http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=597&ncid=762&e=8&u=/nm/20040520/tv_nm/media_fox_dc

By Michele Gershberg and Steve Gorman

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Relying on the success of its Major League Baseball broadcasts and "American Idol," the Fox network on Thursday unveiled a staggered schedule in a bid to prevent viewer drift to cable television and other media.
Fox's prime-time lineup touts six new dramas, five new comedies and six unscripted shows, with three launch periods during the 2004-2005 broadcast season -- June, November and January. The network has lost ground to rival broadcasters in total viewers, though it tied for second place with the coveted 18- to 49-year-old category during the May ratings sweeps.
Fox's schedule proved far more ambitious than mid-season plans released this week by rival networks, outpacing a "52-week programing" schedule from NBC that staggers the release of seven new shows throughout the year.
"This is no longer an experiment," said Gail Berman, president of entertainment at Fox, part of the Fox Entertainment Group (NYSE:FOX - news), which is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp (NCP.AX).
"This is a way to prevent network erosion. It's an inevitability," Berman told reporters on a conference call. "We are in 52-week development and I do not believe if you ask any of my colleagues ... they could answer with a straight face that they were too."
Fox is the last of the major networks to announce their new programing lineup for the so-called upfront, in which networks sell advertising in advance of the fall season.
Fox's staggered schedule is punctuated by two ratings mainstays, the Major League Baseball playoffs and World Series (news - web sites) telecast and the return of American Idol.
Baseball broadcasts have already delayed Fox's launch of shows past that of rival networks, which traditionally load up their schedules in September, while top-rated cable networks introduce new programing year-round.
The prime-time lineup begins with the previously announced launch of six new shows in June, including courtroom drama "The Jury," directed by Barry Levinson (news) of "Rain Man" fame, and tales of intrigue at a Hawaiian hotel in "North Shore."
Two sitcoms, family-style "Quintuplets" and a comic look at hip-hop stars in "Method & Red" also premiere in June, along with Las Vegas reality show "The Casino" and a sequel to "The Simple Life" following twenty-something socialites Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie on a cross-country road trip.
Returning programs during the year include drama "The O.C.," makeover reality show "The Swan" and critically lauded "Arrested Development," which has struggled in the ratings. Fox dropped "Forever Eden" and "Playing it Straight."
REPEATING THEMES
Program schedules from Fox and rivals NBC, CBS and ABC rely on many similar themes, from hospital dramas, crime thrillers to reality shows starring billionaires and boxers.
Fox will try to chip at the success of NBC's "The Apprentice" starring real-estate mogul Donald Trump, and ABC newcomer "The Benefactor" with its own reality show, "The Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best," in which young entrepreneurs vie for the regard of flamboyant British billionaire Richard Branson.
Prizefighter hopefuls compete in "The Next Great Champ" in a second unscripted show that debuts in November, while "The Partner" pits Ivy League university graduates against lawyers from less illustrious schools for a job at a top firm.
November drama "House," with actor Robert Sean Leonard (news), follows a doctor tackling hard to diagnose maladies.
In January, Kelsey Grammer (news) will host the comedy "Kelsey Grammer Presents: The Sketch Show," fresh from wrapping up his 20-year run as neurotic psychiatrist Frasier Crane on NBC. Blended family sitcom "Related By Family" also launches in January, along with animated series "American Dad."
Three new dramas debut in January, including young-adult tale "Athens," undercover cop story "The Inside" and action- adventure series "Jonny Zero."
(Additional reporting by Ben Berkowitz in Los Angeles)

• RE: Fox Unveils 3-Stage Lineup for New Season,zombiebaby, 05:32 PM, 05-20-04
  • RE: Fox Unveils 3-Stage Lineup for New Season,shedevil, 09:10 PM, 05-20-04
• RE: Fox Unveils 3-Stage Lineup for New Season,stormysatan, 10:18 AM, 05-21-04
  • RE: Fox Unveils 3-Stage Lineup for New Season,shedevil, 06:28 PM, 05-21-04
    • RE: Fox Unveils 3-Stage Lineup for New Season,stormysatan, 08:09 AM, 05-22-04
      • Warning,AyaK, 09:52 AM, 05-24-04
  • Two comments,Bebo, 10:52 PM, 05-21-04
• Idol on; Juniors dead,AyaK, 08:24 PM, 05-21-04
  • RE: Idol on; Juniors dead,shedevil, 08:41 PM, 05-21-04
  • RE: Idol on; Juniors dead,okaychatt, 08:43 AM, 05-22-04

...and tales of intrigue at a Hawaiian hotel in "North Shore."

"Jasmine is an undercover cop who is reallya cheesy lounge singer. Watch her as she deftly changes into her alter-ego by switching her flower from behind her right ear to her left."

...and action- adventure series "Jonny Zero."

"Catch John Stevens in all his red-headed splendor rescuing chimps from stage moms while he goes singing through the forest 'Big Band Style'."

One more of J Slice's Awesome Creations!

So I could not tell, AI is going to come on the same time?

LAST EDITED ON 05-21-04 AT 10:18 AM (EST)

Does this topic belong here?

It mentions "American Idol" so yes it does.

Reuters) - Relying on the success of its Major League Baseball broadcasts and "American Idol," the Fox network on Thursday unveiled a staggered schedule in a bid to prevent viewer drift to cable television and other media.

Is this what you are talking about??? So I can insert the word American Idol in my paragraph and then talk about fondling and sodomy in Iraq???

It doesn't sound logical to me ,Shedevil.

stormysatan, your comments are inappropriate, especially after two mods had already replied on this thread -- which should have answered your original question.

This is a formal warning. Future posts of this type from you may lead to your loss of membership in this forum.

1) If you have a question regarding the appropriateness of a thread, the proper course of action is to alert a mod. That has been said numerous times on this forum.

2) Shedevil, it's also been said numerous times on this forum that if you hit alert for a post, don't reply to that post. How many times do you need to be told?

Here's how this all relates to Idol (I plan to write a story about it, but I haven't had time yet):

1) American Juniors is dead, dead, dead.
2) There will be one Idol, starting in January, just like this year.
3) 24 is moving to Mondays, so that Fox can try to launch a new show following Tuesday Idol.
4) Look for Jasmine to guest-star on North Shore. Maybe she'll even sing, eh?

Look for Jasmine to guest-star on North Shore. Maybe she'll even sing, eh?

I shudder at the thought of that.

<Look for Jasmine to guest-star on North Shore. Maybe she'll even sing, eh?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! She's like a yowling cat that just keeps using up its nine lives.

okaychatt, throwing her shoe at the alley cat to get it to SHUT UP!