 90210 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET), followed by the
series premiere of the updated version of Melrose Place (9:00-10:00
p.m. ET).  As they did once before, 90210 and Melrose Place will
combine for a great night of television.  

On Wednesday, September 9, Tyra Banks returns with a two-hour premiere
of the new season of America’s Next Top Model (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET),
featuring contestants who are petite by modeling standards € 5’ 7” and
under.  The regular Wednesday night lineup begins on September 16 with
America’s Next Top Model in the 8:00-9:00 p.m. timeslot, followed by
the series premiere of the glamorous new drama The Beautiful Life: TBL
(9:00-10:00 p.m. ET).  From executive producer Ashton Kutcher, The
Beautiful Life: TBL focuses on the daily lives of young models living
together in a models’ residence in New York, while struggling to deal
with the cutthroat competition and fleeting fame of the fashion world.

On Thursday, September 10, the new lineup features the premiere of The
Vampire Diaries (8:00-9:00p.m. ET) and the return of fan favorite
Supernatural (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET).  Based on the best-selling book
series from Alloy Entertainment, The Vampire Diaries focuses on the
battle between two Vampire brothers – one good, one evil – who compete
for the love of the same young woman.  The Vampire Diaries provides the
perfect lead-in to the chilling Supernatural, in which the Winchester
brothers battle the other-worldly forces that tore their family apart.

On Monday, September 14, the smash hit team that made The CW one of the
top destinations for young women returns with a new twist: One Tree
Hill will take over the 8:00-9:00 p.m. timeslot, while television’s
most buzzed-about series, Gossip Girl, moves to the 9:00-10:00 p.m.
slot.

Smallville relocates to its new home on Friday, September 25 (8:00-9:00
p.m. ET), with the non-stop action and classic DC Comics characters
viewers love.  Smallville will be followed by encore episodes of
America’s Next Top Model (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET).

The midseason premiere date for the drama “Life UneXpected,” which was
formerly titled “Parental Discretion Advised,” will be announced at a
later date.