Fox announces primetime slate
Schedule includes 'Fringe,' 'Dollhouse'
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J.J. Abrams is the big winner on the fall sked: His new entry “Fringe” will air Tuesdays at 9 p.m., in a plum slot behind hit drama “House.”
Net’s other new series, the comedy “Do Not Disturb” (formerly known as “The Inn”), will air behind “‘Til Death,” as expected.
But Fox has shifted its Wednesday comedy hour to 9 p.m. - perhaps to get out of the way of CBS’ recently announced 8 p.m. lineup.
Like last fall, Fox will stick with scripted fare on Mondays through Wednesdays, with reality on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and its animated staples on Sundays.
“We’re going to make plenty of noise and yet potentially have more stability and success than we’ve had historically in the fourth quarter,” said Fox Entertainment prexy Kevin Reilly. “We’ll be focused in the fall with two new series - one comedy and one drama - and then use our big assets in January to launch an even more powerful second season.”
Fox is set to launch its sked earlier than its competitors, returning the week of Aug. 25. Premiere events include a two-hour “Prison Break” seg on Monday, Aug. 25 at 8 p.m.; the two-hour bow of “Fringe” on Aug. 26; a two-hour “Bones” on Aug. 27; and a two-hour edition of “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader” on Aug. 29.
For fall, the net has made some tweaks, turning last year’s sked on its head: In some cases, 8 p.m. shows have moved to 9 p.m., and 9 p.m. shows have moved down to 8 p.m.
To make room for “Fringe,” for example, Fox is taking the unusual step of moving “House” - long a 9 p.m. tentpole -- down to 8 p.m.
“Bones,” which last year bowed on Wednesdays at 9 p.m., also moves down to 8 this fall to make room for the comedy block at 9. On the flip side, “Prison Break,” which aired on Mondays at 8 last year, will return this fall at 9.
Meanwhile, Fox is holding back on much of its new fare until midseason, allowing it time to continue development and keep things relatively steady until “American Idol” and “24” return.
New entries include the highly anticipated Joss Whedon creation “Dollhouse,” as well as new reality entry “Secret Millionaire.” New animated entries “Sit Down, Shut Up” and “Family Guy” spin-off “The Cleveland Show” will also be ready.
Fox has tentatively skedded “Dollhouse” on Mondays at 8 p.m., in front of “24,” while “Secret Milionaire” is right now slated for Thursdays at 9 p.m. On Sundays, “Cleveland” will bow at 9:30 behind “Family Guy,” while “Sit Down, Shut Up” will air behind “The Simpsons” at 8:30 p.m.
Gone are “Back to You,” “Canterbury’s Law,” “K-Ville,” “Nashville,” “New Amsterdam,” “The Next Great American Band,” “The Return of Jezebel James” and “Unhitched.”
Fox announces its sked to advertisers this afternoon at New York’s City Center auditorium.
