FOX released its 2010/2011 schedule today, announcing three new dramas and four new comedies for the new season. The network has taken note of the return in popularity of scripted comedies and hopes to make a splash with its new comedy slate. Kevin Reilly, President, Entertainment for FOX, noted in the press release, “We’re positioned to rebuild the FOX comedy brand, introduce the next generation of unique characters and deliver an even more compelling experience for our viewers next season.” Without further ado, let’s look at the primetime schedule for next season, taken from the press release.
The schedule, always of course subject to change at FOX, has a degree of stability not always seen on the network, but greatly appreciated by showrunners like Hart Hanson of Bones, whose show will remain on Thursdays at 8:00 PM, again followed by Fringe.
Lie To Me, however, moves to Wednesday at 8:00 PM in the fall schedule to make room for new fall drama Lonestar and Shawn Ryan’s new spring drama Ride-Along on Mondays at 9:00 PM. Glee moves to Tuesdays at 8:00 in the fall to help launch new comedies Raising Hope and Running Wilde (Will Arnett and Keri Russell). FOX hopes to expose its hit show to even more viewers by giving Glee the desirable post Superbowl slot on Sunday, Feb 6th, 2011, after which the show will air on Wednesdays at 9:00 PM, following the American Idol results show.
American Idol will remain on Tuesday and Wednesday, but the performance show will be an hour and half long, while the results show will be half an hour. That allows FOX to put new comedy Mixed Signals on Tuesday at 9:30, with Raising Hope moving to 8:00 PM on Wednesday. On the subject of changes to American Idol, the network noted in a conference call to the media it does not have Simon Cowell’s replacement hired yet.
Both Lie To Me and Human Target were bubble shows this year for FOX and both were renewed. However, Lie To Me only shows up on the schedule for the fall, while Human Target has been moved to Friday at 8:00 PM, followed by The Good Guys in the fall and Kitchen Nightmares in the spring. I suspect Lie To Me got the best deal, as Friday has always been a problem slot. Hopefully Human Target and The Good Guys will have better luck than Dollhouse.
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