TV's Fall Ritual — The Fox Line-Up Shuffle
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...ack=crosspromo
In what is becoming as much an autumn ritual for Fox television as its broadcast of Major League Baseball's postseason, the network announced Thursday that it's reshuffling its fall prime-time lineup and substituting in some new players...
"The O.C.," which opens its fourth season Nov. 2 in the 9 p.m. Thursday slot, will likely plug the leak caused by the Simon Cowell flop "Celebrity Duets." Regarding "Duets," Beckman said: "We needed to fill a void on Thursdays and we took a shot. Honestly, it hasn't worked out."
Although "The O.C." has lost its initial ratings luster, Fox executives are confident it will hold its core audience on one of television's toughest nights.
But whether Fox's artillery is enough to rescue its new shows, especially its comedies, is another question. "They have a lot riding on their comedy block," Caraccioli-Davis said. "But I think advertisers don't have as much faith in that Thursday night lineup as they once did."
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http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/t...elevision_heds
"TV networks already shuffling shows this season"
In far less interesting news, "The O.C." returns Nov. 2 (does anyone else think that they should just continue what they started last season and kill off the rest of the cast, one by one, as the new season progresses? Except Ryan. He may live). Here's how much Fox cares about this show: It's pairing "The O.C." with returning debacles "'Til Death" and "Happy Hour." That's love. And that's a sign that Fox has completely given up on Thursdays -- for now. I wonder if it's preparing the way for a Thursday "American Idol" invasion, as has been rumored?
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http://www.medialifemagazine.com/art...ticle_7390.asp
The question for “Happy Hour,” the poorly reviewed new Fox Thursday comedy, is when, not if, it will be pulled off the schedule...
Thursday night has been a problem for Fox for years. Though “O.C.” has performed decently there, the network has cycled roughly half a dozen companion shows through the night over the past three years without a hit. Now even “O.C.” is declining.
That’s why “’Til Death,” the highly touted new Brad Garrett sitcom, was put on Thursday. Had “Death” gotten strong ratings, it might have acted as a buoy for “Hour” and “O.C.”
But “Death’s” viewership thus far has been only so-so. Fox will no doubt want to keep the sitcom with the big-name actor around, and could benefit from pairing it with an already established show on another night or moving one of its popular Sunday shows to Thursday to prop it up.
Fox could also launch a new reality show Thursday to pair with “O.C.” or take one of its midseason dramas, like “Wedding Album,” and debut it early.
Either way, there may not be room for “Hour.” Yet Fox is in no rush to rejigger yet. After two seasons at No. 1 in 18-49s, it has room to take its time with such decisions.
"Today is the first day of the broadcast season and approximately 40 shows are launching this week," says a Fox spokesperson. "It's far too early to speculate on any show's future."
The network still thrived the last two seasons even with Thursday in disarray. The return of “American Idol” in January can make up for a lot of problems, and “Idol” will likely run a few Thursday specials to juice Fox’s ratings.