'Buffy' star Gellar gets new CW series

[May 20, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The CW network said Thursday it is giving new series to Sarah Michelle Gellar and Rachel Bilson next season, and bidding farewell to "One Tree Hill."

Gellar's "Ringer" was a gift from CBS. The larger network made the pilot but could find no room on its schedule, so CBS gave its corporate sister this series where the former "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star impersonates her twin sister because she's on the run from danger.

The CW also said Thursday that Bilson, who was in "The O.C.," will portray a New Yorker practicing medicine in a small Southern Town in "Hart of Dixie."

"One Tree Hill" will air 13 final episodes starting next winter, the CW said.

The 17th edition of "America's Next Top Model" will be an all-star edition, with series chief Tyra Banks bringing back some past winners of the competition to go at it again. The CW will start another show in the midseason, "Re-Modeled," focusing on modeling industry veteran Paul Fisher's often heavy-handed attempts to build up regional modeling agencies.

A new reality series, "H8R," will bring celebrities face to face with fans that don't like them: Snookie from "Jersey Shore" and Kim Khardashian were featured in the series' pilot episode.

The CW will add one more drama, "The Secret Circle" from "The Vampire Diaries" executive producer Kevin Williamson, about a girl who finds out she's a witch.

"Smallville" is ending its run on the CW, and the network is canceling "Life Unexpected" and "Hellcats."

[Associated Press; By DAVID BAUDER]

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