LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Schedule stability, thy name is not FOX.
Just as the waves will beat down upon the comely stars of FOX's summer drama "North Shore," the waves of FOX's summer, fall and winter programming will beat down on the most casual of television viewers. FOX is making sure that viewers will have fresh programming throughout the year, but figuring out when and where that programming is airing will be an even more intriguing game than the late, not-so-lamented "Playing it Straight."

The small, but devoted followings of "Arrested Development" and "Tru Calling" will be pleased to see that their shows will be returning, as will the much larger, but no less devoted pack of fans for "American Idol." Beyond that, the only thing that's for sure is that if it's Saturday night, FOX is airing "Cops" and "America's Most Wanted." Otherwise, dust off your cartography degrees, as we map out FOX's June, November and January premieres.

"We finish this season as the No. 2 network in Adults 18-49 for the fourth straight year and a dominant No. 1 in both Adults 18-34 and Teens, and we head into the future with a plan to be more competitive than ever," says FOX Entertainment President Gail Berman. "We are unveiling a 52-week programming schedule that will keep FOX vital and fresh for our viewers all year long. Starting this June, it's a whole new season on FOX."
As previously reported, FOX's June schedule will feature the premieres of "The Jury" (Tuesday, June 8), "North Shore" (Monday, June 14), "The Casino" (Monday, June 14), Quintuplets (Tuesday, June 15), "Method and Red" (Wednesday, June 16) and "The Simple Life 2" (Wednesday, June 16) as well as the return of "Oliver Beene." All of the new offerings will receive regular encores as part of a summer season that runs until October.

And watch out, because the reality series "The Complex: Malibu" will premiere at some point during October.

FOX will run baseball all through October, praying that the postseason offers the same ratings and excitement as last year's playoffs, while also begging the programming odds that America's pastime proves a better launching pad for fall programming than last year.

The fall will begin in November for FOX, with a two-month schedule dedicated to a mix of returning old shows, the continuation of summer offerings and the launch of several reality entries. Because every single night is in transition, it's important to take things step by step.

Sundays will begin at 7 p.m. ET with animated favorite "King of the Hill," followed by "Malcolm in the Middle" in a new, but temporary, 7:30 slot. "The Simpsons," provided the vocal talent stays happy, will remain at 8 p.m., giving a solid lead-in to "Arrested Development." The 9 p.m. hour goes to the "Apprentice"-esque legal reality series "The Partner."

On Mondays, "North Shore" will continue to air at 8 p.m. with "The Swan 2" praying for more luck than "The Next Joe Millionaire" at 9 p.m. Tuesdays will also be anchored with reality, as "The Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best" launches at 8 p.m., followed by the Paul Attanasio ("Homicide: Life on the Street") medical drama "House."

Wednesdays take a break from the reality trend with a night dedicated to comedy. Old reliable veteran "That '70s Show" starts the night off, with "Quintuplets" staying in its 8:30 home. "The Bernie Mac Show" moves to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and will provide a lead-in to episodes of "Method and Red."

With "Friends" vanishing from the air, FOX thinks that young adults will follow "The O.C." to 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Then again, eagle-eyed viewers will recall that FOX considered moving "The O.C." to Thursdays last fall, but thought better of it. "Tru Calling" will drop down an hour to the 9 p.m. slot.

Friday goes to the boxing reality series "The Next Great Champ" at 8 p.m., with "The Jury" remaining in its 9 p.m. home. FOX closes the week with its blissfully predictable Saturday of "Cops" and "America's Most Wanted."

Come January, much of the reality in FOX's schedule will vanish, as the network becomes a haven for comedies, dramas and, naturally, as many hours of "American Idol" as the network can fit in. This schedule will run through May.

Sunday will begin with the self-explanatory "Kelsey Grammer Presents: The Sketch Show," before moving into "King of the Hill" and "The Simpsons." "Malcolm in the Middle" shifts to 8:30 p.m., with "Arrested Development" moving to a 9:00 p.m. slot. The new Seth MacFarlane animated comedy "American Dad" closes the night.

For its fourth season, FOX moves "24" to 8 p.m. on Mondays, where it will be used to draw viewers to the new drama from "The O.C." creator Josh Schwartz. Tentatively titled "Athens," it focuses on the contentious social dynamic in a fictional New England college town.

"American Idol" will remain on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. and will provide a lead-in for "House," provided the medical series is still around. The "Idol" results show shifts to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays, where it will follow "That '70s Show" and the new comedy "Related By Family." "Bernie Mac" closes the night.

Thursdays, thankfully, remain exactly the same, but Fridays will pair the undercover cop drama "The Inside" and the John Wells-produced "Jonny Zero," starring Franky G ("The Italian Job"). Saturdays will stay stable as well.

As complicated as this schedule is, all titles and time slots are subject to change, so it's possible that the fun has only just begun on FOX this summer, fall, winter and spring.



not to sure about moving 24 to Mondays.

Sounds like an interested lineup of new shows.

I wasn't aware that Seth MacFarlane had a new show coming up, that is good news.

Holding off 24 until JANUARY? Moving it to an 8PM slot? On a Monday?

Stupid, stupid fox.

I like TRU moving to 9pm, though. That and Simpsons are the only things left I watch on Fox (Why'd they have to cancel Wonderfalls and Fastlane?)

24 will be HD next season.

Arrested Development's renewed and it's airing after the Simpsons! Woohoo!

Good news about "Arrested Development." Hopefully the new timeslot will bring more viewers.

Works well for me, as I've been holding off on S3 until the DVD comes out. Plenty of time to catch up before it airs again (same with Alias).

Remember, airing it January means an UNINTERUPPTED RUN. 24 had several weeks delays between episodes.

I'd prefer it be delay to avoid that.

Wow, Sunday nights from 8-9 are packed now.

I watch:

American Dreams
Cold Case
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Simpsons
and now Arrested Development.

Will have all my DirecTivos working that night. Plus Thursday nights at 9 I have 3 shows: CSI: Apprentice, & Tru Calling.

It's unfortunate that The O.C. is moving to Thursdays at 8. It will now have to compete with Survivor for ratings.

GREAT news about Arrested Development.

I too am not sure I agree with FOX's decision to move both The O.C. and 24.

The move for 24 is ridiculous - to have 24 episodes it'll have to go through JUNE to finish!

I love the move of The O.C. to 8 pm Thursday. That Wednesday 9 pm timeslot was jam-packed for me. The O.C./Tru Calling will be nice to have back-to-back. Of course 9 pm Thursday will now be crowded with Apprentice, CSI, and Tru Calling.

I would have preferred Arrested Development to stay put.

As for 24, don't watch it, but it seems to me that showing 24 consecutive episodes makes a lot more sense than what they have currently been doing.

I don't think so. The audiences are completely different.

Tru Calling

That's the announcement I have been waiting for.

That's a good point. The people that I know that watch The O.C. wouldn't watch Survivor and the people that I know that watch The O.C. wouldn't watch Survivor.

Not to mention the people you know that watch O.C. wouldn't watch Survivor.

I watch The O.C. and Survivor.

Same here. Glad to see it has moved to 9:00...

I just realized something... no mention of Family Guy returning in Jan 2005! Whats up with that?

to The O.C./Tru Calling on Thursday nights. Looking forward to That 70s Show's final season, Arrested Development and the premiere of North Shore.

cartoon networks adult swim, not on fox

Crap.

I was sure Arrested Development would be cancelled. That would mean I'd only watch Fox for That 70s Show for another year and then I could be done with the network all together.

Here's hoping for next year. Fox has to screw it up eventually.

i actually don't mind it going till june.

i'm shocked that tru calling stayed on the air, knowing that fox did everything in their power to cancel it by putting it against friends and survivor

Doh... That's what I get for coming back to finish up a post after a couple of minutes and not rereading what I had already typed


Are you going to record one and watch the other?