It was already decided earlier this week that two shows that looked in danger of cancellation (Arrested Development and Bernie Mac) would in fact return to Fox's fall schedule, so the interest in the line-up itself is all about scheduling.
The network is taking some interesting risks with a line-up of several shows that are nearing the end of their run, a few that have yet to prove their ratings worth and a crop of new series that borrow from previous Fox success stories. And not a single regularly scheduled reality show.
Arrested heads to Monday where it will be paired with new Darren Star comedy Kitchen Confidential, a good sign of the perceived quality of that show since Arrested's renewal was said to have been decided partly on the network finding a suitable companion show. Bernie Mac stays on Fridays, now paired with a relocated Malcolm in the Middle, which is presumably in its last season.
With Malcolm, That 70s Show, King of the Hill and possibly even Bernie Mac all headed into alleged final seasons Fox will have some big gaps opening up in its schedule. Conveniently the network has already announced a January line-up (when American Idol and 24 return). That will likely shift somewhat if something hits or flops bigtime come fall.
In addition to Kitchen Confidential the other new comedy is The War at Home, which looks closer to traditional Fox dysfunctional family comedies.
New dramas also build on current staples. Following the success of House the network adds two procedurals: forensics drama Bones on Tuesdays before House, and twisted cop show The Gate (from a CSI producer) on Fridays at 9 (CSI's old timeslot).
And there's two high concept dramas no doubt inspired by the success of 24: Reunion, which follows The OC on Thursdays and tracks six people from high school graduation to a 20 year reunion with each episode representing a single year, and Prison Break, which occupies the 24 timeslot in the fall and details a season-long jailbreak.
Other new hour is quirky lawyer dramedy Head Cases (shades of Ally McBeal?). Unfortunately not only does the show have the misfortune of going up against Lost and two highly competitive new dramas on CBS and NBC, but it also stars Chris O'Donnell, Adam Goldberg and Rachael Leigh Cook.
Hopefully, for new entertainment president Peter Liguori's sake, a few of these new shows will catch on, and this fall won't be yet another case of "just wait until January!"
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