In previous blogs, I've cheered Fox for renewing "Fringe" and groaned when it canceled "Chicago Code" and "Human Target." Now the network has announced its fall schedule; here's the story I sent to papers this morning, after a group interview with network officials:
By MIKE HUGHES
As it prepares to celebrate its 25th
anniversary, the Fox network is dumping one of its first hits:
“America's Most Wanted” is being canceled, except for some
quarterly, two-hour specials.
“It's been an important show to us
historically,” said programming chief Kevin Reilly, “but we
haven't made money on the show for a long time.”
Instead, Fox will join the
Saturday-rerun trend this fall, following “Cops” with alternating
9 p.m. repeats.“America's Most Wanted” is trying to find a new
home, Reilly said; Fox produces the show and has several cable
channels, plus MyNetwork.
Information on other changes had leaked
earlier: Fox canceled three borderline dramas – “Chicago Code,”
“Human Target” and “Lie to Me” – and kept “Fringe.” It
is counting on two mega-shows.
One is “The X Factor,” with Simon
Cowell producing and (alongside Paula Abdul and others) judging.
It's based on a Cowell show that's already a hit in England. “We
have the star of the genre at the pinnacle of his career,” said
Peter Rice, the Fox networks chairman.
The other is “Terra Nova,” a Steven
Spielberg production that has people in the future making a
desperate, time-travel attempt to rebuild society in the dinosaur
age. It's an expensive show – 250 special effects in the first hour
alone – that's expected to have only 13 episodes a season.
Talking to reporters Monday morning,
Reilly and Rice also said:
– All of the “American Idol”
people except Jennifer Lopez signed contracts that include next year.
“Jennifer has a single-year contract,” Rice said, and the show is
trying to get her to return.
– There still might be a “24”
movie – despite the fact that star Kiefer Sutherland is going
straight from a Broadway play to the pilot for a mid-season Fox show.
– Both Deschanel sisters will be on
Fox this fall. Zoey stars in a comedy, “The New Girl”; Emily
continues on “Bones,” but will take some time off for maternity
leave. As a result, “Bones” is expected to take a break next
spring, being replaced by “The Finder,” from the same producer.
– Cartoons remain strong, with five
of them on Sundays. Jonah Hill's “Allen Gregory” debuts this
fall; at mid-season, “Napoleon Dynamite” debuts and “Bob's
Burgers” returns.
– “America's Most Wanted” was
partly the victim of the new economy for TV. With little room for
reruns during most of the week, Fox – like CBS and NBC – is
turning to Saturdays.
Fox had only been around in prime time
for a year, when “America's Most Wanted” – started by the
Fox-owned stations – jumped to the network on April 10, 1988. It
made a quick impact, on a night (Saturdays) where other networks were
fading. Now it won't quite make it to the network's 25th-anniversary
special, planned for April 1.
The fall line-up:
– Mondays: “Terra Nova,” 8 p.m.;
“House,” 9.
– Tuesdays: “Glee,” 8 p.m.; “New
Girl,” 9; “Raising Hope,” 9:30.
– Wednesdays: “The X Factor,” 8
p.m.; “I Hate My Teenage Daughter,” 9:30.
– Thursdays: “The X Factor,” 8
p.m.; “Bones,” 9.
– Fridays: “Kitchen Nightmares,”
8 p.m.; “Fringe,” 9.
– Saturdays: “Cops,” 8 and 8:30;
reruns at 9, with “America's Most Wanted” quarterly sepcials.
– Sundays: Football post-game at 7,
“The Cleveland Show” at 7:30, “The Simpsons” at 8, “Allen
Gregory” (new show) at 8:30, “Family Guy” at 9 and “American
Dad” at 9:30.
Spring changes include:
– Mondays: “House” moves to 8
p.m., with “Alcatraz” at 9.
– Tuesdays: When “Glee” rests in
March, there will be a four-comedy block for six weeks.
– Wednesdays, Thursdays: “American
Idol” takes over for “X-Factor.” Also, “Bones” rests
sometime in the spring, with “The Finder” borrowing the slot.
– Sundays: An animated “Napoleon
Dynamite” takes over at 8:30, “Bob's Burgers” returns at 9:30.
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