The CW Renews 'Hart of Dixie' & 'Beauty and the Beast'; Orders 'The Originals' to Series

        Friday, April 26 - Hours after NBC renewed five dramas, The CW has done the same - handing out renewals to Beauty and the Beast and Hart of Dixie - as well as becoming the first broadcast network this season to order a new pilot to series for the fall season - The Originals.

        The Originals aired as a backdoor pilot in last night's episode of The Vampire Diaries. The episode was watched by 2.2 million total viewers and scored a 0.9 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic. The spinoff revolves around the Original family in New Orleans. In the episode Klaus (Joseph Morgan) returns to the supernatural melting pot that is the French Quarter of New Orleans, a town he helped build centuries ago, and is reunited with his diabolical former protégé Marcel (Charles Michael Davis). Elijah (Daniel Gillies), intent on helping his self-destructive brother find redemption, must side with Marcel's enemies in order to keep Klaus in line. Phoebe Tonkin, Claire Holt, Danielle Campbell and Leah Pipe also star in the series written by Vampire Diaries showrunner Julie Plec.

        "As soon as we saw last night's episode of The Vampire Diaries, we knew we wanted more of The Originals. Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson have done a fantastic jon with The Vampire Diaries, which is as fast-paced and well-written as ever, and Julie has created an equally compelling world for The Originals," CW president Mark Pedoqitz said. "We're also very excited to bring back Beauty and the Beast and Hart of Dixie for next season. Both series continue to be creatively strong and compelling and their fans are incredibly passionate. I'm very happy to have all three series on the schedule for next season.

        The Originals, Beauty and the Beast and Hart of Dixie join the previously renewed The Vampire Diaries, Arrow, Supernatural and America's Next Top Model on the network's schedule for the 2013-2014 season.