Upfronts Scorecard: FOX

Sniffle. Welcome to the very last day of network upfronts week! It's with a little sadness that that we come to the end of the line as the last of the networks finish making their announcements about their fall schedules today.

While all eyes are on the CW to see what Moonves and Ostroff, the little mad scientists, have cooked up in the their lab for a joint WB-UPN schedule, FOX will also unveil their fall schedule later today... and as usual(at least for recent years) provided two schedules: one for fall, the other for spring. Why, isn't that convenient?

FOX's president of entertainment Peter Liguori made the announcement and had the following to day about FOX"s schedule:

"This is the broadest, most stable and most vibrant schedule we've ever presented - one that is sure to help us further our lead as the No. 1 network in key demos. Once again, we'll kick off with early premieres to eventize our launches and establish our series before baseball. We'll also continue our strategy of extending the end of the current season, making for a truly year-round schedule. We'll have returning shows every night of the week. And in January, 24 and American Idol, along with the BCS games during the first week of the new year, will allow us to launch additional series and reposition ourselves for another dominant second-half surge."

Oh, Liguori, you old rascal. Here the, without further ado, is FOX's schedule:

FOX's OFFICIAL SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2006-2007

FALL 2006:

MONDAY
8-9 pm: Prison Break
9-10 pm: VANISHED

TUESDAY
8-9 pm: STANDOFF
9-10 pm: House

WEDNESDAY
8-9 pm: Bones
9-10 pm: JUSTICE

THURSDAY
8-8:30 pm: 'TIL DEATH
8:30-9 pm: HAPPY HOUR
9-10 pm: The OC

FRIDAY
8-9 pm: Nanny 911
9-10 pm: Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy

SATURDAY
8-8:30 pm: COPS
8:30-9 pm: COPS
9-10 pm: America's Most Wanted
11-12 am: MADtv
12-12:30 am: TALK SHOW WITH SPIKE FERESTEN

SUNDAY
8-8:30 pm: The Simpsons
8:30-9 pm: American Dad
9-9:30 pm: The Family Guy
9:30-10 pm: The War at Home

JANUARY 2007:

MONDAY
8-9 pm: STANDOFF
9-10 pm: 24

TUESDAY
8-9 pm: American Idol
9-10 pm: House

WEDNESDAY
8-9 pm: JUSTICE
9-9:30 pm: American Idol Results Show
9:30-10 pm: The Loop

THURSDAY
8-8:30 pm: 'TIL DEATH
8:30-9 pm: HAPPY HOUR
9-10 pm: The OC

FRIDAY
8-9 pm: Bones
9-10 pm: THE WEDDING ALBUM

SATURDAY
8-8:30 pm: COPS
8:30-9 pm: COPS
9-10 pm: America's Most Wanted
11-12 am: MADtv
12-12:30 am: TALK SHOW WITH SPIKE FERESTEN

SUNDAY
8-8:30 pm: The Simpsons
8:30-9 pm: American Dad
9-9:30 pm: The Family Guy
9:30-10 pm: The War at Home

For those of you keeping track of such things, here's how the FOX schedule stacks up.

Returning Series:
24, American Dad, American Idol, Bones, Family Guy, House, King of the Hill, The Loop, The OC, Prison Break, The Simpsons, Nanny 911, Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy, MADtv, COPS, America's Most Wanted

New Series:
Happy Hour, Justice, Standoff, 'Til Death, Vanished, The Wedding Album, The Winner

New Timeslots for Returning Series:
Bones moves to Fridays at 8 pm in January to accomodate the return of American Idol to the schedule; House will relocate to Tuesdays at 9 pm in January for the return of 24

Midseason Launches/Returns:
24, American Idol, The Wedding Album, The Loop, The Winner

Cancelled/Ended:
Arrested Development, That '70s Show, Kitchen Confidential, Killer Instinct, Reunion, Head Cases, Malcolm in the Middle

Reactions:
Pretty standard stuff here. I can't say that I was surprised by any of this, but I was hoping that FOX's fall schedule would have a little more... oomph. (In fact, nearly all of the skeds so far have seemed fairly lackluster as the nets seem to be taking little chances these days.)

While there had been some talk of relocating American Idol to another night (main show on Wednesdays, results show on Thursdays), I would have been baffled if FOX had actually gone ahead and done so. I'm still surprised that FOX ordered The Wedding Album, but from what I hear series lead Bruno Campos will be let go and the part recast, meaning that the entire pilot will likely have to be reshot from scratch... but hey, it's for mid-season, so they've got plenty of time to reconfigure the show before it sits around on Friday nights without an audience.

New series Standoff and Justice both get a rather mystifying vote of approval from the network as both are chosen to lead off Monday and Wednesday nights respectively. Wow. I was surprised that they'd choose to launch the new shows at 8 pm rather than stacking them behind a proven commodity like Prison Break, as FOX did with Vanished... which will now go head-to-head with NBC's newest drama Heroes. Which serialized drama will take the lead? (While I'd rather watch Heroes, I'd give the lead to Vanished, if they can hold onto Prison Break's lead.) But what's up with the decision to pit new comedies 'Til Death and Happy Hour against NBC's powerhouse combo of Earl and The Office on Thursdays? That's just inane.

And The OC did end up staying right where it's been sagging along. Can't say that I'm surprised about that either. All in all, considering the excitement that there's been the last few weeks, I have to say that I expected more daring and risk-taking from FOX.

Stay tuned later today for the very last Scorecard session as the CW unveils their fall schedule.