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Fall 2006 Fox TV Network Programming Schedule

 Descriptions and Analysis

New Series in blue.

Click on underlined titles for information.

Here's the link to Fox's own 2006 Schedule website.

Fall 2006 Schedule

Post-Season:  On the Lot

New Series

Celebrity Duets:  Simon Cowell's (American Idol) newest musical competition series, focusing on the current perceived fascination with famous people doings things they aren't famous for -- dancing, skating, and now singing -- which pairs non-singers with established musical stars and makes them sing for charity.  The non-singers this time around are Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess, who has sung before, most notably her national anthem warbling at a 1997 Mighty Ducks game when her top went south), Cheech Marin, Lea Thompson, Hal Sparks (Queer as Folk), Chris Jericho (WWE wrestler), Alfonso Ribeiro (Fresh Prince of Bel Air), Jai Rodriguez (Queer Eye style guy), Carly Patterson (Olympic athlete), paired with a rotating cast of guest singers including Aaron Neville, Clint Black, Macy Gray, Patti LaBelle, Lee Ann Womack, Michael Bolton, Belinda Carlisle, Peter Frampton, Wynonna Judd, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Loggins, Randy Travis, Dionne Warwick, and Cindy Lauper.  Assuming that there's no end to the interest in pairings like this, Celebrity Duets should give Fox a nice boost on Thursdays.  

Happy Hour:  This workplace/romantic/buddy comedy stars John Sloan (The Triangle, Commander-in-Chief) as a jilted fella, relocated from Missouri to Chicago, whose newly-single status brings him into contact with a whole new group of friends, all determined to get his life back on track again.  Also starring are Lex Medlin (Still Standing, Rock Me Baby), Nat Faxon (Reno 911, Joey, Grosse Pointe), Jamie Denbo (Reno 911, Late Night with Craig Ferguson), Bethe Lacke (ER, How I Met Your Mother), and Brooke D'Orsay (Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Corner Gas, 6teen).  The women are uniformly beautiful and sassy, the men wisecracking and girl-crazy -- what more could an audience want?  This series' chances depend a lot on the success of its lead-in, Brad Garrett's 'Til Death, so perhaps the haven't-we-seen-this-before-ness of Happy Hour will be less of a drag than it could be.   

Justice:  Jerry Bruckheimer applies his winning touch to this persuasive drama centering on a law firm specializing in high-profile, media-crazed cases.  Victor Garber (Alias, Titanic, Will & Grace, Liberace: Behind the Music, many musical roles) stars as Ron Turk, the hard-driving senior lawyer with a taste for the spotlight, with Kerr Smith (E-Ring, Charmed, Dawson's Creek) , Eamonn Walker (Lord of War, ER, Oz), and Rebecca Mader (The Devil Wears Prada, Love Monkey, The Guiding Light) making up the rest of the crew, each one offering both support and counterpoint to Turk's in-your-face maneuvers.  Promising to examine the inextricable allure that criminal proceedings hold for the American public, Justice expands Bruckheimer's stable of good-looking, fast-moving, slickly-made TV dramas into the courtroom.  Will his touch be enough to keep Justice afloat against Lost?  It may be that the returning-but-not-a-huge-hit Bones won't be enough lead-in to get Justice off to the start it needs.  

The Loop:  Coming mid-season.

Standoff:  "Kiss Me, Kate -- but first, we've got to talk this sniper outta that tower" could be the tagline for this action romance starring the appealing Ron Livingston (everybody's favorite in Office Space, Sex and the City, The Practice, Band of Brothers) and Rosemarie DeWitt (Rescue Me, Cinderella Man) as the busy pair of battling crisis negotiators/beaus.  Gina Torres (The Shield, Alias, 24, Firefly, Angel, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys) is their boss, Michael Cudlitz (Band of Brothers, Prison Break, 24, Beverly Hills 90210) a skeptical, gung-ho colleague, and Raquel Alessi (Ghost Rider) is Stand-off's equivalent of 24's computer-whiz Chloe, only not so neurotic and more of a dish.  Hoping, no doubt, to capture some of the wit-infused sexual tension of Moonlighting, Livingston and DeWitt's onscreen chemistry could have a lot to do with whether or not Standoff is a hit.  For the first few weeks it will benefit from a House lead-in, but post-baseball the two shows change places.  By then we'll know whether Standoff is a standout with the audience.  Livingston is an immensely likeable actor, particularly good at mixing a light touch with his stalwart good looks to create an ideal modern day dreamboat, always with a little subversive edge, and he's reason enough to root for this show.  

TALKSHOW with Spike Ferensten:  Comedy writer Spike Ferensten (Seinfeld, Late Night with David Letterman,Saturday Night Live) hosts this new take on the late night talk show, with an emphasis on comedy, including staff-staffed skits and minus a monologue.  A timeslot following MAD TV should supply the requisite audience; it's up to Spike from there to capture them and keep 'em laughing.  

'Til Death:  Comedy veterans Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond, Gleason, and a slew of animated voices) and Joely Fisher (Desperate Housewives, Wild Card, Ellen, Grosse Point) are a typical middle-aged married couple -- not getting enough sex, squabbling endlessly -- with next-door neighbors, a pair of idealistic, romantic newlyweds played by Eddie Kaye Thomas (Off Centre, American Dad) and Kat Foster (Law & Order).  It's age vs. youth, cynicism vs. enthusiasm, and everything in between as these two couples learn from each other and find out that what they have really isn't so different after all.  Early critical carping tags 'Til Death as some kind of antiquated throwback domestic comedy, but as we all know, cutting-edge often doesn't cut it in the ratings.  We'll see if the giant Garrett has his own fans who will follow him from Raymond to 'Til Death, but that may not even make a difference, what with the formidable comedy competition on NBC from My Name is Earl and The Office, as well as other strong offerings in the time period.  Without a lead-in, 'Til Death may not be here a very long time.

Vanished:  Fox cites 24, CSI and The Da Vinci Code as inspirations for this kidnapping/conspiracy/soap opera action drama.  A Georgia Senator goes missing, and the FBI is called in to investigate.  Easy enough, except that the Collins clan is...well, clandestine, with mysteries galore and more intrigue than you can imagine.  (And yet you can -- you've watched enough TV.)  There's a big cast, headlined by a couple of interesting actors -- John Allen Nelson (the evil Prez aide Walt Cummings in last season's 24, Baywatch) and Gale Harold (Queer as Folk, Deadwood, The Unit) -- interesting not necessarily meaning able to entice an audience, though.  The rest of the cast of this complicated drama includes Newfoundlander Joanne Kelly (Slings and Arrows, Jeremiah), Rebecca Gayheart (Nip/Tuck, Dead Like Me, The Division, Beverly Hills 90210), Margarita Levieva, John Patrick Amedori (Almost Famous, The Butterfly Effect), Chris Egan (Everwood, Empire), Robert Hoffman (Quintuplets, American Dream), and Ming-Na (ER, The Joy Luck Club).  Will this be a convoluted mess or a riveting Fox triumph like 24, which moves into its timeslot come January.  Fox's other hit drama Prison Break leads-in, which is a good thing, but will the more soapy elements of Vanished hold the audience?  Time will tell.  

Returning Shows

American Dad:  Now that Seth MacFarlane's long-cancelled The Family Guy rose from the grave via DVD and cable (and will be back on Fox in the near future), Fox is hoping to do it right the first time around with his new animated entry American Dad.  He's a CIA agent engaged in the war on terrorism, has a wife and a pair of teenage kids, along with an Area 51 space alien and a talking goldfish who live with their family.  Right at home on Fox's Sunday night comedy line-up, certainly all the Family Guy buzz won't hurt the profile of this new entry.    

Bones:  Emily Deschanel (Boogeyman) is a beautiful forensic anthropologist/novelist (a character based on a real woman scientist/writer) and David Boreanaz (Buffy, Angel) is the ex-Army sniper Special Agent who bugs her, in this mystery/crime/romantic adventure series.  This "Love Among the Maggots" premise has a Moonlighting-esque vibe, at least in the promos, which unfortunately aren't nearly as cute as somebody hopes.  Surrounding our two lovers-in-the-making are a troupe of brilliant but eccentric scientists, including Eric Millegan (theater's Harold and Maude musical) as the resident geek, TJ Thyne (How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Ghost World) as the conspiracy-nut entymologist, Michaela Conlin (The D.A., MDs) as the female computer-graphics whiz, and Jonathan Adams (American Dreams) as our heroine's crusty but benign boss.  I don't think I'd be as wary of this if I hadn't seen the promos, but as grim and uninspiring as deadly serious crime drama dialog can be, it may be that cutesy quasi-romantic banter is even more distasteful.  Will being the lead-in to newly-anointed hit House help liven up Bones chances?  And if not, can it hold on until it gets an American Idol lead-in in January?  Premieres 9/13.  Update 9/15:  First airing overnights were favorable for Bones, which no doubt benefited from a stellar performance from House in its 2nd season opener.  Update 10/12:  Bones has received a full-season pick-up order.

House:  One of the best things to anticipate with this show is star Hugh Laurie, well-known and beloved by fans of British comedy from his roles in Jeeves and Blackadder.  He might be more recognizable to Yanks and their kids for his work in Stuart Little, but don't hold that against him -- he's brilliant no matter what he's doing..  House, a medical mystery/drama from one of the creators of Homicide, promises to make villains out of dastardly microbes and virulent viruses as a team of highly-trained physicians attempts to solve deadly outbreaks before countless lives are lost.  If you've ever thrilled to the genuinely fascinating true-life tales on Discovery Health's Diagnosis: Unknown, you'll want to catch this fictionalized version of the same kind of stories.  Promising an unconventional lead character -- and with Hugh Laurie playing him, it could be wonderful -- and a straight-ahead dynamic style which will hopefully set it apart from all the other medical/science investigation shows out there, House will get a great lead-in from American Idol (assuming the magic is still there in January).  For the presence of Laurie alone this one is worth watching, and advertiser interest in the show is reportedly high.  Could be the class act of the year.  Premiere Date: 11/16/04.  Update 6/05:  This surprise hit -- partly due to a late-season American Idol lead-in, partly due to a growing wellspring of popular acclaim for very deserving star Hugh Laurie -- will be back for a second season.

The O.C.:  In what looks like an attempt by Fox to offer something for teen viewers and others seeking more melodrama than you get during a makeover, an autopsy or NBC's sitcoms, The O.C. -- stands for Orange County, California -- makes its way into the very competitive Thursday prime environment.  Although those of us who are familiar with Orange County know that only a teeny bit of it is moneyed enough qualify for this show -- like maybe a few ultra-upscale beach communities -- this is TV, after all, and it's been a while since a genuine nighttime soap opera (non-reality, that is) caught on.  In TOC's dazzling sun-drenched world, we learn than money doesn't guarantee happiness, especially when you're a teenager, and that beautiful people are pretty perhaps only on the outside.  If continuing drama -- and main male adult lead Peter Gallagher -- hit your buttons, this is the show for you, but it's going to have a tough time surviving.  TOC is going up against the weeks' biggest NBC/CBS juggernaut, and it will take more than the flash of West Coast bling bling to make it through the season.  Fox plans to start airing the show in summer in an attempt to jumpstart the show, but if it flops, Thursday nights will look like a done deal even before the race has really started.  Update 6/16/03:  The O.C. will premiere on Tuesday August 5th at 9pm until it moves to its fall Thursday berth on 10/30/03.  Update 9/03:  The O.C. has been a hit so far for Fox, with continual growth since its early debut this summer.  The jumpstart appears to have worked; it's nice insulation against the fall competition but no guarantee of future success, of course.  Update 10/6/03:  Fox has decided to move The O.C. out of the murderous Thursday 9pm slot and into Wednesday at 9pm, displacing Bernie Mac and Cedric the Entertainer.  Bernie Mac will move to Sundays, replacing The Ortegas which is on hold.  The O.C.'s former Thursday slot will be filled by encore plays of the Tuesday night drama Skin.  Update 10/15/03:  Fox has given The O.C. an early full season pick-up.  Update 6/04:  The O.C. is moving to Thursday night this fall, leading into Tru Calling.  Update 7/05:  Back for a third season.

Prison Break:  Fox may have a success on its hands already; this series, which premiered in late summer, is getting good press and decent ratings even before the season officially begins.  Prison Break gives the old behind-bars concept another go, as a man gets himself sentenced to prison to save the life of his brother who's scheduled for the electric chair for a murder he didn't commit.  Saving his life actually means breaking him out of prison, an elaborate plan that moves the series forward.  It's an interesting premise that seems to be working thus far.  Wentworth Miller (The Human Stain, Dinotopia) is Michael, the brother with the plan, Dominic Purcell (the John Doe series, North Shore) the one who's clock is ticking, Robin Tunney (The In-Laws, The Secret Lives of Dentists) is Michael's lawyer and his brother's ex, Sarah Jane Callies (she was Jane in the ill-fated Tarzan from a few seasons back) is the prison doctor, the intriguing Peter Stormare (The Big Lebowski, Dancer in the Dark, Constantine) is a jailed mob boss, Amaury Nolasco (Mr. 3000, 2 Fast 2 Furious) is Michael's cellmate, Wade Williams (Ali, Erin Brockovich, much TV) is a helpful guard, and veteran actor Stacy Keach (Mike Hammer, American History X, Titus) is the imposing warden.  This isn't going to be an Oz -- and that's okay -- and though it has plenty of competition with football and CBS' strong comedy line-up, Prison Break is looking good so far for Fox.  Interesting fact:  Both the guys playing brothers here are actually English-born.  Premiered 8/29.  Update 10/12:  Prison Break has received a full-season order.  Update 12/1:  Prison Break will return with new episodes in March.

The War at Home:  This live-action comedy stuck in the midst of Fox's Sunday animated block may be a bit out of place, but it's got a great lead-in, which is theirs to lose -- precisely what happened in its debut outing.  The War at Home's premise is fairly typical -- a couple of groovy parents with bratty teenage kids; the gimmick is a direct address technique which reveals the characters' innermost thoughts.  Michael Rapaport (Comic Book Villains, Friends, Boston Public) and Anita Barone (The Jeff Foxworthy Show) are the parents; Dean Collins (Jack & Bobby), Kaylee Defer (The Mountain), and Kyle Sullivan (Malcolm in the Middle, Tuesdays with Morrie) are the kids.  It's definitely the only choice for the young comedy-seeking crowd in its time period, but better shows have come and gone in that slot.  Premiered 9/11.  Update 10/12:  The War at Home has received a full-season order.