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AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL CYCLE 15 AND NEW DRAMA HELLCATS KICK-OFF THE CW’S FIFTH BROADCAST SEASON ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NIKITA TO PREMIERE FOLLOWING HIT THE VAMPIRE DIARIES ON SEPTEMBER 9

The CW Network has set its fall premiere schedule, launching its fifth broadcast season with 10 hours of original programming of returning favorites and two new series.

Watch the CW Fall 2010 preview here.

On Wednesday, September 8, Cycle 15 of the hit reality series AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) kicks-off the 2010-2011 season, followed by the series premiere of new drama HELLCATS (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET). HELLCATS is a pumped-up drama about a young pre-law student (Aly Michalka, “Bandslam”) whose world is turned upside-down when she loses her scholarship and has to join the college’s competitive cheerleading squad. This fun, energetic series is a behind-the-scenes look at the drama, politics and pressure surrounding the football program at a Southern university. Ashley Tisdale (“High School Musical”) also stars as a young woman who is totally committed to the cheerleading squad to realize her dreams.

On Thursday, September 9, the network’s #1 show, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) returns for a second season and leads into new action-drama series NIKITA (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET). NIKITA stars international action-film star and martial arts expert Maggie Q (“Mission Impossible III”) in the title role as a spy and assassin for a top secret U.S. government agency, who rebels against the system that created her and will stop at nothing to bring their powerful operation to an end.

On Monday, September 13, viewers will get the best of both coasts when the third season premiere of 90210 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) leads into the season four premiere of GOSSIP GIRL (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET).

On Tuesday, September 14, two fan favorites go back-to-back when season eight of ONE TREE HILL (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) leads into the second season of LIFE UNEXPECTED (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET).

On Friday, September 24, SMALLVILLE (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) kicks-off its tenth and final season with the non-stop action and classic DC Comics characters viewers love, followed by the sixth season of SUPERNATURAL (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET).

Following is The CW’s fall premiere schedule:

Wednesday, Sept. 8

8:00-9:00 p.m.               AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 p.m.             HELLCATS (Series Premiere)

Thursday, Sept. 9

8:00-9:00 p.m.               THE VAMPIRE DIARIES (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 p.m.             NIKITA (Series Premiere)

Monday, Sept. 13

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

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

Tuesday, Sept. 14

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

9:00-10:00 p.m.             LIFE UNEXPECTED (Season Premiere)

Friday, September 24

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

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

All Times ET