• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, August 11, 2023

A Fox press release about its new fall lineup just might be an historic landmark in the annals of program promotion.

The release from last month was about the shows that will be seen this fall on Fox’s prime-time schedule. 

As noted by MediaPost's Wayne Friedman last month, the schedule is heavy on unscripted competition shows and animated series because both types of shows are largely unaffected by the ongoing strikes of Hollywood actors and writers that have halted the production of scripted shows.

But who needs scripted shows when you have “The Masked Singer”? What other show -- unscripted or scripted -- has ever been positioned as historic and a landmark all in one news release?

Maybe none -- until now. “Fox ushers in the historic 10th season of 'The Masked Singer'," read the first subhead on the release (in bold italics and all caps).

And later in the release: “ ‘The Masked Singer’ unmasks its landmark 10th season beginning Wednesday, September 27 [8-9 p.m. Eastern].” This 10th-season premiere is also described as a “milestone.”

And just like that, “The Masked Singer” is declared an historic landmark on par with Alcatraz or Richard Nixon's birthplace. What’s next? The childhood home of Ken Jeong?

According to the release, “The Masked Singer” will be followed by “Snake Oil.” Hosted by David Spade and produced by Will Arnett, this show is like “Shark Tank,” but with bogus pitches for fake products.

Or at least some of them are fake. In the show, contestants will be challenged to decide which presenters are lying and which are telling the truth.

Arnett is also seen as the ring master on “Lego Masters,” for which he is also executive producer. This Lego-construction competition starts its fourth season on Thursday, September 28, at 9 Eastern, following the 22nd go-round of Gordon Ramsay's “Hell's Kitchen.”

Ramsay's “Kitchen Nightmares” is also on Fox's fall menu. The show is slotted for 8 p.m. Mondays starting on September 24.

The second course that evening: “Special Forces: World's Toughest Test” at 9 Eastern.

Other unscripted shows coming this fall on Fox are “Celebrity Name That Tune” and “I Can See Your Voice” on Tuesday nights starting September 19.

“WWE Friday Night Smackdown” will maintain its stranglehold on Fox Friday nights from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern.

While animated comedies such as “The Simpsons” employ union writers, the long lead times for these shows mean that new episodes are available for fall, unlike live-action scripted shows.

Thus, Fox is able to bring back its Sunday animation slate starting on Sunday, October 1, with “The Simpsons” starting its 35th season at 8, the new “Krapopolis” at 8:30, “Bob's Burgers” at 9 and “Family Guy” at 9:30, its 22nd season.

The press release expressed the network's hope that its slate of new and returning scripted dramas will turn up some time next season, even though no one can say when the strikes will end and production will start up again.

“Additional series to premiere in the 2023-2024 season,” Fox said confidently, include returning dramas “9-1-1,” “Lone Star,” “Accused,” “Alert: Missing Persons Unit,” “The Cleaning Lady” and newbies “Doc” and the lifeguard drama “Rescue: HI-Surf” (the “HI” is the USPS abbreviation for Hawai’i).

But all is not lost. The release noted that the unscripted “Farmer Wants a Wife” is expected to also return some time next season.