Fox releases its 2011 primetime schedule, takes bold new risks on "comedies" and "dramas"
Riding high off another year of being the No. 1 network (a claim that remains in doubt should its juggernaut American Idol falter in its post-Simon Cowell era or everyone gets tired of Glee), Fox has unveiled its own primetime slate for next year, and it’s one that “ups the ante” by taking risks on unproven commodities like dramas and comedies, rather than the sure bets of reality shows. Here’s the lineup, with our notes on new shows (in bold):
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM House
9:00-10:00 PM Lonestar: In what, on its surface, sounds like a modern spin on Dallas, this “sophisticated and provocative drama set against the backdrop of big Texas oil,” directed by (500) Days Of Summer’s Marc Webb, follows a “charismatic and brilliant schemer” who finds himself “caught between two very different lives and two very different women.”
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Glee
9:00-9:30 PM Raising Hope: A comedy from My Name Is Earl’s Greg Garcia, featuring newcomer Lucas Neff as a guy trying to raise his daughter while dealing with his wa-ha-ha-acky family. Said family includes Martha Plimpton, Cloris Leachman (who probably says some unexpectedly inappropriate things from time to time), and Deadwood’s Garret Dillahunt—who really deserves to star in his very own drama, but at least he’s working, right?
9:30-10:00 PM Running Wilde: As previously reported, a comedy starring Will Arnett as a rich douchebag who wants Keri Russell to love him, co-created by Arrested Development’s Mitch Hurwitz and Jim Vallely.
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Lie To Me
9:00-10:00 PM Hell’s Kitchen
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Bones
9:00-10:00 PM Fringe
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Human Target
9:00-10:00 PM The Good Guys
SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM Cops
8:30-9:00 PM Cops
9:00-10:00 PM America’s Most Wanted
SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 PM The OT (NFL Post-Game)
8:00-8:30 PM The Simpsons
8:30-9:00 PM The Cleveland Show
9:00-9:30 PM Family Guy
9:30-10:00 PM American Dad
FOX MIDSEASON 2011 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
(All Times ET/PT)
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM House
9:00-10:00 PM Lonestar / Ride-Along: A Chicago cop drama from a guy who knows fucking good cop dramas, The Shield’s Shawn Ryan.
TUESDAY
8:00-9:30 PM American Idol
9:30-10:00 PM Running Wilde / Mixed Signals: A comedy from Wedding Crashers co-writer Bob Fisher about three longtime friends who try to balance friendship with their romantic blah blah blah Friends Friends Friends.
WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 PM Raising Hope
8:30-9:00 PM American Idol Results Show
9:00-10:00 PM Glee
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Bones
9:00-10:00 PM Fringe
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Human Target
9:00-10:00 PM Kitchen Nightmares
SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM Cops
8:30-9:00 PM Cops
9:00-10:00 PM America’s Most Wanted
SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 PM The Simpsons (encores)
7:30-8:00 PM American Dad
8:00-8:30 PM The Simpsons
8:30-9:00 PM Bob’s Burgers: A new animated comedy from Loren Bouchard (Dr. Katz, Home Movies), about a family who manages a failing burger joint.
9:00-9:30 PM Family Guy
9:30-10:00 PM The Cleveland Show