Fox Fall: 10 New Shows, Great Stability

Fox Entertainment President Peter Liguori brushed aside suggestions that "American Idol" may be losing steam Thursday, while saying the network's new 2007-08 schedule is "based on stability." That's thanks to returning shows on six nights this fall and seven next spring. Still, the network has 10 new series, in part because it only had one new hit this season, mid-season reality series "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?"

Liguori said "Idol" is "still a very fertile, very popular juggernaut," despite some ratings headwinds in its sixth season, suggesting that the differing personalities and talents of the contestants could alter things from year to year. Another indicator that "the show is as popular as it's ever been," he said, is that a considerable amount of people are choosing to view it with DVRs.

That added "Idol" viewing, however, isn't putting any money into Fox's pockets--yet.

But ad sales chief Jon Nesvig said things would change starting this upfront. Networks will demand payment for DVR-enabled viewing, since research shows that commercials are being watched even with delayed viewing. "All the networks are pretty firmly resolved we will be paid," Nesvig said, as Fox announced its new schedule.

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Even with any "Idol" weakening, Fox looks to be a shoo-in to win this season in the coveted 18-to-49 demo, thanks to "Idol" powering it on the back end of the season. (The network arguably has an advantage in programming seven hours a week less than competitors.) By one measure, in regularly scheduled programming--the core of what's sold in the upfront--Fox led through May 13 with a 4.3 season average, 19% higher than runner-ups ABC and CBS. That's after being mired in fourth place on Jan. 1, almost a full rating point behind leader ABC.

This season, Fox hopes to avoid the need for a big comeback. One plus--its fall schedule should have more consistency and less viewer confusion, since it won't carry as many post-season baseball games as in recent years, which forced the network to effectively put its regular schedule on hold for a month. In the past, the baseball hiatus prompted Fox to start its season in August, weeks before the other networks. Liguori said he's not sure whether the network will start later this season.

Even if Fox gets off to a rough start, its January-to-May arsenal should buoy it. In addition to the return of "Idol" and hit "24," it has a run of high-profile sports events to serve as promotional vehicles, including the college-football championship series, the NFL playoffs, the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500. "We really come into our own in January," Liguori said.

The new shows this fall include two dramas, a comedy and three reality shows. Drama "K-Ville," about police officers in post-Katrina New Orleans, will air on Mondays, with a lead-in from "Prison Break." And "New Amsterdam," about a New York homicide detective, will air Tuesdays at 8 before the booming "House."

New comedy "Back to You" stars comedy legends Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton and is set in a Pittsburgh TV station. As with "New Amsterdam," Fox is looking to a new show to kick off a night in the Wednesday 8 p.m. slot, leading into the Brad Garrett-starring "'Til Death"--a show that will return for a second year despite barely making the top-100 in household ratings.

Fox will then turn to reality series on Thursdays and Fridays, bringing back "Fifth Grader" on Thursdays, where it will be followed by new series "Kitchen Nightmares." "Nightmares" has well-known chef Gordon Ramsay attempting to turn around struggling restaurants in a week.

On Friday, it's "The Search for the Next Great American Band (working title)"--essentially "Idol" for bands--at 8 p.m. Although it's from the producers of "Idol," the series could have an uphill battle, since the concept has been tried before. At 9 p.m. comes the new series "Nashville" (working title), about artists trying to break into the music business in the country music capital.

In January, Fox will slot new drama "Canterbury's Law"--starring Julianna Margulies as a defense attorney determined to do whatever it takes for her clients--on Thursdays after "5th Grader." And new 9 p.m. drama "The Sarah Connor Chronicles," based on the heroine in the "Terminator" movies, gives Fox an hour of non-animated fare on Sundays.

New mid-season comedies are "The Return of Jezebel James," a sister comedy from "Gilmore Girls" creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, and "The Rules for Starting Over," (working title), about 30somethings trying to find love again.

Fox's full schedule follows. New shows are in bold. (All times EST/PST):

MONDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Prison Break"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "K-Ville"

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. "New Amsterdam"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "House"

WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 p.m. "Back to You"
8:30-9:00 p.m. "'Til Death"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Bones"

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Kitchen Nightmares"

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. "The Search For the Next Great American Band" (working title)
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Nashville" (working title)

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 p.m. "Cops"
8:30-9:00 p.m. "Cops"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back"


11:00 p.m.-midnight "MADtv"
midnight-12:30 a.m. "Talk Show with Spike Feresten"

SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 p.m. "The OT" (NFL post-game)
8:00-8:30 p.m. "The Simpsons"
8:30-9:00 p.m. "King of the Hill"
9:00-9:30 p.m. "Family Guy"
9:30-10:00 p.m. "American Dad"

Beginning in January:

(All Times EST/PST)

MONDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. "K-ville" (January) /Prison Break (Spring)
9:00-10:00 p.m. "24"

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. "American Idol"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "House"

WEDNESDAY (January)
8:00-8:30 p.m. "Back to You"
8:30-9:00 p.m. "'Til Death"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "American Idol"

WEDNESDAY (Spring)
8:00-8:30 p.m. "Back to You"
8:30-9:00 p.m. "The Return of Jezebel James" (working title)
9:00-9:30 p.m. "American Idol Results Show"
9:30-10:00 p.m. "'Til Death"

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Canterbury's Law"

FRIDAY (Spring)
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Bones"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "New Amsterdam"

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 p.m. "Cops"
8:30-9:00 p.m. "Cops"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back"


11:00 p.m.-midnight "MADtv"
midnight-12:30 a.m. "Talk Show With Spike Feresten"

SUNDAY (Spring)
7:00-7:30 p.m. "King of the Hill"
7:30-8:00 p.m. "American Dad"
8:00-8:30 p.m. "The Simpsons"
8:30-9:00 p.m. "Family Guy"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "The Sarah Connor Chronicles"

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