After a sluggish stretch, post-strike, the Fox network is now a-swirl with new projects.
This week (March 4-6), the network is launching three new nights. That includes some scripted shows, after months when Fox (cartoons excluded) had none.
Now Fox has set its summer reality-show plans, including the return of Jamie Foxx and his daughter Corinne (shown here) and the addition of Lisa Vanderpump. It has also set other projects, including a sort of male strip special. Details include:
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
— Foxx will be back hosting “Beat Shazam” this summer, joined by his daughter Corinne. He missed last season after being hospitalized; Nick Cannon filled in.
— Vanderpump, a reality-TV star, will join the second season of “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars.” She and Ramsay will choose competing teams.
— LeAnn Rimes will perform “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on “The Masked Singer.” That will be on the show’s “Wizard of Oz” night, at 8 p.m. March 13.
— And there will be a U.S. version of “The Real Full Monty.” To raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer, the two-hour special will see male celebrities train for a strip-tease dance finale.
SEASON-OPENERS THIS WEEK (March 4-6):
— “MasterChef Junior” and “So You Think You Can Dance,” 8 and 9 p.m. Mondays.
— “The Cleaning Lady” and “Alert: Missing Person Unit,” 8 and 9 p.m. Tuesdays.
— “The Masked Singer” and “Animal Control,” 8 and 9 p.m. Wednesdays, with “Family Guy” (back from a three-month break) at 9:30.
SUMMER-SHOW OPENERS:
— May 16: “Don’t Forget the Lyrics,” 8 p.m.
— May 22: “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars,” 9 p.m.
— May 28: “Beat Shazam” and debut of “The Quiz Show With Balls” (giant balls, knocking people into the water after a wrong answer), 8 and 9 p.m.
— May 29: “MasterChef: Generations.” Home chefs will be split into four age categories.
SEASON -FINALES
— “Animal Control,” May 8; “Next Level Chef” and “Farmer Takes a Wife,” May 9.
— “Grimsburg,” May 12; other cartoons – “Simpsons,” “Krapopolis,” “The Great North,” “Bob’s Burgers” – a week later, on May 19.
— “Alert: Missing Persons Unit,” May 14; a week later, “The Cleaning Lady” has a two-hour finale, May 21.
— “The Masked Singer,” May 22.