Network Scorecard: FOX

Sadly, this is it. The end of Upfronts week. Traditionally FOX has the last announcements of the season and they've made a pledge to keep their presentations this year to a shorter-than-short one-hour, a welcome respite from this week's low points which included a song-and-dance from the cast of Ugly Betty, a gruesomely dull (and yet unintentionally hilarious) interactive Bingo Night preview, and Les Moonves using the word "dude."

Will FOX do something zany like shift their popular Sunday night animation block to the middle of the week? Or push Bones to Friday? Let's find out.

"This is the most stable and most vibrant schedule ever presented by FOX one that is sure to help us secure our fourth consecutive season as the No. 1 network in key demos," said FOX Entertainment President Peter Liguori. "We'll have a balanced schedule across the week, and we expect a significantly stronger fourth quarter. And in early 2008, 24 and American Idol, along with unprecedented sporting events in primetime including the Super Bowl on Feb. 3 will allow us to launch additional series and position ourselves for another dominant season.

We'll have returning shows on six nights in the fall and every night of the week come January. We're introducing new series that are distinctive, compelling, and which have impressive auspices. New series will be paired with returning hits to create a balanced, competitive, solid schedule"

Without further ado, here's a look at FOX's official schedule now.

FOX Primetime Schedule for the 2007-08 Season (Fall):

MONDAY
8-9 pm: Prison Break
9-10 pm: K-Ville

TUESDAY
8-9 pm: New Amsterdam
9-10 pm: House

WEDNESDAY
8-8:30 pm: Back to You
8:30-9 pm: 'Til Death
9-10 pm: Bones

THURSDAY
8-9 pm: Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
9-10 pm: Kitchen Nightmares

FRIDAY
8-9 pm: The Search for the Next Great American Band
9-10 pm: Nashville

SATURDAY
8-9 pm: COPS
9-10 pm: America's Most Wanted
11 pm-Midnight: MADtv
Midnight-12:30 am: Talk Show with Spike Feresten

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


FOX Primetime Schedule for the 2007-08 Season (Midseason):

MONDAY
8-9 pm: K-Ville (January)/Prison Break
9-10 pm: 24

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

WEDNESDAY (January)
8-8:30 pm: Back to You
8:30-9 pm: 'Til Death
9-10 pm: American Idol

WEDNESDAY (Spring)
8-8:30 pm: Back to You
8:30-9 pm: The Return of Jezebel James
9-9:30 pm: American Idol Results Show
9:30-10 pm: 'Til Death

THURSDAY
8-9 pm: Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
9-10 pm: Canterbury's Law

FRIDAY
8-9 pm: Bones
9-10 pm: New Amsterdam

SATURDAY
8-9 pm: COPS
9-10 pm: America's Most Wanted
11 pm-Midnight: MADtv
Midnight-12:30 am: Talk Show with Spike Feresten

SUNDAY
7-7:30 pm: King of the Hill
7:30-8 pm: American Dad
8-8:30 pm: The Simpsons
8:30-9 pm: Family Guy
9-10 pm: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

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

Returning Series:
Bones, House, Prison Break, 'Til Death, The Simpsons, American Dad, King of the Hill, Family Guy, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?, COPS, America's Most Wanted, MADtv, Talk Show with Spike Feresten

New Series:
Back to You, Kitchen Nightmares, K-Ville, New Amsterdam, The Search for the Next Great American Band, Nashville

Midseason Launches/Returns:
24, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, American Idol, Canterbury's Law, The Return of Jezebel James, The Rules for Starting Over

Summer Launch:
Anchorwoman, So You Think You Can Dance, On the Lot, Hell's Kitchen

Cancelled:
Drive, Wedding Bells, The O.C., Standoff

Reactions:
As usual, FOX has announced both its fall and spring schedules, shifting a few series around (and bringing in a few new ones) once 24 and American Idol return in January. Launching Sarah Connor Chronicles on Sunday nights in January, rather than behind 24? Gutsy, though it's the same timeslot that made The X-Files a global phenomenon.

I wish that Jezebel James was launching in the fall (need my AS-P fix ASAP) rather than midseason, though I have to be honest and say that I wasn't blown away by the sizzle reel they assembled for the new midseason comedy (I'll watch the pilot itself tomorrow night and report back).

Kitchen Nightmares could be some good counter-programming or it could backfire completely (after all, I'm devoted to The Office as much as I love Ramsay's original UK version), but it will probably find some traction behind Are You Smarter?

No interest in K-Ville. Sorry, but it's true. I'll be watching the pilot next week but it's not on my radar whatsoever.

Why in the world would they order Nashville? Friday nights seem doomed as usual over on the FOX network. I wish they'd stick New Amsterdam over there now rather than in midseason. And where, oh where, will The Rules for Starting Over go come spring? Hmm...

And thus ends another network upfronts week. Whew. It's been a tiring one, but I do love my recycled billboard tote from the CW. It's a nifty gifty.