Fox plans an early (sorta) start for fall season

The Fox network will get off to an early start this fall — or, at least, early compared to the other guys.
ABC has aid that five of its six scripted shows will wait until October. (The lone exception is “”High Potential,” Sept. 16.) CBS is waiting even longer: All 14 of its scripted shows will start in the stretch from Oct. 12-19.
That gives Fox some time to seek new viewers. Its only two dramas — “Murder in a Small Town” (shown here) and “Doc” — will start Sept. 23; its four animated comedies arrive Sept. 28.
That will put the entire line-up in place by the end of the month. Otherwise, Fox will join the trend elsewhere — college football starting in late August, then pro football in September, alongside other non-fiction shows.
(CBS will, however, stuff September Sundays with specials — Video Music Awards, then Emmys, the a tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire.)
With only two primetime hours on weeknights (compared to three for other networks), Fox has plenty of shows waiting for mid-season. That includes a new drama, “Memory of a Killer”; a new drama-comedy, “Best Medicine” (adapted from the British “Doc Martin:); two live-action comedies, “Animal Control” and “Going Dutch”; three cartoons, “Family Guy,” “American Dad” and “Grimsburg”; and a ton of reality shows — “The Masked Singer,” “Next Level Chef,” Next Level Baker,” “Lego Masters,” “Extracted,” “Beat Shazam,” “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” and a reboot of “Fear Factor.”
The fall schedule is:
— MONDAYS (starting Sept. 15): “Celebrity Name That Tune,” 8 p.m.; “Celebrity Weakest Link.” 9.
— TUESDAYS (Sept. 23): “Murder in a Small Town,” 8; “Doc,” 9.
— WEDNESDAYS (Sept. 24): “The Floor,” 8; the new “99 to Beat,” 9.
— THURSDAYS (Sept. 25): “Hell’s Kitchen,” 8; “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” 9.
— FRIDAYS: (Aug. 29): College football, 8 p.m. ET.
— SATURDAYS: Sports coverage continues, 7 p.m. ET.
— SUNDAYS (Sept. 28, after football games): “The Simpsons,” 8 p.m.; “Universal Basic Guys,” 8:30; “Krapopolis,” 9; “Bob’s Burgers,” 9:30.