Fall Schedules: Fox

Fox’s fall schedule attempts to demonstrate stability, but there’s only so much a network can do when they have to hold off two of their biggest guns—American Idol and 24—until January. (Press release here.)

Good move: For fall Fox has to rely primarily on House and its modest but solid performing Sunday schedule (and hope that fans will return to Prison Break when there’s no prison to break out of in second season). The network really isn’t trying to change up its game very much, just build on what it has and hold its breath until January.

That said it’s wise to pair its best looking new series (hostage negotiator drama Standoff) with its biggest hit (House), even if the new show has to lead off the night.

Bad move: Let’s see… renewing The Loop, hoping Bones develops into something that it never will (i.e. the next House), keeping The OC alive in a vegetative state. Fox has very quietly become the most boring network on TV (yes, even more than CBS). It used to be known for edgy, offbeat shows but the development slates for the past few seasons have been so inspiration-free (a law show titled Justice!?! You have to be kidding!) you have to wonder when exactly braindead zombies took over the network that gave us The Simpsons, The X-Files, Ally McBeal, 24, The Bernie Mac Show, Arrested Development and scores of noble failures (Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Profit, Undeclared, etc.). This is all the more puzzling since Fox President Peter Liguori knows good TV from his days running FX. I guess everyone sells out sometime.

I’m looking forward to…: Only one show really, and it may suck. But Standoff at least has a decent cast (including Ron Livingston and Gina Torres) and sells itself as a Mr. & Mrs. Smith-style look at hostage negotiators. As long as it isn’t too bogged down in procedure it may be interesting (although it's too bad Livingston and Torres aren't paired together as the central couple). Midseason comedy The Winner with The Daily Show’s Rob Corddry at least seems like a good Fox concept, but it’s from the Family Guy creators and has the look of desperate, not smart, comedy.

…but not: Everything else. Even the casts don’t inspire much confidence (although we’ll see who they get to replace Bruno Campos as the lead in The Wedding Album…not that I’ll be watching).

What they didn’t pick up: Hmm, I wonder if any of these shows were any good. Probably not. But I’d rather see a single mom bounty hunter comedy (with The L Word’s Erin Daniels and Annie Potts) and Sean Bean in a criminal underworld drama than most of what made the schedule.

Say goodbye to: Some veterans of better times (Malcolm in the Middle, The Bernie Mac Show, That 70s Show), a bunch of crap from recent seasons (Head Cases, Killer Instinct, Stacked, Free Ride, Reunion), a show that never lived up to its promise (Kitchen Confidential) and one of the best comedies TV has ever seen. Ever. Ever.