This week would've been upfront week if not for COVID-19. It would be assumed that no network wants to put their schedule in stone until they know when they can go back to nore-or-less regular business, but Fox claims it has a "pandemic-proof" fall schedule, with two scripted shows that were announced last year showing up in the fall rather than getting the expected summer dump amongst the reality shows and some cable pickups. Here it is, as listed by the Wrap--new shows--as in they haven't aired yet--in all caps:
MONDAY 8-9 p.m. — L.A.’s Finest--The televersion of the "Bad Boys" movie franchise ran last year as a VOD attraction for Spectrum cable subscribers, so this is the first time it's actually being seen by a national audience. Will producers Sony now be trying to sell their reboot for Spectrum of "Mad About You" to NBC? 9-10 p.m. — NEXT--As we wrote last year, "After unwittingly developing an AI system that could doom mankind as we know it, Roger Ster--uh, John Slattery tries to shut it down, but is kicked out of the high-tech company he founded by his younger brother. He then joins up with "Special Agent" (of what, unknown) Fernanda Andrade to bring his creation. Manny Coto of the "24" reboot's the creator, from 20th." The "9-1-1" franchise will be back in mid-season. TUESDAY 8-9 p.m. — Cosmos: Possible Worlds--the sequel to Seth MacFarlane and Neil DeGrasse Tyson's reboot of the classic Carl Sagan documentary series just finished its run on National Geographic Channel a few weeks ago. 9-10 p.m. — FILTHY RICH--As we wrote last year, "Televangelist Eugene Monreaux (Gerald McRaney) is allegedly dead, wife Kim Cattrall is running the ministry and the family is circling like vultures at all of that tax-free money. Based on a New Zealand series which may be currently running on Hulu (which doesn't have the Christian TV angle) and no relation to the early 80s Linda Bloodworth-Thomason soap parody with Delta Burke and Dixie Carter. Produced by 20th and Imagine." WEDNESDAY 8-9 p.m. — The Masked Singer--The fourth cycle for the palm-slapping reality comp is scheduled to be shot in August with consideration for social distancing, which probably means that they're shooting without an audience but with canned response and insert shots of audiences from previous years. Considering that for the last three gorounds the studio audience is sent home before the low score is announced and the mask goes off (but not until they shoot them doing the 'TAKE IT OFF!" chant) and the "audience" for the current after show being Fox employees on Zoom supplemented by canned laughter... 9-10 p.m. — MasterChef Junior--Shot and completed before the shutdown, the grownup version, which usually airs during the summer, was stopped mid-production. THURSDAY 7:30-8 p.m. ET/4:30-5 p.m. PT –Fox NFL Thursday Presented by [Phone Company That Isn't AT&T] 8-8:19 p.m. ET/5-5:19 p.m. PT — [Trucks] Kickoff Show 8:20 p.m. ET/5:20 p.m. PT — Thursday Night Football Presented by [Version of Crappy-Tasting Beer That Isn't as Crappy-Tasting as Original] Above subject to change. FRIDAY 8-10 p.m. — WWE’s Friday Night SmackDown--in production at McMahon's Orlando production center, thanks to a Republican governor who considers sports entertainment "essential," however, it is the lowest-rated show on Fox in the last 20 years after the premiere of "American Idol," considered the network's entertainment game-changer. SATURDAY 7-10:30 p.m. — Fox Sports Saturday (college football, boxing, some sort of MMA since ESPN now has UFC, whatever gets back in action). SUNDAY 7-7:30 p.m. — NFL on Fox--If there is a season. 7:3-8 p.m. — The OT/Fox encores 8-8:30 p.m. — The Simpsons--Long lead times and animation can be done under social distancing, even, I assume, in South Korea. Considering the whole Alf Clausen brouhaha, one wonders if this will finally be it for the show. 8:30-9 p.m. — Bless the Harts--Same as above about lead times. 9-9:30 p.m. — Bob’s Burgers--Same as above. It's now in OTA syndication, but since New Fox owns production house Bento Box they may want to keep it going. 9:30-10 p.m. — Family Guy--Same as above and considering that MacFarlane seems not to want to work for New Fox OR Disney (which now owns the series), it may be time to close up shop after this season. "Duncanville" will be back mid-season, along with a season of "Hell's Kitchen" shot last year and intended for this summer. The cartoons "The Great North" (which was first announced last year) and "Housebroken" will show up eventually, along with this just-ordered multi-cam sitcom: CALL ME KAT--Mayim Bialik's back in an Americanization of the BBC series "Miranda" (which left the air five years ago and is on Hulu here), about a middle-aged woman who runs a "cat cafe" in Louisville and finds herself in awkward situations. Darlene Hunt is adapting the original series, Swoozie Kurtz, Cheyenne Jackson and Leslie Jordan are in the cast, Jim Parsons is a trophy producer and Warners, the producers of "Big Bang Theory," are producing with BBC Studios, which means Brits will probably see it whether they want to or not. On the bubble are “Last Man Standing” (once thought to be the symbol of New Fox instead of D-list celebs in outlandish costumes), “Prodigal Son” (word is it will get renewed eventually), “The Resident” and “Outmatched.” "So You Think You Can Dance" got cut off by the quarantine (and may be sent packing by social distancing), on the schedule for summer right now are the "Gogglebox" Americanization "Celebrity Watch Party," which considers Joe Buck a celebrity, "Beat Shazam," "Ultimate Tag" (also announced last year) and "Labor of Love," the dating comp where romance hinges on knowledge of parenting. Brad, if you want to repeat your haikus from last year, have at it. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TVorNotTV" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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