Something about FOX fascinates me.
I really can’t put my finger on it. FOX is sort of an enigma. In it’s own way it is ground breaking. It brought us such ground breaking shows as Married With Children, The Tracey Ullman Show, The Simpsons, Beverly Hills, 90210, The X-Files, 24 and Arrested Development. A pretty impressive resume. It brought us a huge ratings hit in American Idol, though the idea of a talent show wasn’t too original, it’s decision to highlight the bad as well as the good was what sucked a lot of viewers in.
Yet, over the past couple of years, with this year in particular, FOX has gained a reputation for blatant creative plagiarism, especially in its reality shows. This year alone FOX rushed to get two shows to the air earlier than their competition, The Next Great Champ, a boxing show which flopped and was exiled to the Fox Sports Net, and Trading Spouses, a reality show about, well, trading Spouses. This led to legal challenges by the producers of The Contender, another boxing reality show helmed by Mark Burnett and Sylvester Stallone, and ABC’s Wife Swap.
So which is it FOX? Launcher of ground breaking television or purveyor of cheap copies? I guess we’ll have to look to the new season for answers to that question? Except, what the heck is the new season for FOX. FOX has developed this staggered approach to premiering of old and new shows alike. Shows have premiered in the summer, in the traditional September premiere slot, and coming soon, the post-baseball November Fallish, just in time for sweeps, season. To make matters even more confusing Fox will be launching more of its established shows, 24, American Idol and Tru Calling in January. So, in reality I guess FOX has no true Premiere Season anymore, just a series of “sort of” Premiere Type Things that strangely coincide with sweeps times. So without further ramblings I give you my:
FOX Fall-ish Sort Of Season Premiere Preview Type Thing:
SUNDAY:
7PM: King of The Hill (Unless Conflicted by Football)
Premiere: November 7th
This Season: Expect more Texas sized happenings this season as this awkward family struggles with it’s ever changing surroundings and increasingly nonmainstream neighbors. Look for more insight into what makes Peggy tick as we get to travel with her to her family home in Montana, which is in jeopardy.
Special Events/Stars: Look for Henry Winkler in the premiere as, well, Henry Winkler.
Major Competition: Football/America’s Funniest Video’s/Dateline/60 Minutes
Bob’s Notes: While this show has lost some of it’s pizzazz of its earlier seasons it still remains safe programming for FOX and should be pretty secure. It’s timeslot offers some problems with it’s probably conflict with football, so don’t look for this show to really hit its stride until early next year. Should be a decent alternative the news programming on other channels.
7:30 Malcolm in the Middle
Premiere: November 7th
This Season: The Season Premiere revolves around Reese, who has illegally enlisted in the army. After parachuting into Afghanistan, Reese quickly deserts and goes into hiding as only Reese would think of doing. Can Lois rescue him? After the premiere look for typical mayhem with Hal getting into a feud with a garbage man, Malcolm and Lois becoming coworkers and Dewey and Reese, well, act like Dewey and Reese.
Special Events/Guests: Look for an episode directed by series regular Bryan Cranston on November 14th.
Major Competition: Football/America’s Funniest Video’s/Dateline/60 Minutes
Bob’s Note’s: In my opinion, one of the best situation comedies on TV today. Each season’s zaniness seems to top the last. Will this be the season where it loses ground or just becomes over the top? I guess we’ll have to see. The show has done a decent job handling changes in the past and I don’t think this season should be any different.
8:00 PM The Simpsons:
Premiere: November 14th
This Season: Expect a lot of what we come to love in out first family of comedy. Early episodes have Bart deciding a change of lifestyle is due after he finds some of Homers old Playdudes from the 1970’s and Marge deciding to take on Nelson Muntz as a surrogate child. In the most publicized event of the season one of the Simpson’s many peripheral characters will come out in an attempt to marry their partner.
Special Events/Guests: The Treehouse of Horrors Halloween Special XV(Nov. 7th) James Caan, writer Thomas Pynchon
Major Competition: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, American Dreams, Cold Case
Bob’s Notes: As many have said, a bad episode of the Simpsons is better than most of what is on TV today. Many fans believe the golden age of the show has past, but most still tune in to watch what antics Homer and company get into. Look for later in the season when one Springfieldian comes out of the closet looking to marry their partner. While the obvious choice would be Mr. Smithers, don’t expect the obvious. Heck, there is plenty of questions about the Lenny and Carl relationship, and Selma has always seemed a bit, well, you know. The official launch of the season is on November 14, look for the annual Halloween special the week after Halloween.
Inside Pulse Coverage: Make sure you check out Mike Lawrence’s Coverage of The Simpsons in the InsidePulse TV Zone. You can check out his profile page with links to all his stories here.
8:30 PM Arrested Development:
Premiere: November 7
This Season: The second season of the Emmy Award winning comedy kicks off George Sr. is still at large due to a police goof up, and the screws are put on Michael as the next target of the corruption prosecution (this is a comedy). How is the family dealing with Micheals increasing legal troubles and with Gob acting as the figurehead leader of the company? Better than you may think.
Special Guests/Events: Michael and George Michael go on a roadtrip to Mexico to find the fugitive George Sr./ Henry Winkler revisits his role as George Sr. legal advisor.
Major Competition: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, American Dreams, Cold Case
Bob’s Note: If you haven’t got a chance to catch this off beat and refreshingly bizarre comedy, than you are missing something special. Arrested Development is a critical darling, but has yet to receive the ratings the will ensure its place on the small screen. While its lead in is pretty strong, don’t be surprised if Arrested Development still struggles to pull in decent ratings with people switching over to ABC the catch the payoff scenes of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
9:00 PM My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss
Premiere: November 7th
New Show: From the people who brought you last season’s My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance this reality farce beings together some of young eager beaver entrepreneur types vying to get the favor of successful business executive Mr. N. Paul Todd. Yet, in a twist that we are very well aware of Mr. Todd is nothing more than an actor who puts these contestants through ridiculous and humiliating challenges all designed to frustrate the heck out of these Type A personalities. In a Wizard of Oz twist the biggest surprise will be who is hiding behind the curtain actually making the decision on which of these contestants stays and which are given their walking papers.
Major Competition: Desperate Housewives, Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Bob’s Note: Didn’t we already have a “The Apprentice” parody? I think it was called “The Benefactor.” Well, who knows? This show may pull in some of the younger demographics, but it’s going to be a tough fight. Originally FOX had planned to have it’s legal reality show “The Partner” in this spot, but due to a much tougher than expected competition it decided to pull out this potential ratings grabber. Will it be enough? My guess is that it won’t. Expect this show to be thumped by the Housewives of ABC.
Tuesday
8PM The Rebel Billionaire: Branson’s Quest for the Best
Premiere: November 9th
New Show: Virgin Mega-mogul Ted Branson takes 16 want-to-be billionaires on an around the world adventure. These contestants will be faced with challenges that emulate the obstacles that Branson faced on his way to becoming one of the world’s top businessmen. The winner will then take over Mr. Branson’s job as Virgin President.
Major Competition: Gilmore Girls, The Biggest Loser, My Wife and Kids/George Lopez, All of Us/Eve, NCIS
Bob’s Notes: According to the previews I have seen, one of the obstacle’s that Branson faced on his way to riches was having to walk on a 2X4 between two hot air balloons floating high above ground. In this latest rich guy ego trip, another billionaire and his horde of dancing monkeys hit the road. This show seems to combine aspects of The Amazing Race with the Apprentice. Maybe this will be offer another fresh new take on the genre, or maybe it will be yet another FOX reality dud. My call: While the show is just another in the series of The Apprentice rip-offs this one should fare better than The Benefactor. The timeslot is wide open right now, but I doubt Branson will pull many viewers away from Gilmore Girls. I expect respectable ratings but highly doubt we’ll be seeing a Rebel Billionaire 2.
9 PM: House
Premiere: November 16th
New Drama: In this new dark medical drama from Paul Attanasio (Homicide: Life on the Street) a surly, but brilliant doctor leads a team of promising young doctors to take on some of the most complicated and mysterious medical maladies and attempt to saves lives written off by other doctors. Expect Gregory House, played by
Hugh Laurie, to push the boundaries of known, accepted medical theories, and ethics.
Major Competition: The Amazing Race, One Tree Hill, Scrubs, According to Jim/Rodney, Veronica Mars
Bob’s Note: This show has a great pedigree. Hugh Laurie is an intriguing star. Paul Attanasio has an excellent track record for compelling drama, and feature director Bryan Singer (X-Men) takes the directors chair for the season premiere. The show should offer a lot of tight plot lines and compelling stories. Yet, despite it’s potential for success will it’s dark overtones keep viewers away? How hard of a job will they have trying to create a hero out of a character who is at his core unlikable? This isn’t Attanasio’s first shot at this. His previous medical drama, Gideon’s Crossing, won critical acclaims but failed to grab ratings. Now the task gets even harder with CBS’s decision to move The Amazing Race to Tuesday night and premiere it the same day as House. It will be a tough road for House, but it may pull in the viewers looking for an alternative to sitcoms and reality shows.
Wednesday
9 PM: Nanny 911
Premiere: November 3rd
New Show: In this new reality show it’s Nanny’s to the rescue. Each week a group of Super-Nannies will save the day for one family who are having trouble controlling their children. Expect these Mary Poppins clones to treat both the parents and the children with their own British style tough love.
Major Competition: The West Wing, The Bachelor, Jack & Bobby, King of Queens/Center of the Universe
Bob’s Notes: Another in a series of FOX’s rush to be first reality shows. While ABC has purchased the rights to the British series Super Nannies, FOX rushed this unscripted series into production. I don’t expect much from this show quality or ratings wise. It should pull in some viewers but most reality addicts will probably stick with The Bachelor as it goes into its home stretch.
Thursday
8PM The O.C.
Premiere November 4th
This Season: The gang from Orange County are back, well, at least they should be. With the summer ending and school about to begin Ryan and Seth are missing. Where are they? Expect more emphasis on family dynamics and on Caleb’s growing legal problems as Seth, Ryan, Marrissa and Summer struggle to deal with a whole lot of changes and the implications they bring.
Special Events/Guests: Look for the band The Walkmen to perform on the November 18th episode.
Major Competition: Survivor, Joey/Will and Grace, WWE Smackdown, Extreme Makeover
Bob’s Notes: Either FOX is sadistic or it has a lot of faith in this sophomore soap to be throwing it into the fire of Thursday Night. What are the pressing issues facing the show this season. Resident InsidePulse “The O.C.” expert Matt Romanda will clue you in with this quote from his excellent season premiere preview.
“The big question on my mind is how will the show deal with the new found pressure placed on it. When it debuted no one had any expectations. Now it is being touted as the next great show. Will fame go to the heads of the young actors? Will the producers and writers try too hard to be popular then just do what made the show a hit in the first place? Will the show have a sophomore slump? Sports fans know all about how star rookies get fat over the summer and don’t train as hard. They let the fame, fortune and groupies go to their heads. Will this happen to The O.C.?”
InsidePulse Coverage: Make sure you check out more of Matt Romanda’s The O.C. coverage. Check out his profile page with links to his work here.
Final Analysis:
Fox is sputtering right now. It’s returning shows are losing ground. It needs something big to sustain it until January when American Idol and 24. Will these premieres give him that bump. It’s a tough call. FOX is taking a big risk here. It’s best hope is that The O.C. can take a bite out of the other network’s rating giants and swing some of that important younger demographic it’s way.
I find it surprising with the success of first year drama’s that we have seen this season FOX decided to stay with its course of copy cat reality shows and choose not to bring in one of its new dramas it has on the shelf waiting for January. By then viewers may be comfortable in their choices, entrenched in the worlds of Desperate Housewives, or Lost on a deserted island of mystery. FOX is premiering it total one new dramatic series, House. While this show has some chops to it, will it be enough to steal viewers away.
One of the problems with all this temporary programming is that if it fails to bring in big ratings FOX loses the ability to hype it’s January premiere. Where this is most notable is Friday nights where FOX is currently running shows like Totally Outrageous Behavior, Renovate My Family and World’s Craziest Video’s against an increasingly tougher Friday night competition like Joan of Arcadia, JAG, Third Watch and ABC’s family oriented comedies. FOX is allowing viewers to get comfortable in these shows and when January comes, and it launches two new Friday dramatic series, will anyone care?
FOX needs to take some time and reevaluate its future if it wants to once again regain its reputation as a cutting edge network and not just one hurriedly trying to keep up with new trends.
