| So Fox: WNYW, KTTV, WFLD, WTXF, KDFW, KTVU, WFXT, WAGA, WTTG, KRIV, et al... |
| Fox Sunday begins usually with the ending of football and a post-game show, followed by lots of animation. Hard to believe that The Simpsons clan has been on their own for 19 years. King of the Hill is set for their Bar Mitzvah season. Stewie keeps getting into trouble on Family Guy and American Dad saves the day -- well, slides in at 9:30. They're no longer breaking any ratings records, but this lineup has delivered well for Fox in the past and now, each show is almost like an infomercial for the DVD sets.
Sarah Connor is back and it's a bit of a surprise. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles shoots its way into the 8pm slot follow by the now completely inaccurately named Prison Break at 9pm. (Don't worry Jack Bauer fans, 24 returns in January. There will also be a TV movie/DVD release of just what happened between days 6 and 7 sometime in November.) Both shows have their loyal fans, but neither will challenge for slot wins.
Pre-Idol Tuesday on Fox gives us season five of the ornery Dr. House followed by J.J. Abrams' very buzzworthy Fringe (with a 90-minute premiere). House was somewhat surprisingly the #1 scripted drama last season and plays nearly every day over on USA (NBCU owns the show). I'm definitely on the fence if Fringe is going to become a hit. There's a lot going against it including the slot and the J.J. Abrams factor. (With J.J.'s name attached so visibly, the bar is much higher.) The serialized nature of the show could hurt it as well. (Fox Midseason brings the 8th rotation of American Idol, while House moves to Wednesday 8pm. Smartly, Fox leaves Fringe at 9.)
Bones rattles into its fourth season and leads off for Fox Wednesday at 8pm. The 9pm hour is yet another attempt at Fox for a comedy block. They have failed miserably every time they try this. No offense to all of its connections, but the only reason I can come up with for the renewal of 'Til Death has to be a combination of pay-or-play contracts (even if the project doesn't go, talent gets paid anyway) and the misguided thought that they'll have enough episodes to make it to syndication. It's at 9 followed by the DOA Do Not Disturb. I'm going to follow the kindergarten rule and not say anything...since I have nothing nice to say. (Midseason moves House to 8 with the Idol Results show at 9. There is a skedded comedy for 9:30, but we all know Fox will find a reason to make the results show an hour.)
A wall will come towards you and if you don't contort your body just right, you'll be swept into a pool. That's how Fox Thursday starts with the Japanese import, Hole In The Wall. It's a game show, it's insane and as I mentioned, it's pure counterprogramming. Kitchen Nightmares follows it with Season 2. Hole should get sampled just out of curiosity, but neither with be a factor on Thursday. (Midseason sees Season 5 of Hell's Kitchen at 8 with the seemingly short-run of Secret Millionaire at 9pm. I've got nothing.)
Foxworthy and Brady. Now, Foxworthy obviously fits to kick off the game show edition of Fox Friday. Jeff Foxworthy hosts the longest title in Primetime: Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? They're even giving it a 2-hour launch. Wayne Brady holds down the 9pm slot with the return of Don't Forget The Lyrics. They'll beat the CW (not really an accomplishment) and I could see them giving ABC and NBC (especially if Crusoe doesn't click) a bit of a headache. (Midseason sees Bones moves to 8pm with the comedy block of 'Til Death and Do Not Disturb starting at 9...if either are still around by then.)
It's still a tale of two seasons for Fox: pre-Idol and Idol. Granted Idol slipped a bit last year and some of the Fox dramas are getting buzz (nothing besides House really gets numbers), but honestly, remove Idol and Fox becomes a combination of NBC and the CW. |
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