Maybe it’s a sign of the times … or maybe just a weird year.
But this fall, scripted shows (except for cartoons) will virtually vanish from the Fox network.
Fox has unveiled a line-up with only two such shows — “Murder in a Small Town” (shown here with star Rossif Sutherland) and “Doc.” They’ll be huddled together on Tuesdays; the rest of the week will be awash in games, reality shows, sports and Sunday cartoons.
At a news conference, officials looked for a positive spin. They have two scripted shows set for mid-season, one a reboot of the British delight “Doc Martin.” And scripted shows might be better off starting then, said network CEO Rob Wade, because football and the World Series can provide “this incredible launching pad.”
But Michael Thorn, the network president, granted that “candidly, we’re in a rebuilding stage post-Disney” for some types of shows.
The Disney people — who already owned ABC — bought the Fox movie studio, but not the Fox network. That leaves Fox as the only major network that doesn’t have a big-time production studio and subscription streamer.
That’s no problem for some things; Fox has deals with super-chef Gordon Ramsay and with animation people. But scripted shows are a challenge.
Some shows — “Rescue HI-Surf,” “Accused” — are definitely gone; others — “The Cleaning Lady,” “Alert” — are expected to be.
But “Doc” did so well in a 10-episode run that it’s been given a full, 22-episode order for next year. In the fall, it will follow the charming Canadian show “Murder in a Small Town,” which Thorn calls “our cozy sleeper hit”. At mid-season, it could be paired with “Memory of a Killer” (a hit man with Alzheimer’s disease) or “Best Medicine.”
The latter is the “Doc Martin” spin-off that has Josh Charles taking over the role of, Thorn says, “the funny, flawed, no-nonsense curmudgeon” who is the only doctor in a quirky New England fishing village. Thorn calls it the network’s first hour-long comedy since “Lethal Weapon,” nine years ago.
By comparison, the shelves are full of animated shows. “American Dad” is even returning to Fox, after a decade on cable’s TBS.
Reality shows are also abundant — so much so that Fox’s main one, “The Masked Singer,” will have only one edition (mid-season) instead of the usual two. “We wanted to give the (production) people a chance to take a breath,” Wade said.
Rob Lowe’s “The Floor” will move up to the “Masked Singer” spot at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, with a similar show — “99 to Beat,” hosted by Ken Jeong and Erin Andrews — at 9.
Ramsay alone will have at least four reality shows next season– five if you count the shorter, Christmastime “Next Level Baker.”
And there will be an ongoing emphasis on people in agony. This fall returns “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.” Mid-season brings “Extracted” and even a “Fear Factor” reboot.
Why bring back an oft-criticized show that has had runs on NBC (ending in 2006), NBC again (2011) and MTV (2018)?
“The world wants you be be scared right now,” Thorn said. “Fear Factor” does that, “but in a very fun way.”
The Fox schedule:
— MONDAYS: “Celebrity Name That Tune,” 8 p.m.; “Celebrity Weakest Link,” 9.
— TUESDAYS: “Murder in a Small Town,” 8; “Doc,” 9.
— WEDNESDAYS: “The Floor,” 8; “99 to Beat,” 9.
— THURSDAYS: “Hell’s Kitchen,” 8; “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” 9.
— FRIDAYS: College football.
— SATURDAYS: More football or other sports.
— SUNDAYS (after pro football and, sometimes, animation reruns); “The Simpsons,” 8; “Universal Basic Guys,” 8:30′; “Krapopolis,” 9; “Bob’s Burgers,” 9:30.
And for mid-season or later, plans include:
… Scripted hours: “Best Medicine,” “Memory of a Killer.”
— Scripted half-hours: “Animal Control,” “Going Dutch” and animated shows “Family Guy,” “American Dad” and “Grimsburg.” However, the animated “Great North” isn’t currently listed.
… Scripted mini-series: “The Faithful,” a six-episode series focusing on three women in the Book of Genesis; it will air near Easter and Passover.
— Unscripted: Ramsay’s “Kitchen Nightmares” and “Next Level Chef,” plus his short-run “Next Level Baker.” Also, “The Masked Singer,” “Extracted,” “Beat Shazam,” “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” and a reboot of “Fear Factor.”
— Also, several unscripted shows that will run this summer: Ramsay’s “MasterChef” “and “Secret Service,” plus “Lego Masters,” “The Snake,” “The Quiz With Balls” and “The 1% Club,” now with Joel McHale (also the “Animal Control” star) taking over as host.