Is 'Buffy' over the hill? Is the CW network?

show airing on the CW network this fall, combines an intriguing premise, a strong ensemble and the critical darling still known as Buffy the Vampire Slayer to legions of adoring, middle-aged fans.

However, that last fact led to some awkward moments on Thursday for Gellar as she faced the nation’s TV critics for the fall season previews.

“You did a lot of your own stunts in ‘Buffy,’” one question began promisingly. “Has your advanced age cut down” —

“We are a little worried about the osteoporosis,” interrupted Gellar, who is 33 or 34 depending on which Internet site you believe.

The exchange got a big laugh, but it underscored the growing pains the CW network is going through right now. Going back to the days of its predecessors — remember the WB and UPN? Anyone? — the people in charge of America’s fifth broadcast network have boldly declared that any viewer over the age of 34 was dead to them.

But “Ringer,” a show originally developed for CBS — Mom and Dad’s favorite network — puts the lie to all that. It’s clearly designed to appeal to middle-aged TV critics, and viewers.

This was not denied by the CW’s new head of entertainment, Mark Pedowitz.

“Our core audience is 18-34 (year-olds),” said Pedowitz, who’s in his 50s. “‘Ringer’ is special for all of us here because it ... allows us to invite others in that 18-34 audience to come in plus other demographics to view it.”

Wait — the CW is aware of “other demographics” besides people who read Vogue?

One of the “Homeland” producers,

, called the timing “accidental” but also “fortuitous.”

“Osama bin Laden was killed when we were on Episode 2,” Gordon said. “This show is very much in the wake of 9/11, but ten years later. This is after

, after the prosecution of two wars of questionable merit — and the price to this country of our of what happened to us 10 years ago.”

Today, the

This story was originally published August 5, 2011 at 12:26 PM with the headline "Is 'Buffy' over the hill? Is the CW network?."