• Variety, Monday, January 14, 2008 11:46 AM

As the strike pushes nets to get creative with reruns and reality shows, at least some new scripted premieres stand to cash in as the result of good -- or at least lucky -- timing. Among them is Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," which is getting heavy promotion from a network that won't have "24" on the air this month.

The program is getting a two-night premiere treatment this week and while it was already expected to get a lot of promotional backing, with few new returning shows on offer, all the Big Four are firing all their guns with what they have, with viewers seeing cable-style saturation marketing on broadcast networks. With Fox focused on "Sarah Connor" and the return of "American Idol," ABC is pushing "Lost" in a big way ahead of its Jan. 31 fourth season rollout, and CBS is trying to tout the Feb. 12 return of "Jericho," a show saved from cancellation last year by the pleadings of its ardent viewers.

Meanwhile, NBC's efforts behind "American Gladiators" paid off last week with strong numbers for its premiere. But Fox hopes "Sarah Connor" may be the biggest winner of all. Says Joe Earley, Fox's executive VP of marketing and communications. "We started the on-air teaser campaign for this show 18 weeks out."

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