The CW Gives Midseason Premiere to “Wild Cards” S3, Game Shows Get Dates — “All American” Sidelined

Hold onto your hats, because The CW is shuffling the deck and dealing out some surprises for its midseason lineup. While some fan favorites are making a triumphant return, one of the network’s biggest hitters is conspicuously absent, leaving fans a-scratching their heads. In a move that’s sure to please those procedural lovers, The CW has officially renewed the Canadian dramedy “Wild Cards” for its third season. The network confirmed it’s picking up the series starring “Riverdale’s” Vanessa Morgan and “Grey’s Anatomy‘s” Giacomo Gianniotti. It’s not a shocker, since Canadian broadcaster CBC had already had been greenlit for seasons 3 and 4 back in May 2025.

“Wild Cards” on The CW

So, what can we expect? The new season promises to up the ante, dropping us back into the action a month after the season two finale. Max (Morgan) is now an official police consultant, but her world gets flipped upside down when Ellis (Gianniotti) returns to the force, cleared of all charges and ready to partner up again. If that wasn’t enough drama, Max’s long-lost mother, Vivienne (played by Tamara Taylor), shows up on her doorstep. Ya know, the mom Max thought was dead. Huh. This bombshell return is set to ignite the main conflict for the season, throwing an even bigger wrench into Max’s already complicated dynamic with Ellis.

So, Where Does The CW Go From Here?

While “Wild Cards” fans are celebrating, there’s a giant, football-shaped hole in the schedule. The network’s flagship drama, “All American,” is nowhere to be seen on the midseason premiere list. This is particularly jarring since its eighth and final season was previously announced for a midseason debut.

So, what gives? Don’t panic just yet. The CW production insiders are confirming that the final season is still slated for 2026, but the exact premiere date for the show is up in the air. This delay is a bitter pill to swallow for the show’s dedicated fanbase, who are eagerly awaiting the conclusion of Spencer James’s story. 

The CW is playing it close to the football jersey, leaving us all to speculate. Is it a scheduling conflict? A possible creative delay? Or is the network maybe trying to build even more anticipation for its grand finale? Whatever the reason, the silence is kind of deafening.

The CW’s Midseason Game Plan

So, with “All American” benched, what is The CW putting on the playing field? The network is leaning heavily into its game show block – and its unscripted content. “Scrabble” is back for a second season with a new host, Craig Ferguson, taking over from Raven-Symoné. LeVar Burton returns to host season two of “Trivial Pursuit,” and the docuseries “Police 24/7” moves to a new Wednesday night slot.

It’s a clear strategy: fill the schedule with reliable, cost-effective programming while the big scripted guns are holding on standby. However, a game show likely can’t fill the void left by a cultural phenomenon like “All American.” The delay feels like a fumble, and fans are left wondering when their favorite team will get to take the field for one last game.

A Few Final Thoughts

The CW is probably just biding its time, waiting for its own timeline to make the call. We may not have The CW superhero and the Greg Berlanti lineup, but there are a few shows which have the drama and intrigue of the past few seasons. However, with game shows on the horizon to spice up viewing, we’ll hopefully have a fun season that keeps us interested. Also, we can’t wait to see how Max irritates Ellis next on “Wild Cards” – cause you know she totally will!