With heavy-hitter “American Idol”
not set to debut until midseason and several of its scripted summer shows
having failed, Fox decided to live or die by reality this fall.
It’s not dead yet, but it could use a respirator.
Despite limited success of “Nanny 911” and “Trading
Spouses,” most of Fox’s new shows have disappointed, especially
potential reality franchises “My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss” and “The
Rebel Billionaire: Branson’s Quest for the Best.”
None of its scripted shows have performed well either, despite the
fact that Tuesday drama “House” earned some of the year’s better
reviews.
The network has dipped 7 percent year-to-year among
adults 18-49 for the season.
Fox, however, has proven remarkably adept at remaking
its schedule on the fly. It always seems to crank out an unexpected
reality hit at midseason, be it “Joe Millionaire” or the first “Big
Fat Obnoxious” installment.
While it would have been nice to use baseball momentum to
start the season strong, Fox can still finish No. 1 or 2 among 18-49s for
the season on the strength of “Idol” alone. It will just be a little
tougher.
Two months into the season we’ve seen fewer quick
cancellations by the networks than last year, when nearly 10 shows were
off the schedule in a matter of weeks.
This year’s outright kills have been unsurprising:
NBC’s “Hawaii” and “LAX,” CBS’s dull “Clubhouse”
and “dr. vegas” and the WB’s misplaced improv “Drew Carey’s
Green Screen.”
Still, it can be hard to keep up with what’s still around,
what’s awaiting the axe and what has been renewed.
Here’s an update on the networks’ new shows,
including their status as of Monday and what Media Life predicted for them
when they debuted (see chart for rating scale). Note that some but not all
of Fox's new shows were reviewed.
We’ve already looked at ABC, CBS and NBC; today we’ll
look at Fox. Later this week we’ll chart the WB and UPN.
Fox
“My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss” (Sundays, 9 p.m.)
Status: Finishing limited order. Media Life rating: (not reviewed)
The sequel to last year’s “My Big Fat Obnoxious
Fiancé,” which finished eighth for the season among 18-49s, “Boss”
has averaged a very disappointing 2.2 rating, albeit against ABC monster
hit “Desperate Housewives.”
“Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy”
(Mondays, 8 p.m.)
Status: Full-season order. Media Life rating: (not reviewed)
Part of Fox’s seemingly never-ending reality wheel,
and remarkably similar to ABC’s higher-rated Wednesday “Wife Swap,”
“Spouses” performed well enough this summer to earn a fall spot. It’s
also bettering lead-out “Swan 2’s” average by more than 10 percent.
“The Rebel Billionaire: Branson’s Quest for
the Best” (Tuesdays, 8 p.m.)
Status: Finishing limited order. Media Life rating: 11.
This show almost certainly won’t be extended after
averaging a “Next Great Champ”-like 2.3 for its season debut and
sinking from there.
“House”
(Tuesdays, 9 p.m.)
Status: Finishing limited order. Media Life rating: 16.
After a handful of episodes “House” doesn’t show great
promise, but it has been well-reviewed. Fox may let it hang on until
January and see how much better it can perform with “American Idol” as
a lead-in.
“Next Great Champ”
(Tuesdays, 9 p.m.)
Status: Canceled. Media Life rating: (not reviewed)
A flop from its summer debut, the “Contender” clone
finished its limited run on FSN.
“Quintuplets”
(Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m.)
Status: Full-season order. Media Life rating: (not reviewed)
A summer holdover, “Quintuplets” retains about 80
percent of lead-in “That ‘70s Show’s” wilting audience. But Fox
likes star Andy Richter and hopes the sitcom will benefit from “American
Idol’s” Wednesday return next year.
“Method & Red”
(Wednesdays, 9:30 p.m.)
Status: Canceled. Media Life rating: (not reviewed)
The well-reviewed show struggled during its summer run, but
Fox nonetheless gave it a second chance come fall. Well, somewhat of a
chance. After losing much of lead-in “Bernie Mac’s” audience in just
a few outings, Fox axed it.
“Nanny 911”
(Wednesdays, 9 p.m.)
Status: Renewed for season two. Media Life rating: (not reviewed)
Taking the place of “Bernie Mac” while the star
recuperates from exhaustion, this reality filler has performed
surprisingly well, averaging nearly a 4.0 rating in a tough timeslot. Fox
will air the second season sometime next year.
“North Shore”
(Thursdays, 9 p.m.)
Status: Renewed after summer run. Media Life rating: (not reviewed)
Fox hoped that pairing the similarly themed “O.C.”
with “North Shore” would give it a ratings kick the show never found
last summer, but that hasn’t happened yet. “Shore” is losing more
than half “The O.C.’s” lead-in among 12-34s.
|
The Media Life Meter
Rating fall’s
new shows probability of survival |
|
30-27 |
Odds are this show will make it to next season. |
|
26-22 |
Odds are this show will make it through this
season. |
|
21-15 |
Show may not survive the season. |
|
15-9 |
Show will be canceled sometime this season. |
|
8 or lower |
Catch it while you can – this show may not make
it to four episodes. |
|
Source: Media Life |
|
