Fox announced its fall lineup Monday at the “upfront” presentation for advertisers in New York, where advertising time is sold in advance of the season.
Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse” got a pickup — in the Friday-night death slot that can easily lead to low ratings and a show’s demise, but fans will note that’s better than a cancellation.
Ryan Murphy’s “Glee,” which premieres tonight, will join the fall schedule in a plum Wednesday- night slot, following “So You Think You Can Dance.” That dance competition moves from summer to fall and gets a Tuesday-Wednesday schedule (like “American Idol”).
J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi thriller “Fringe” will be relocated to Thursdays, where it will go up against CBS’s “CSI” and ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” assuming those hits stay in place on the schedules. The move suggests Fox has confidence in the spooky show, which has now moved into explorations of “alternate realities.”
Wanda Sykes gets a Saturday late- night berth. Keifer Sutherland will return in January for an eighth season of “24,” to be set in New York.
Fox announced the pickup of four new comedies (two for midseason) and two new dramas.
In other news, “Chuck” is expected to be renewed when NBC makes its presentation today, according to trade reports.
Each of the networks makes its fall schedule announcements this week: ABC and NBC today, CBS Wednesday and the CW Thursday.
New from Fox:
“The Cleveland Show” — an animated spinoff of Seth MacFarlane’s “Family Guy” that follows soft- spoken neighbor Cleveland Brown (Mike Henry) to his hometown in Virginia as he settles down with his high-school sweetheart, her unruly kids and his 14-year-old son, Cleveland Jr. (Kevin Michael Richardson).
“Brothers” — Starring Michael Strahan (“Fox NFL Sunday”) and Daryl “Chill” Mitchell (“Ed,” “Veronica’s Closet”), is a half-hour comedy about a former NFL hotshot whose mom (CCH Pounder, “The Shield”) calls him home to Houston.
“Human Target” — an action drama based on the DC Comics graphic novel, starring Mark Valley (“Fringe”) as a private contractor/security guard. With Chi McBride (“Pushing Daisies”) as his business partner and Jackie Earle Haley, (“Watchmen”) as a hired gun.
“Past Life” — From writer David Hudgins (“Friday Night Lights”), and inspired by the book “The Reincarnationist,” by M.J. Rose, a karma drama about “past-life detectives.” Kelli Giddish as Dr. Kate McGinn, Nicholas Bishop as Price Whatley.
Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com
