Fox fills fall with reality, cartoons, more

Facing the prospect of a long writers’ strike, Fox seems ready to go either way:
— If the strike gets settled soon? The network plans two new dramas: One, based on a European hit, is about a doctor who has lost eight years of her memory; the other – not ready until mid-season – is a Hawaiian surf-rescue show. They join four returning dramas, plus one comedy.
— And if it lingers? Fox has “an embarrassment of riches” in animation (including Jon Hamm’s “Grimsburg,” shown here), said Michael Thorn, president of scripted shows, with six shows that were written well in advance. It also has a pile of games and reality shows.
“We knew there was a high probability of a strike,” said Allison Wallach, the president of unscripted shows. So the network has eight games or reality shows ready for the fall and beyond, not counting the six that will air this summer.
Making it easier, Fox has fewer hours to worry about than other networks, because it ends each day at 10 p.m., not 11. Also, said Marianne Gambelli, the network’s advertising president, “our fall is much more aligned to sports.” With college football on Saturdays, pro football on Sundays (leading into the animation) and wrestling on Fridays, Fox has only eight other weekly hours to worry about.
With that in mind, scheduling chief Dan Harrison said, the network will definitely have a new-show line-up this fall. No schedule has been set yet, he said, copying Fox’s approach to the pandemic: “We learned we have to pivot and be flexible.”
Here’s what was announced today:
NEW
— Two dramas: “Doc” is based on what Thorn calls “Europe’s No. 1 drama.” And at mid-season is “Rescue: Hi-Surf,” from “ER” and “West Wing” producer John Wells, about Hawaiian lifeguards. Thorn calls it a “thrill ride” that “could lead to a franchise for us.”
— Two cartoon comedies: “Krapopolis,” from “Rick and Morty” co-creator Dan Harmon, is set in ancient Greece, with humans, gods and monsters trying to build a city. “Grimsburg” has Jon Hamm, who also produces, voicing a detective with eccentric tastes and opinions.
— Two game shows: “Snake Oil,” produced by Will Arnett and hosted by David Spade, has panelists hear pitches for products, trying to guess which are fictional. “We Are Family” is hosted by the “Beat Shazam” duo of Jamie Foxx (currently recovering from medical problems) and his daughter Corinne; the studio audience tries to guess what celebrity a singer is related to.
RETURNING
— Four dramas: “9-1-1: Lone Star,” “The Cleaning Lady” (which started production early) and two shows that just arrived at mid-season, “Accused” and “Alert.”
— Only one non-cartoon comedy, “Animal Control.” It may have to wait until other comedies are ordered and ready, Thorn implied.
— Four cartoon comedies: “The Simpsons,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “Family Guy” and “Up North.”
— Eight reality or game shows, led by “The Masked Singer” and two from Gordon Ramsay, “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Next Level Chef.” (Three other food shows — “Crime Scene Kitchen” and Ramsay’s “MasterChef” and “Food Stars” — air this summer.) The others are “I Can See Your Voice,” “Name That Tune,” “Lego Masters,” “Farmer Wants a Wife” and “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.”
— Also, there are the shows with new episodes this summer – the three food shows, plus “Beat Shazam,” “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” and “Stars on Mars.” The “Housebroken” cartoon also has new episodes this summer, but Thorn said nothing has been decided beyond that.
GONE:
— Four dramas, “The Resident,” “9-1-1,” “Fantasy Island” and “Monarch.” But “9-1-1,” Fox’s most-watched scripted show, is jumping to ABC. The decision not to continue it was made more than a half-year ago, said Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade, because it’s an expensive show that the network doesn’t have any ownership of. “The economics weren’t going to pan out.”
— One comedy, “Call Me Kat.” Another, “Welcome to Flatch,” remains in limbo, Thorn said.