Fox looks to pass test on Thursday

Network aims for ratings win with '5th Grader'

By RICK KISSELL

What a difference a couple of months make.

There appears to be no stopping Fox, which resided in primetime's basement for the first half of the season, from steamrolling to its third consecutive demo crown.

"American Idol" came roaring back as TV's runaway No. 1 program, "House" is positioned to challenge as the season's No. 1 drama, and the Monday tandem of "24" and "Prison Break" remain potent despite facing stronger competition.

But what could be Fox's biggest accomplishment of this season still lies ahead: solving the puzzle of Thursday night.

While NBC, CBS and now ABC have taken turns as the Thursday leader over the past five years, Fox has been a complicit doormat. It's been one half-hearted attempt after another on the night, with the net seemingly happy enough with its Monday-through-Wednesday perfs to let its rivals duke it out.

But keep an eye on Fox this week as hot new gameshow "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" slides into its regular 8 o'clock slot on the night after two strong performances in the 9 o'clock hour (opposite repeats of "Grey's Anatomy" and "CSI").

And in what is likely a trial run for the fall, repeats of veteran toon "Family Guy" will play in the 9 o'clock hour.

"5th Grader," a great concept with the perfect host (Jeff Foxworthy) -- not to mention a catchy theme song -- proved a perfect fit with "Idol" when it aired behind the megahit three times in its opening week.

Its initial performance was so huge (26.5 million viewers and a 26 share in adults 18-49) that it became the highest-rated premiere on any network in more than five years. And together, "5th Grader" and "Idol" combined for the top six programs of the week.

The gamer doesn't need to stay at such lofty levels when it anchors Thursday, though, as the bar has been set pretty low by the likes of laffers "'Til Death," "Happy Hour" and "The War at Home." Here, anything above a 3 rating in the tough timeslot would be a nice upgrade for Fox.

It's worth noting that while "5th Grader" looks to be popular among all ages, it fared especially well among young men, even outperforming "Idol" in males 12-34.

So this makes it a good choice to kick off the night, while "Family Guy" -- 37% of whose aud is males 12-34 -- is a great choice to attract an under-served audience in the heavyweight 9 o'clock ring.

Sure, CBS' "CSI" draws plenty of male viewers, but most are 35-plus. And ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" draws lots of viewers under 35, but most are female.

If successful, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Fox keep "5th Grader" and "Family Guy" (moving its originals from Sunday) on its fall Thursday sked.

In some ways, it's been easier for rivals to dismiss Fox's success the past couple of years. The net, after all, programs only 15 hours in primetime (compared to 22 for ABC, CBS and NBC), so boosts from pro football, the World Series and an elastic dynamo like "American Idol" -- that occasionally occupies an enter night of the net's sked -- are pronounced.

But with "House," "24," solid soph dramas "Prison Break" and "Bones," and now "5th Grader," Fox's strength is expanding -- and its accomplishments cannot be discounted.