As U.S. shows wrap up and Canadian-mades roll out, Global is boosting on-air promotion for its new domestic drama The Best Years, which will take over the Tuesday 10 p.m. ET timeslot from the Gilmore Girls on May 22, following the second-to-last episode of the season of House.

‘It’s a double hit because we’re going into the same timeslot as Gilmore Girls, which is very similar to Best Years, while House provides fantastic lead-in because it’s also big in terms of the 18-49 female demographic,’ says Christine Shipton, VP of programming at CanWest MediaWorks.

Global is also airing 30-second promotional spots for the college-set show — from creator Aaron Martin (Degrassi: The Next Generation) and Blueprint Entertainment — during the final episodes of hit shows including Heroes and 24, which will both have their season finales on May 21.

Shipton tells Playback Daily, ‘The good news is Best Years is launching early in the spring to have enough of a run on air before we hit the summer months, so it would have gained a loyal audience by the time we get to mid-June.’

As May sweeps get underway and U.S.-made shows wrap up, broadcasters are rolling out Canadian-made and other midseason shows. The Movie Network and Movie Central — both currently enjoying one last hurrah for the heavily promoted final episodes of The Sopranos — will premiere Durham County, the six-part crime drama by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Film Productions, on Monday.

Meanwhile, CTV will debut the action drama Traveler on Wednesday, May 30 at 10 p.m. ET, in simulcast with ABC. Traveler, starring Matthew Bomer (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and Logan-Marshall Green (The O.C. ), follows two graduate students who become prime suspects in a terrorist bombing.

Upcoming big-ticket season finales on CTV include Grey’s Anatomy, CSI and ER, all on May 17, while Desperate Housewives and Criminal Minds bow out May 20. The two-part season finale of Degrassi: The Next Generation, airing May 7 and 14, will see Alex, played by Deanna Casaluce, turn to stripping in order to avoid getting evicted from her home.