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us all in October
Scraps plans for a summer rollout for new season
Remember all Fox’s talk during the upfront about premiering its shows during the summer to build momentum for the fall season?
It's not going to happen.
The network is once again waiting until after the World Series to roll out most of its new season lineup.
“The OC” will keep its Aug. 5 debut date, but “The Simple Life,” also set to debut in August, won’t be coming until at least fall.
Fox said yesterday that five of its series will premiere in September but that its most popular shows return in late October or early November.
The network was working toward a summer rollout to avoid what happened last season when its entire slate of new shows, debuting in late October, failed to survive. That left the network firmly in fourth place in the season 18-49 ratings. It took until the midseason for it to recover, powered by the hits “Joe Millionaire” and “American Idol.”
The network isn't saying why it pushed back so much of its season schedule, but one reason could be the tough go it's had with the shows that have debuted this summer, led by the disappointing scripted series “Keen Eddie,” which won’t return.
“American Juniors,” the “American Idol” spinoff that Fox scheduled for a summer debut and a fall return, has also underperformed.
The effect, it appears, was to leave Fox's schedule in disarray, which has led to rejiggering and the pushing back of start dates.
"Cedric the Entertainer," which had been renewed, was chopped in June, and last week Fox decided to push “The Simple Life," which chronicles the life of two New York debutantes in rural America, into the fall from an Aug. 13 debut, leading some to speculate that the show would take "Junior's" place on the fall schedule.
Under the revised schedule, which Fox announced yesterday, Saturday’s “Cops” and “America’s Most Wanted” will return first, on Sept. 13.
On Sept. 26 the network launches its revamped Friday schedule, with “Wanda at Large” and “Luis” airing in the 8 p.m. hour and “Boston Public” at 9.
Monday’s “Joe Millionaire” and “Skin” will be the first shows from the second wave to debut, starting Oct. 20.
Fox has set an Oct. 28 premiere date for “Juniors,” but that could well be written in sand, with network executives hinting at the Television Critics Association tour that the show’s return was not guaranteed.
The rest of Fox’s lineup will debut the week of Oct. 27, including its Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday shows. The Sunday block will premiere Nov. 2, when the annual “Simpsons” Treehouse of Horrors Halloween episode will air.
Fox considers “The Simpsons’” official premiere date as Nov. 9, when a regular episode first airs.
“The OC” will air Tuesdays until October. On Oct. 30 it moves to its regular Thursday 9 p.m. slot. Fox is clearly hoping the show builds enough momentum to bring viewers with it – TV’s most-watched show, CBS’s “CSI,” also airs in that time slot.
The network did not announce a debut date for “Oliver Beene.” The show is scheduled for Sundays at 7 p.m., but because of NFL overrun, it probably will be preempted or delayed most weeks anyway.
July 25, 2003© 2003 Media Life
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