The CW has ordered a full season of their freshman fantasy drama Beauty and the Beast. Though the series loses a significant portion of its Vampire Diaries lead-in audience, the show is apparently doing well enough for the smallest network — at least for this season.

Here’s the press release from The CW:

THE CW ORDERS FULL SEASON OF FRESHMAN “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”

November 9, 2012 (Burbank, CA) – The CW picked up a full season of its freshman hit drama BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, it was announced today by Mark Pedowitz, President, The CW.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST stars Kristin Kreuk (“Smallville,” “Chuck”) as Catherine, Jay Ryan (“Terra Nova”) as Vincent, Max Brown (“The Tudors,” “MI-5”) as Evan, Nina Lisandrello (“Nurse Jackie”) as Tess, Nicole Gale Anderson (“Make It or Break It”) as Heather, Austin Basis (“Life Unexpected”) as J.T., and Brian White (“The Shield,” “The Cabin in the Woods”) as Joe.

Last night’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was up 9% in total viewers versus last week, and also grew in all key adult demos week to week. Season to date, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is averaging 2.4 million viewers and a 1.3 rating among women 18-34, and a 0.9 rating among adults 18-34, in most current Nielsen data.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Take 5 Productions/Whizbang Films with executive producers Sherri Cooper (“Brothers and Sisters”) & Jennifer Levin (“Without A Trace,” “Felicity”), Brian Peterson (“Smallville”) & Kelly Souders (“Smallville”), Gary Fleder (“Life Unexpected,” “October Road”), Bill Haber (“Rizzoli & Isles,” “Thurgood”), Paul J. Witt (“A Better Life”) & Tony Thomas (“A Better Life”), Ron Koslow (“Moonlight”), Frank Siracusa (“The Yard”) and John Weber (“Borgias”).

What do you think? Are you surprised that Beauty and the Beast has been given a full season? Do you think it will end up being cancelled or renewed for a second season?