The 2004 Fall Schedule thread (1 Viewer)

[Rocky F]

According to Stephen McPherson, the president of primetime programming at ABC, it is because of the location heavy production schedule of Alias, that they had so many gaps before. So it sound to me like they will begin filming at the time they normally would, so they would be pretty far ahead by January.

 

[Mikel_Cooperman]

Heres more potential bad news from TV guide about the possible rescheduling of FOX shows in the fall.
Are there any brains in these programers heads?

A NEW HOUR: It looks like Jack Bauer is about to get a much-needed break. Fox, which announces its fall sked tomorrow, may follow ABC's lead with Alias and delay the launch of 24's fourth season until January, Variety reports. What's more, the network is toying with the idea of moving the real-time thriller from Tuesday to Monday to make room for the new medical drama House. Fox may also shift The O.C. to Thursdays at 8 pm opposite CBS's Survivor and NBC's Joey/Will & Grace combo. The network's logic here is pretty straightforward: Short of bringing Oliver back, this was simply the fastest way to kill the show.

 

[Jason Seaver]

I don't know how dumb this is, really. There's no other action/adventure on Monday (EDIT: except Las Vegas, I suppose), and if Fox feels 24 no longer needs the boost from American Idol, the ability of AI to boost shows may be more efficiently used.

As to The OC, I don't get that one so much, although, again, it may be useful to use That 70s Show and American Idol to boost a new show rather than an established hit. They may have research that indicates not much of its audience overlaps with Survivor, and Joey is no lock to be a hit. And if The OC does do well there, it could be very lucrative - Thursday night ads are more prized among movie studios and other leisure-oriented businesses trying to push stuff for the weekend. If Fox puts a show that can deliver a young audience there, they could get a lot of the money that has gone to Friends for the past decade.

Both moves are gambles, but potentially worthwhile ones. And if they fail, Fox can revert back to form quickly enough. Why do you figure this is a stupid move? Is it just a knee-jerk "changing anything (except getting a show I like off Friday night) is bad" thing?

 

[LorenzoL]

I'm happy that they are putting Amazing Race 6 back in the fall schedule even though is on Saturday.

One of the better shows (reality or scripted) on TV.

In regards to the possible move of the OC to Thursday. As Jason indicated it could be risky but also rewarding to Fox since it can now create it's own niche with a weak NBC lineup and only CBS to worry about. This in turn could help out a show like Tru Calling get better ratings(even though I don't know why it was renewed and instead they cancelled Wonderfalls)

 

[Jason Seaver]

Tru Calling's ratings went up, whereas Wonderfalls's ratings trended downward. Eliza Dushku and Jason Priestly is probably an easier sell to audiences than Caroline Dhaveras and whoever the heck else was on the show.

Also, I don't recall that show's creators bitching about their timeslot to anyone who would listen. I mean, that can't see how that would help your relationship with the people who sign your checks.

 

[Mikel_Cooperman]

True Calling had a WHOLE season to find viewers. Wonderfalls did not.

Why do I think moving OC against Survivor is suicide? Because people still seem to think Survivor is a Great thing and it still gets Great ratings. I dont think OC has a chance against it. If OC fails against it, you think people are going to follow it for yet another move?

 

[Brad Porter]

I've been formatting my "What I'll be watching" post throughout the week, and I've come to the conclusion that I don't really want Fox to move anything at this point. I can handle The O.C. and 24 in their current timeslots just fine. Moving The O.C. against Survivor won't be a big problem because I'm not planning on watching Joey, but there aren't many places they could move 24 that wouldn't cause some kind of conflict for me.

My major concern is where they might put Family Guy. I'd love to see it paired up with The Simpsons, but I fear it will end up in the post-football timeslot of death instead.

Brad

 

[Chad R]

But, it's not supposed to be coming back until January, which is post football season.

 

[Brad Porter]

Well then, Woohoo! and Damn! simultaneously. January is really starting to sound like a great month for television.

Brad

 

[Jason Seaver]

Tru Calling never shed viewers quite as quickly as Wonderfalls did. It wasn't quaite a Harsh Realm-level disaster, but it was spiraling down pretty quickly.

 

[Brian_FSullivan]

FOX BROADCASTING ANNOUNCES NEW YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING INITIATIVE FOR 2004-2005 SEASON

"THE O.C.," "TRU CALLING" AND "ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT" ALL RETURN NEXT SEASON, ALONG WITH OTHER FOX HITS "The O.C" Moves to Thursday in November, "24" Moves to Monday in January Network's New Lineup Includes Series Launches in June, August, November, January and Beyond


EMBARGOED UNTIL 7:00 A.M. ET Thursday, May 20, 2004


New York – FOX Broadcasting Company will launch a trailblazing year-round programming initiative in June with the premiere of six new series that will allow the network to introduce and nurture a significant amount of new programming prior to the kickoff of the traditional broadcast season in September. FOX, which preempts most of its entertainment schedule in October for the Major League Baseball playoffs and World Series, will return most of its veteran series to the air in November, and then launch another wave of series in January and beyond. Making the announcement of the revolutionary programming strategy was Gail Berman, President, Entertainment, for the FOX Broadcasting Company.

The new dramas launching in June are the previously announced NORTH SHORE and THE JURY. In November, returning favorite THE O.C. moves to the Thursday schedule, leading into the second season of TRU CALLING, and the new medical drama HOUSE (working title) will air on Tuesday nights. The award-winning "24" returns for a fourth season in January, when it will move to Mondays; beginning with a blockbuster two-hour season premiere, the 24 episodes will air consecutively, with no preemptions the rest of the season. FOX also will introduce three new dramas in January: THE INSIDE (working title), JONNY ZERO (working title) and ATHENS (working title), a new series from Josh Schwartz, the creator of THE O.C.

As previously announced, the new comedies debuting in June are QUINTUPLETS and METHOD & RED. In November, THAT '70s SHOW, THE BERNIE MAC SHOW, KING OF THE HILL, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, THE SIMPSONS and the critically hailed ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT all will return.
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FOX ANNOUNCES 2004-2005 SCHEDULE – Page 2


In January, the comedies RELATED BY FAMILY (working title) and KELSEY GRAMMER PRESENTS: THE SKETCH SHOW will premiere, and FOX continues its tradition of excellence in primetime animation with AMERICAN DAD, a new series from FAMILY GUY creator Seth MacFarlane. The much-anticipated return of FAMILY GUY is projected for summer 2005, when the acclaimed animated series will follow its DVD success with a fourth season on FOX.

Reflecting FOX's commitment to a balanced schedule, a broad slate of unscripted series will premiere throughout the year. June launches include the previously announced THE CASINO and THE SIMPLE LIFE 2: ROAD TRIP, while the home-improvement challenge THE COMPLEX: MALIBU rolls out at the end of August. November debuts include Sir Richard Branson in THE BILLIONAIRE: BRANSON'S QUEST FOR THE BEST (working title); Oscar De La Hoya determining the success of a group of boxing prospects in THE NEXT GREAT CHAMP (working title); a second season of THE SWAN; and teams of lawyers from Ivy League and state schools battling it out to determine who is the king of the courtroom in THE PARTNER (working title). And in January, FOX's crown jewel, AMERICAN IDOL, returns for a fourth incredible season.

In September, the FOX Saturday mainstays of COPS and AMERICA'S MOST WANTED return for their 17th and 18th seasons, respectively. The network's late-night entry, MADtv, also returns.

The programming strategy includes regularly scheduled encore episodes over the summer for new series, to maximize viewing opportunities.

"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," said 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."

The FOX primetime schedule for 2004-2005 and synopses of the new series appear on the following pages.


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FOX ANNOUNCES 2004-2005 SCHEDULE – Page 3

FOX BROADCASTING COMPANY 2004-2005 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
(All times PM ET/PT)

JUNE TO OCTOBER 2004

MONDAY
8:00-9:00 NORTH SHORE (Premieres June 14)
9:00-10:00 THE CASINO (Premieres June 14)

TUESDAY
8:00-8:30 THE BERNIE MAC SHOW
8:30-9:00 METHOD & RED (Encores, starting June 22)
9:00-10:00 THE JURY (Premieres June 8 with back-to-back episodes)

WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 THAT '70s SHOW
8:30-9:00 QUINTUPLETS (Premieres June 16)
9:00-9:30 THE SIMPLE LIFE 2: ROAD TRIP (Premieres June 16)
9:30-10:00 METHOD & RED (Premieres June 16)

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 NORTH SHORE (Encores, starting June 17)
9:00-10:00 TRU CALLING

FRIDAY
8:00-8:30 TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOR
8:30-9:00 WORLD'S CRAZIEST VIDEOS
9:00-10:00 THE JURY (Encores, starting June 11)

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 COPS
8:30-9:00 COPS
9:00-10:00 AMERICA'S MOST WANTED
11:00-Midnight MADtv

SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 OLIVER BEENE (Starting June 6)
7:30-8:00 KING OF THE HILL
8:00-8:30 THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
9:00-9:30 MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE
9:30-10:00 QUINTUPLETS (Encores, starting June 20)

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FOX ANNOUNCES 2004-2005 SCHEDULE – Page 4

NOVEMBER 2004 TO JANUARY 2005

MONDAY
8:00-9:00 NORTH SHORE
9:00-10:00 THE SWAN 2

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 THE BILLIONAIRE: BRANSON'S QUEST FOR THE BEST 9:00-10:00 HOUSE

WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 THAT '70s SHOW
8:30-9:00 QUINTUPLETS
9:00-9:30 THE BERNIE MAC SHOW
9:30-10:00 METHOD & RED

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 THE O.C.
9:00-10:00 TRU CALLING

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 THE NEXT GREAT CHAMP
9:00-10:00 THE JURY

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 COPS
8:30-9:00 COPS
9:00-10:00 AMERICA'S MOST WANTED
11:00-Midnight MADtv

SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 KING OF THE HILL
7:30-8:00 MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE
8:00-8:30 THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
9:00-10:00 THE PARTNER


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FOX ANNOUNCES 2004-2005 SCHEDULE – Page 5


JANUARY TO JUNE 2005

MONDAY
8:00-9:00 ATHENS
9:00-10:00 24

TUESDAY
8:00--9:00 AMERICAN IDOL
9:00-10:00 HOUSE

WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 THAT '70s SHOW
8:30-9:00 RELATED BY FAMILY
9:00-9:30 AMERICAN IDOL
9:30-10:00 THE BERNIE MAC SHOW

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 THE O.C.
9:00-10:00 TRU CALLING

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 THE INSIDE
9:00-10:00 JONNY ZERO

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 COPS
8:30-9:00 COPS
9:00-10:00 AMERICA'S MOST WANTED
11:00-Midnight MADtv

SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 KELSEY GRAMMER PRESENTS: THE SKETCH SHOW
7:30-8:00 KING OF THE HILL
8:00-8:30 THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE
9:00-9:30 ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
9:30-10:00 AMERICAN DAD


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FOX ANNOUNCES 2004-2005 SCHEDULE – Page 6


The new dramas launching in June 2004 are:

THE JURY (June 8): Each week, 12 ordinary people will piece together a puzzle and then make the most important decision of someone else's life. Academy Award-winning director BARRY LEVINSON ("Rain Man," "The Natural," "Diner"), Emmy Award-winning writer TOM FONTANA ("Oz," "Homicide: Life on the Street"), Peabody Award-winning writer JAMES YOSHIMURA ("Homicide: Life on the Street") and JIM FINNERTY ("Oz") team up on this intense new courtroom drama. Set in New York City, the series brings the viewer into the jury room to watch the deliberators try to answer the many questions posed during a trial. As facts are exposed through flashbacks of testimony and crime footage, viewers will form their own opinions about the guilt or innocence of the defendant. Following each verdict, a final flashback will let viewers see the crime as it actually happened and reveal whether or not the jury made the right decision.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Tom Fontana, James Yoshimura, Barry Levinson, Jim Finnerty
WRITERS: Tom Fontana, James Yoshimura
DIRECTOR: Barry Levinson
CAST: Billy Burke as John Ranguso, Shalom Harlow as Melissa Greenfield Anna Friel as Megan Delaney,Jeff Hephner, as Keenan O'Brien, Cote de Pablo as Maugerite Cisneros, Adam Busch as Steve Dixon, Barry Levinson as Judge Hawthorne, Patrice Oneal as Adam Walker


NORTH SHORE (June 14): NORTH SHORE is a lush drama that captures the passion, intrigue and heart of Hawaii. This 20-something ensemble series is set at the Grand Waimea, a luxury hotel, where JASON MATTHEWS (KRISTOFFER POLAHA, "America's Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story") is the popular general manager and his ex-girlfriend NICOLE (BROOKE BURNS, "Shallow Hal," "Dog Eat Dog") is the newly hired head of guest relations, having left her father's hotel empire to make her own way in the business – and in life. Working side by side causes much tension between them, but their romantic relationship may be far from over. Surrounding them in paradise is the rest of the hotel staff, who have dramatic lives of their own. NORTH SHORE delves into relationships among the recurring characters, with the added intrigue of stories about the hotel's affluent and powerful guests.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Kevin Falls, Peyton Reed, Chris Brancato & Bert Salke
WRITER: Peter Elkoff
DIRECTOR: Michael Dinner
CAST: Kristoffer Polaha as Jason, Brooke Burns as Nicole, James Remar as Vincent, Corey Sevier as Gabriel, Nikki Deloach as MJ, Jason Momoa as Frankie, Jay Kenneth Johnson as Christopher

The two comedies that will premiere in June are:

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FOX ANNOUNCES 2004-2005 SCHEDULE – Page 7

QUINTUPLETS (June 16): The QUINTUPLETS were adorable when they were first born, but now their overtaxed parents – BOB (ANDY RICHTER, "Andy Richter Controls the Universe") and CAROL (REBECCA CRESKOFF, "Greetings from Tucson") – have their hands full with five 15-year-olds in the house. PENNY (APRIL MATSON, "American Dreams") is awkward and unpopular at school, while her beautiful sister PAIGE (SARAH WRIGHT, "Enchanted") has enough self-esteem for both of them. Their brother PARKER (JAKE McDORMAN, "Run of the House") has the looks and gets the girls, and he's embarrassed at every turn by the oddball PEARCE (JOHNNY LEWIS, "Undressed") and the short, girl-crazy PATTON (RYAN PINKSTON, "Punk'd," "Bad Santa"). MARK REISMAN ("Frasier") has created an ensemble comedy about a family pushed to its limits and beyond.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: David Nevins, Mark Reisman
WRITER: Mark Reisman
DIRECTOR: Andy Cadiff
CAST: Andy Richter as Bob, Rebecca Creskoff as Carol, April Matson as Penny, Ryan Pinkston as Patton, Johnny Lewis as Pearce, Jake McDorman as Parker, Sarah Wright as Paige

METHOD & RED (June 16): Popular hip-hop stars METHOD MAN and REDMAN portray fictionalized versions of their real-life selves in this new comedy, in which the duo moves into New Jersey's posh Nottingshire Estates to provide Meth's feisty, old-school mother DOROTHEA (ANNA MARIA HORSFORD, "Minority Report") with the ultimate in luxury and comfort. Unfortunately, their un-hip neighbors don't take kindly to Method & Red's partying ways. With Dorothea keeping them in line, METHOD & RED change tactics – using spirit, kindness and even fruit cake to ingratiate themselves with their new neighbors in Nottingham Estates.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Regency Television and 20th Century Fox Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Kell Cahoon, Will Gluck, Method Man

WRITERS: Kell Cahoon, Will Gluck
DIRECTOR: Jeff Melman
CAST: Method Man as himself, Redman as himself, Anna Maria Horsford as Dorothea, Beth Littleford as Nancy, David Henrie as Skyler, Peter Jacobson as Bill, Lahmard Tate as Lil' Bit


Two alternative series will complete the June premieres:

THE CASINO (June 14): A new unscripted series created and executive-produced by reality titan MARK BURNETT ("The Apprentice," "Survivor"), THE CASINO will provide an extraordinary 24/7, behind the-scenes look at the real-life dramas unfolding at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas Hotel and Casino as its new owners, TIM POSTER and TOM BREITLING, attempt to bring back the glory of the hotel's "Rat Pack" heyday. Conceived by Burnett and production partner CONRAD RIGGS ("The Apprentice," "Survivor"), THE CASINO will go beyond the challenges facing Poster and Breitling to explore the personal dramas unfolding among the guests and some of the 3,000 employees inside this high-stakes enterprise – from cocktail waitresses, to pit bosses, to security, management and entertainers.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Mark Burnett Productions
CREATOR AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Mark Burnett
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Rob Lieberman, Trent Othick
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Conrad Riggs, Jamie Bruce
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FOX ANNOUNCES 2004-2005 SCHEDULE – Page 8


THE SIMPLE LIFE 2: ROAD TRIP (June 16): THE SIMPLE LIFE 2 follows "celebutantes" and best friends PARIS HILTON and NICOLE RICHIE as they pack up their Louis Vuitton bags … again. Only this time, it's for the ultimate cross-country road trip, a wild ride full of new jobs, host families and small towns all the way from Miami to Beverly Hills. Armed with a road map and their trendy dogs Tinkerbell and Honey Child – but no cell phones, cash or credit cards – these hilarious heiresses discover that life on the open road can sometimes drive you crazy. As the girls go from life in the fast lane to life in the carpool lane, the question still remains: can they survive THE SIMPLE LIFE 2: ROAD TRIP – and can America survive them?

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television in association with Bunim-Murray Productions
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Jonathan Murray
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Kevin Lee
CAST: Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Tinkerbell, Honey Child

Another new alternative series will debut at the end of August:

THE COMPLEX: MALIBU: For couples with a flair for style, an eye for detail and the know-how to achieve the best in home improvement, FOX and FremantleMedia are offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a fabulous interior design while simultaneously indulging their competitive instincts. THE COMPLEX: MALIBU will move real-life couples into a condominium building in Southern California's toniest beach community and give them a budget to renovate their unit by a specified date. This unscripted series will capture the mounting excitement and drama as the couples push themselves to the limit while their deadline looms. Once the renovations are complete, the condos will be sold at public auction and the couple whose unit nets the biggest profit will receive a spectacular grand prize. The series has been airing as "The Block" in Australia, where it is that country's most successful television series ever.
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Kickoff Productions, Inc. in association with FremantleMedia North America, Inc.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Ted Haimes


One new drama will premiere on FOX in November:

HOUSE: From Executive Producer PAUL ATTANASIO, the creator of "Homicide: Life on the Street", along with KATIE JACOBS and DAVID SHORE, comes a new take on mystery, where the villain is a medical malady and the hero is a cantankerous doctor who trusts no one, least of all his patients. DR. GREG HOUSE (HUGH LAURIE, "Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows") is irreverent, controversial, devoid of bedside manner and wouldn't even talk to his patients if he could get away with it, but he is brilliant diagnostician and only the most dire cases come his way. House and his hand-picked team of experts will do whatever it takes – legal or not – to make the diagnoses that will solve these medical mysteries and save lives.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Universal Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Paul Attanasio, Katie Jacobs, David Shore
WRITER: David Shore
DIRECTOR: Bryan Singer
CAST: Hugh Laurie as Dr. Greg House, Lisa Edelstein as Lisa Cuddy, Robert Sean Leonard as Wilson, Jennifer Morrison as Cameron, Omar Epps as Foreman, Jesse Spencer as Chase

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FOX ANNOUNCES 2004-2005 SCHEDULE – Page 9


Three alternative series also will premiere in November:

THE BILLIONAIRE: BRANSON'S QUEST FOR THE BEST (working title): SIR RICHARD BRANSON, the colorful founder and Chairman of the Virgin Group of Companies, teams with award-winning Bunim-Murray Productions ("The Simple Life," "Real World") to lead a group of young entrepreneurs on an epic journey around the world, testing their mettle by having them relive some of his own colorful adventures. If they make decisions that impress Branson, they will continue. But each week, one candidate will be left behind on the tarmac as the rest of the group jets off to the next adventure.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Bunim-Murray Productions
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jonathan Murray, Kevin Lee, Richard Branson, Lori Levin-Hyams, Laura Fuest, Tod Dahlke


THE NEXT GREAT CHAMP (working title): Six-time World Champion OSCAR DE LA HOYA and television powerhouse Endemol USA have teamed to discover young, raw boxers with the potential to become a top prizefighter. The hopefuls will push themselves to the limit as they train and slug it out in hopes of achieving every fighter's ultimate dream – a possible shot at a titleholder and a professional contract with De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. This unscripted series will feature approximately one dozen up-and-coming fighters from across the country, all getting their shot to become THE NEXT GREAT CHAMP. They'll be joined by someone from their real life – a friend, co-worker, family member or loved one. The personal relationship between the fighter and friend will add tension, drama and a rare opportunity for viewers to see pugilism through the eyes of a non-boxer.
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Endemol USA
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Paul Buccieri, Joe Livecchi


THE PARTNER (working title): A team of "book smart" Ivy League graduates will compete against a team of "street smart" lawyers from less prestigious schools until one of them wins a job in a major law firm. Each week, the dueling lawyers will serve as prosecutors or defenders in mock trials based on highly charged cases. A jury of lay people – selected by the contestants – will determine the winner of each trial. Then the losers go on trial – defending their performance before a celebrity "judge," who will decide which individual will be thrown out of court. The last two lawyers standing will go head-to-head to argue a final blockbuster case. With every episode, viewers will be drawn into two dramas – the compelling legal drama of that week's trial, and the suspense of who will ultimately become THE PARTNER.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Rocket Science Laboratories
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Chris Cowan and Jean Michel Michenaud


January will see the premieres of three new drama series on FOX:



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FOX ANNOUNCES 2004-2005 SCHEDULE – Page 10

ATHENS (working title): JOSH SCHWARTZ, creator of "The O.C.," turns his attention to the dramas that arise between characters who are experiencing life as young adults. This series will explore the intertwined lives and loves of the fictional New England community of Athens, home to a prestigious university that acts as a dividing line between the rich outsiders who study and teach there, and the local townies who serve that population. Viewers will enter this world through the friendship of JED HALL, a young English professor, and ETHAN FROST, an 18-year-old freshman whose arrival changes the dynamics for everyone in Athens. Like Ryan and Seth on "The O.C.," Jed and Ethan will become unlikely partners in an alliance that will forever change them and the people of this town.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Warner Bros. Television in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Josh Schwartz, Bob DeLaurentis, McG, Stephanie Savage
WRITER: Josh Schwartz

THE INSIDE (working title): At first glance, DANNY ROBERTS (RACHEL NICHOLS, "Dumb & Dumberer") seems to be the quintessential American teenager, dating the quarterback at a suburban high school. Only a few know her secret: Danny is not really a high school student, but a 22-year-old federal agent working undercover. Helping Danny – who is actually Agent ELIZABETH WORTH – maintain her cover is Agent SEAN ECKHARDT (PETER FACINELLI, "Fastlane"). In the pilot episode, Danny/Elizabeth's drug investigation is sidetracked when her high school "boyfriend" is murdered. She must confront the pressures of getting personally involved in the lives of her classmates, while working to solve the murder and put the drug investigation back on track – all without blowing her cover. Over the course of the series, Danny's assignments will vary, but she always faces the unique challenges of going undercover to solve crimes.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Kathryn Bigelow, Todd A. Kessler, Brian Grazer, David Nevins, Ron Howard
WRITERS: Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler
DIRECTOR: Kathryn Bigelow
CAST: Rachel Nichols as Danny/Elizabeth, Peter Facinelli as Eckhardt, Willa Holland as Steffi

JONNY ZERO (working title): In this new drama from JOHN WELLS ("The West Wing," "ER"), FRANKY G ("The Italian Job," "Manito") stars as JONNY, freshly released from prison for drug possession and now caught between his need to redeem himself in the eyes of his family, and the temptations and influences of his own dark past. Jonny goes back to work for his former boss, shady club owner JOSEPH GARRET (RITCHIE COSTER, "Traffic: The Miniseries") – but this time he uses his criminal knowledge and his entrée into New York's club scene to solve crimes. Meanwhile, the FBI is trying to force him to go undercover and bust his old friends in the underworld.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Warner Bros. Television in association with John Wells Productions
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: John Wells, Llewellyn Wells, R. Scott Gemmill
WRITER: R. Scott Gemmill
DIRECTOR: Mimi Leder
CAST: Franky G as Jonny, GQ as Random, Brennan Hesser as Velvet, Ritchie Coster as Garret, Chris Bauer as Stringer
Tawny Cypress as Nina, Sean Moran as Vincent

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FOX ANNOUNCES 2004-2005 SCHEDULE – Page 11

Three new comedies will join the FOX schedule in January:

RELATED BY FAMILY: This series from VICTOR FRESCO centers on several teen characters who work and hang out at the mall food court. There is 18-year-old, optimistic-but-not-ambitious LAZ (ZACHARY KNIGHTON, "The Prince and Me"); his 16-year-old angst-ridden and angry stepsister, MOLLY (SAIGE THOMPSON, "10-8: Officers on Duty"); Laz's best friend FRED (CHARLIE FINN, "Super Troopers"); and Laz's new girlfriend LILY (RACHELLE LEFEVRE, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"). Home base for Laz and Molly is a blended family formed by the marriage of Laz's dad, RICK (MATTHEW GLAVE, "Corky Romano," "The Wedding Singer"), and Molly's mom, MICHELLE (AMY YASBECK, "The Mask"). Rick and Molly love all of their children, but they are particularly obsessed with the only product of their union together: the sweet, perfect and wise 8-year-old GUS (KURT DOSS).

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Paramount Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/WRITER: Victor Fresco
DIRECTOR: Andy Ackerman
CAST: Zachary Knighton as Laz, Saige Thompson as Molly, Matthew Glave as Rick, Amy Yasbeck as Michelle, Kurt Doss as Gus, Charlie Finn as Fred, Rachelle Lefevre as Lily

KELSEY GRAMMER PRESENTS: THE SKETCH SHOW: Following its critically and commercially successful second year in the UK, THE SKETCH SHOW is coming to FOX, imported by KELSEY GRAMMER's Grammnet Productions along with DAN PATTERSON ("Whose Line is it Anyway") and the original producers of the award-winning UK series, Avalon Television Ltd. ("Jerry Springer – The Opera"). Reminiscent of "Laugh In," the series features quick-fire puns, gags and fast-paced sketches, averaging a remarkable 30 vignettes per half-hour. RICHARD BODEN ("Blackadder," "Time Gentlemen Please"), director of the first two seasons in the UK, returns to direct the American cast, who will be joined by original UK cast member LEE MACK ("Dick Whittington"). THE SKETCH SHOW will be shot both in London and Los Angeles.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Grammnet Productions and Avalon Television Ltd.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Kelsey Grammer, Steve Stark, Jon Thoday, Dan Patterson
WRITER: Dan Patterson
DIRECTOR: Richard Boden
CAST: Kelsey Grammer as himself, Kaitlin Olson, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Lee Mack, Paul F. Thompkins, Malcolm Barrett

AMERICAN DAD, from "Family Guy" creator SETH MacFARLANE, is the animated story of STAN SMITH (MacFARLANE), who works for the CIA and is constantly on the alert for terrorist activity. Stan will go to extremes to protect his beloved America from harm – as evidenced by the terror-alert color code on his fridge, and his frequent knee-jerk reaction of shooting holes in the toaster whenever the toast pops up. In addition to Stan's wife and teenage children, the Smith household has two rather unconventional members. There's ROGER (MacFARLANE), the sarcastic space alien Stan rescued from Area 51 who deeply resents the fact that he's not allowed to leave the house, and KLAUS (DEE BRADLEY BAKER, "Stripperella," "Johnny Bravo"), a lascivious, German-speaking goldfish – the result of a CIA experiment gone seriously wrong.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS/WRITERS: Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker, Matt Weitzman
VOICE CAST: Seth MacFarlane as Stan, Roger; Wendy Schaal as Francine; Rachael MacFarlane as Hayley; Ricky Blitt as Steve; Dee Bradley Baker as Klaus
-more-
FOX ANNOUNCES 2004-2005 SCHEDULE – Page 12


Another FOX comedy will return to the schedule in Summer 2005:

FAMILY GUY: Creator/Executive Producer SETH MacFARLANE serves up a fourth season of the animated comedy FAMILY GUY, fresh off the success of its top-selling DVDs. The subversive series presents the everyday trials and tribulations of family life, but with the distinctive twist and irreverent slant that only animation can provide. PETER GRIFFIN (MacFARLANE) is the father of this not-quite-so-average family of middle-class New Englanders. LOIS (ALEX BORSTEIN) is Peter's loving wife, who struggles to maintain a modicum of normalcy in their home life. Rounding out the Griffin household are their children: 16-year-old, angst-ridden MEG (MILA KUNIS); 13-year-old sweet-natured CHRIS (SETH GREEN); and 1-year-old STEWIE (MacFARLANE), a diabolically clever baby who's already set on conquering the world. And then there's BRIAN (MacFARLANE), the brainiest of the bunch, who also happens to be the family dog.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Seth MacFarlane
VOICE CAST: Seth MacFarlane as Peter, Stewie, Brian; Alex Borstein as Lois; Seth Green as Chris; Mila Kunis as Meg

 

[LorenzoL]

Well, I hope that the OC does well in their new timeslot since it seems that Survivor will be their only tough competition.

Family Guy is coming back in summer of 2005 although Seth Mcfarlane new show "American Dad" looks to be a takeoff of True Lies with Mcfarlane zany characters. Hope its better than it sounds.

 

[Jason Seaver]

As usual, Fox has the most interesting upcoming schedule. I'm taking that January schedule with a grain of salt - if House fails, 24 could easily wind up back on Tuesday, for instance - but the pictures on Brian's site look dang good.

Will half this schedule be a disaster and result in a lot of extra American Idols and other things being plugged in? No doubt. Heck, it's Fox; some of these shows may never air at all. But they'll be giving me Hugh Laurie on a weekly basis, which is a Good Thing.

 

[Jaime_Weinman]

I am deeply, deeply pissed about King of the Hill being placed in the 7:00 slot, which effectively means that the season won't really start until January because of football pre-emptions. (Yeah, it moves back to 7:30 in January, but a fat lot of good that does.) I thought they'd learned their lesson from the Futurama problems, but apparently KotH is their new Futurama -- a gap-filler in between football pre-emptions. The treatment of Malcolm in the Middle is almost as bad, but not quite, since at least MitM goes into a genuinely good timeslot in January.

Fox treating its best show like this pretty much kills any goodwill I might have felt over the Arrested Development renewal. Why can't they just admit that they don't have that hour to work with during football season, and give King of the Hill a real timeslot? (That they're putting on not one but two shows from the incomparably talentless Seth MacFarlane doesn't help my mood either, but at least the return of Family Guy isn't until the summer.)

 

[Brian_FSullivan]

ONE COMEDY AND TWO DRAMAS JOIN UPN’S 2004-2005 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

Taye Diggs to Star as a Hot Shot, Single Lawyer Who Unexpectedly Inherits a Baby, in “Kevin Hill”

Real-Life Pair Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Parker to Star as a Couple Newly Remarried to Each Other, in “Second Time Around”

“Veronica Mars,” from Hollywood Producer Joel Silver (“The Matrix,” “Lethal Weapon”) and Starring Breakout Talent Kristen Bell, to Highlight UPN Tuesday

UPN will introduce two new dramas and one new comedy to its schedule for the 2004-2005 season, it was announced today by Dawn Ostroff, President, Entertainment, UPN.

UPN’s 2004-2005 primetime schedule features one new comedy and two new dramas designed to build on the Network's established lineup. Last year, AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL brought millions of new young viewers to UPN. This season's line-up is designed to sustain the Network's momentum among young adults, establish additional signature nights and stars, and deliver audience growth throughout the week.

UPN's new comedy SECOND TIME AROUND stars real-life couple Boris Kodjoe (“Soul Food”) and Nicole Parker (“Soul Food”) as Jackson Muse, a handsome, earnest architect, and Ryan Muse, a beautiful, free-spirited artist, who are enjoying a more romantic, fun-filled second marriage to each other.

UPN’s new dramas include: KEVIN HILL, which stars Taye Diggs (“Chicago”) as a 28-year-old, self-made, hotshot entertainment lawyer in New York City with the ultimate bachelor life, whose whole world turns upside down when he's left to raise the six-month-old daughter of his cousin, who unexpectedly passed away; and VERONICA MARS, which stars Kristen Bell (“Everwood”) as a smart, fearless 17-year-old, apprentice private investigator dedicated to solving her town's toughest mysteries.

UPN will return five primetime programs, including AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, ALL OF US, EVE, GIRLFRIENDS, ONE ON ONE, HALF & HALF, STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE and WWE SMACKDOWN!

AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, which proved in its first two cycles to be the most successful series in UPN’s history with young adults, will move to a new night this Fall to Wednesday at 8:00 PM. Just as CBS used “Survivor” to successfully launch “CSI” and its Thursday night schedule, UPN is using its reality sensation AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL to build a strong Wednesday night featuring TOP MODEL at 8:00 PM, followed at 9:00 PM by KEVIN HILL, UPN’s new signature drama series, starring film and Broadway actor Taye Diggs. In addition, an encore performance of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, featuring new footage not included in its original Wednesday episode, will be broadcast on Friday at 8:00 PM.

UPN's established hit comedy ONE ON ONE, which was the Network’s highest-rated comedy in its previous Monday timeslot, will kick off the night at 8:00 PM, followed at 8:30 PM by HALF AND HALF, which has shown growth in key demos this past season. GIRLFRIENDS will anchor UPN’s 9:00 PM hour, serving as a compatible lead-in to the new romantic comedy SECOND TIME AROUND.

The Network’s hit freshman comedies ALL OF US, inspired by the real life domestic adventures of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, will move to Tuesday at 8:00 PM and EVE, starring the Grammy award-winning artist, will move to Tuesday at 8:30 PM. EVE’s young female viewers will continue with UPN into the 9:00 PM hour with the new drama VERONICA MARS.

UPN has already announced THE MISSY ELLIOTT PROJECT (working title) a new reality series by Grammy award-winning hip-hop sensation, which will air on the Network in between UPN’s two cycles of its top-rated series, AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL. The dramality series will send thirteen aspiring performers on a coast-to-coast concert tour with Grammy Award-winning artist Missy Elliott, where they will live together on the road in a tour bus and compete against each other for the opportunity to become the next big hip-hop star.

UPN will also broadcast the annual VIBE AWARDS special this November, a two-hour special event presented by Vibe magazine and UPN that celebrates innovation, cutting-edge presentation and genre-expanding work in urban music. The show will again feature chart-topping, contemporary musical performances and special celebrity appearances from the worlds of film, television, sports, fashion and music.

NEW COMEDY (all times ET/PT):

SECOND TIME AROUND (Working Title) (Monday, 9:30-10:00) stars real-life couple Boris Kodjoe (“Soul Food”) and Nicole Parker (“Soul Food”) as Jackson Muse, a handsome, earnest architect, and Ryan Muse, a beautiful, free-spirited artist, who are enjoying a more romantic, fun-filled second marriage to each other. Several adventurous years after their young first marriage ended, the lovers unexpectedly reunited and couldn't resist giving it another heartfelt go. Now, even with old stuff, new stuff and the stuff in between, the Muses are striving for wedded bliss a second time around. Determined to bring a newfound maturity to matrimony, Jackson and Ryan frequently find themselves in funny, awkward situations when old lovers, old arguments and old division of property issues surface. Even after another smooth, successful engagement and wedding, all of the couple's family and friends continue to dispense varied opinions and marriage advice. Jackson's younger brother Nigel (Brian White, “The Shield”), a dentist whose practice scarcely covers his lavish lifestyle, and his snobbish fiancé Paula (Danielle Nicolet, “3rd Rock from the Sun”) are convinced that the twice-baked pair need to join their couples' therapy group. Ryan's gorgeous, spirited best friend Coco (Melissa De Sousa, “Miss Congeniality”), certain that “leftovers shouldn't be reheated,” believes the marriage is a mistake. With a sense of humor and romance, Jackson and Ryan Muse are ready to clip around the thorny past and surrounding skeptics if it finally means a rosy future together. SECOND TIME AROUND is a production of Regan Jon Inc. and C to the B Productions in association with Paramount Network Television. Ralph R. Farquhar and Claude Brooks are executive producers. Michelle Listenbee-Brown is co-executive producer.

NEW DRAMAS

VERONICA MARS (Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00 PM) is set in the wealthy, seaside community of Neptune, where the rich and powerful make the rules, own the town and the high school, and desperately try to keep their dirty little secrets just that…secret. Unfortunately for them, there's Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell, “Everwood”), a smart, fearless 17-year-old, apprentice private investigator dedicated to solving the town's toughest mysteries. During the day, Veronica must still negotiate high school like any average teenage girl. Along with fellow outcast, sophomore Wallace Fennel (Percy Daggs III, “The Guardian”), she bravely maneuvers her classes, wary of former in-crowd friends, like ex-boyfriend Duncan Kane (Teddy Dunn, “The Manchurian Candidate”) and his best friend Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring, “Judging Amy”), and edgy outsiders, like Weevil (Francis Capra, “CSI”) and his P.C.H. Bike Club boys. At night, Veronica looks after her former-Sheriff father Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni, “Just Shoot Me”) and helps with his struggling, new private investigator business. By sneaking through back alleys and scoping out no-tell motels with a telescopic-lens camera and her math book, Veronica attempts to uncover the California beach town's darkest secrets, including who killed her best friend and Duncan's sister, Lilly, and created a scandal that cost her father his job, his home and wife. Pushed to the edge of this multicultural, venomous little Peyton Place, Veronica Mars relentlessly continues to search for evidence that will clear her father's name and get her back into the “in-crowd,” but what she finds may tear the town of Neptune apart at the seams. VERONICA MARS is a production of Stu Seagall Productions, Inc. and Silver Pictures Television in association with Warner Bros. Television Production, Inc. Joel Silver and creator Rob Thomas are executive producers.

KEVIN HILL (Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00 PM) stars Taye Diggs (“Chicago”) as a 28-year-old, self-made, hotshot entertainment lawyer in New York City with the ultimate bachelor life -- a high-power job, plenty of pretty ladies and enough money to buy whatever he wants. Through all of his exploits, he is joined by his two buddies, the charming and witty Dame (Jon Seda, “Bad Boys II”). But, Kevin’s whole life turns upside down when he's left to raise the six-month-old daughter of his cousin, who unexpectedly passed away. After figuring out how to deal with bottles, diapers and his new no-nonsense, gay nanny George (Patrick Breen, “Radio”), Kevin quits his workaholic law firm for a flex-time, boutique law office, Grey & Associates, owned and staffed completely by women. Kevin must adjust his attitude when dealing with his new co-workers, who include Jessie Grey (Michael Michele, “ER”), a professional single mom and boss; Nicolette Raye (Christina Hendricks, “Presidio Med”), the office's most underestimated legal weapon; and Veronica Carter (Kate Levering, “Law & Order: SVU”), a whip-smart diva, who previously had a one-night stand with Kevin. Despite continuing temptation from his party buddies, Kevin is determined to walk the line between the women at his job, the women that he chases, and the baby girl in the crib. KEVIN HILL is a production of Icon Productions in association with Touchstone Television. Bruce Davey and Alex Taub are executive producers and Jorge A. Reyes is co-executive producer.

ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMMING THE MISSY ELLIOTT PROJECT (Working Title) (Midseason) is a new dramality series that will send thirteen aspiring performers coast-to-coast on tour with Grammy Award-winning artist Missy Elliott, where they will live together on the road in a tour bus and compete against each other for the opportunity to become the next big hip-hop star. Just like Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott, herself, the next big superstar could spring from a variety of backgrounds, but what they will have in common is amazing talent, distinctive style and fresh attitude. The series will feature everyday young singers and rappers as they transform into multi-talented hip-hop entertainers, in the process facing weekly tests that determine who can make the cut. Under 24-hour-a-day surveillance by cameras, the selected group will be challenged in a variety of ways while on the road, and with Missy's guidance, be exposed to top music industry insiders. With the help of a panel of industry experts, Missy will eliminate one performer each episode until only one is left standing. Then, Missy plans to help launch the winner's career, signing them to a deal with her record label. THE MISSY ELLIOTT PROJECT (working title) is a production of Shapiro/Grodner Productions in association with Monami, Inc. Arnold Shapiro (“Big Brother”), Allison Grodner (“Big Brother”), Mona Scott, Jay Blumenfield and Anthony Marsh are executive producers. Missy Elliott is a co-executive producer.

SPECIAL

VIBE AWARDS (November) is a two-hour special event presented by Vibe magazine and UPN that celebrates innovation, cutting-edge presentation and genre-expanding work in urban music, to be broadcast this Fall on UPN. The show will again feature chart-topping, contemporary musical performances and special celebrity appearances from the worlds of film, television, sports, fashion and music. Setting new Friday night ratings records for UPN in key demos, last year's VIBE AWARDS earned UPN a first or second place finish on the night with persons 12-34, females 12-34, young men and teens. VIBE AWARDS is a production of Vibe Magazine, Flavor Unit Productions and White Cherry Entertainment. Kenard Gibbs, Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere are executive producers. Ricky Kirschner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry are producers. Emil Wilbekin is creative executive producer.

RETURNING SERIES (all times ET/PT):

ONE ON ONE (Monday, 8:00-8:30 PM) enters its fourth season with the dynamic dad and daughter duo of sportscaster Flex Washington (Flex Alexander) and 17-year-old Breanna Barnes (Kyla Pratt). Breanna celebrates life as a teen while Flex focuses on strengthening the familial bond as he learns to balance parenthood and friendship. Flex’s best friend and Breanna’s godfather, Duane (Kelly Perine) now lives next door and continues to stir things up. Keeping Breanna busy is her best friend, Sicily, with whom she creates a lot of mischief, while her best guy-friend, Arnaz, is the object of her on-again, off-again schoolgirl crush. Last season ended with the family in turmoil as Flex gets his wish when his sports show, the “Flex Files,” goes into national syndication, but must deal with the fact that a grown-up Breanna has run away to New York to follow Arnaz and pursue her dream of becoming an actress.

HALF & HALF (Monday, 8:30-9:00 PM) enters its third season focusing on twenty-something half-sisters Mona (Rachel True, “The Craft”) and Dee Dee (Essence Atkins, “Deliver Us from Ava”) who had only one thing in common when they met -- their father. Growing up separately, these two virtual strangers suddenly became neighbors in the same San Francisco apartment building and experienced the challenges of sisterhood for the first time. Now that they have grown closer, Mona and Dee Dee realize they share more similarities than first thought. Mona, a record company executive, was raised by her single mother, Phyllis (Telma Hopkins, “Family Matters”), to be an independent woman who does things in her own free-spirited and sometimes sardonic style. By contrast, younger sister Dee Dee grew up privileged in a two-parent home, attends law school, but still searches for her own identity out of the shadow of her overbearing mother, Big Dee Dee (Valarie Pettiford, “One Life To Live”). The half-sisters have learned to lean on each other for support when it comes to relationships, career choices and how to handle their mothers. Meanwhile, Mona and her best friend and colleague Spencer (Chico Benymon, R&B group “Tra-Knox”) realized that they are more than just friends after a passionate kiss last season. Office pal Adam Benet (Alec Mapa, “Connie and Carla”) also continues to spice things up in the record company with his humorous gossip. HALF & HALF is a production of Sister Lee Productions, Inc. in association with Eye Productions Inc. Yvette Lee Bowser (“A Different World,” “Living Single” and “For Your Love”) is executive producer. Jeffrey Klarik (“Mad About You”) created the series.

GIRLFRIENDS (Monday, 9:00-9:30 PM) returns to its triumphant fifth year as the number-one series among African-American adults 18-34. The comedy continues to provide an open, honest exploration of the hot-button issues about family, friends, relationships and life facing women today. With fearlessness and sincerity, the show takes on universal issues that appeal to all women. Whether it's embarking on a new career move, reclaiming your independence after a divorce or learning about yourself within relationships with men, GIRLFRIENDS treats them all with tenderness, care and respect. GIRLFRIENDS stars Tracee Ellis Ross (“Hanging Up”) as Joan Clayton, Golden Brooks (“Linc's Place”) as Maya Wilkes, Persia White as Lynn Searcy, Jill Marie Jones as Toni Childs and Reggie Hayes (“Getting Personal”) as William Dent. Mara Brock Akil (“Moesha,” “The Jamie Foxx Show”) created the series and serves as executive producer along with Kelsey Grammer. Mark Alton Brown and Dee LaDuke serve as consulting producers. GIRLFRIENDS is a production of Happy Camper Productions and Grammnet Productions in association with Paramount Network Television.

ALL OF US (Tuesday, 8:00-8:30 PM), the successful series inspired by the domestic adventures of entertainment superstars Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, returns for a sophomore season to reflect a new generation's enlightened attitude toward the extended family dynamic with humor, sensitivity and heart. Robert James (Duane Martin, “Out All Night”) is an entertainment reporter for a local Los Angeles television station, who is handsome, smart and thoroughly modern in his thinking -- as he should be, considering his romantic and parental entanglements. Divorced from the somewhat self-absorbed Neesee (LisaRaye, “The Players Club”), mother of their endearing five-year-old son, Bobby, Jr. (Khamani Griffin, “Daddy Day Care”), Robert is set to wed Tia (Elise Neal, UPN’s “The Hughleys”) a clever kindergarten teacher -- if she can accept Neesee as an ongoing part of her life with Robert. Providing friendship and varying degrees of support and advice is Dirk (Tony Rock, “The Chris Rock Show”), Robert's best friend and producer, who recently embarked on a new passionate fling with Jonelle (Terri J. Vaughn, “The Steve Harvey Show”), Tia’s best friend and colleague. ALL OF US is a production of Overbrook Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television. The executive producers are Will Smith (“Men In Black II”), Jada Pinkett Smith (“The Matrix Reloaded”), James Lassiter (“Ali”) and Betsy Borns (“Friends”). Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and Betsy Borns are also creators.

EVE (Tuesday, 8:30-9:00 PM), starring Grammy Award-winning hip-hop sensation Eve (“Barbershop”), returns for a second season of her eponymous hit series as Shelly, a beautiful and intelligent woman of the new generation trying to navigate love, romance and career. Strong and confident, Shelly brings a fresh attitude to the male/female equation. Her two best friends, Rita (Ali Landry, “Spy TV”), a gorgeous, single former model, and Janie (Natalie Desselle-Reid, “For Your Love”), an attractive woman very happy to be married and out of the dating scene, offer conflicting advice as Shelly tries to find her way on the rocky road to love. Representing the male side of the relationship equation is J.T. (Jason George, “Barbershop,” UPN's “Platinum”), a handsome, regular kind of guy who really enjoys being single, and his best pal, Nick (Brian Hooks, “Bulworth”), who is looking for that one perfect woman who can meet his very exacting standards. Meanwhile, Donovan (Sean Maguire, “Off Centre”), the handsome, fashionable manager of Z Lounge, one of Miami’s hottest clubs, is friends with everyone and inevitably gets stuck in the middle when problems arise. Last season, Shelly comically ended her 10-month dating dry spell by catching her self-designed DivaStyle couture dress on J.T.'s zipper, but that wasn't the only catch in the relationship. In fact, as this season opens, Shelly finds herself walking away from love after J.T. admits to her that he thinks she might not be the marrying type. Meanwhile, the others are finding themselves much luckier in love, including a surprising new pairing between Donovan and Rita. Robert Greenblatt and David Janollari (UPN's ONE ON ONE, “Platinum” and “Six Feet Under”) are executive producers. Meg DeLoatch (UPN's ONE ON ONE) is the creator, co-executive producer and the writer. Eve, Troy Carter and Dave Duclon are co-executive producers. EVE is a production of The Greenblatt Janollari Studio in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL (Wednesday, 8:00-9:00 PM) is UPN’s hit dramality series that features Tyra Banks and gives real people an opportunity to prove that they can make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of supermodeling. The series follows a group of young women with various backgrounds, shapes and sizes, who live together in one loft and vie for a modeling contract. The dramality exposes the transformation of everyday young women into potentially fierce supermodels, as they face weekly tests that determine who can make the cut. With mentoring by supermodel Tyra Banks and exposure to high-profile fashion-industry gurus, the finalists compete in a highly accelerated modeling boot camp, a crash course to supermodel fame. Participants are asked to demonstrate both inner and outer beauty as they learn to master complicated cat walks, intense physical fitness, fashion photo shoots and perfect publicity skills, all under 24-hour-a-day surveillance of the AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL cameras that chronicle every move. Banks leads the panel of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL judges, which have included high-fashion photographers, top models, magazine editors, renowned make-up artists, stylists and designers. In addition, special guest judges appear to critique within their area of expertise. AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment in association with Ty Ty Baby Productions. The dramality was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris. The executive producers are Ken Mok (“Making the Band”) and Banks.

WWE SMACKDOWN! (Thursday, 8:00-10:00 PM) is the most-watched TV show by male teens on Thursdays, the most competitive night in television. Right from the start, World Wrestling Entertainment's action-packed event has delivered all-new, all-spectacular shows and specials every week, year-round on UPN. This unique, bigger-than-life, two-hour saga has ratcheted up the drama and intensified the classic rivalries in the recent WWE draft by securing for WWE SMACKDOWN! the talents of its most famous and beloved superstars, including WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero, Undertaker, General Manager Kurt Angle and Torrie Wilson, as well as John Cena, Rey Mysterio, Booker T, The Dudley Boyz, Rob Van Dam and Big Show, among many others. Together with a recurring cast of inimitable WWE brand stars, they put on an astonishing display of athleticism combined with riveting dramatic and comedic storylines. WWE SMACKDOWN! has been -- and will continue to be -- appointment viewing for millions of young men and women. The executive producer is Kevin Dunn. Taped before frenzied crowds all over the United States, the series is a production of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE (Friday, 9:00-10:00 PM), the latest in the “Star Trek” franchise, is now entering its fourth season. A prequel to the original “Star Trek” series, STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE takes place during the early pioneering days of deep space exploration when interstellar travel is in its infancy and 100 years before Capt. James T. Kirk takes the helm of the famous starship. As the season opened, a mysterious and deadly race of aliens called the Xindi had attacked Earth, killing millions of people. Having discovered that their next planned attack will completely destroy Earth, Capt. Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and the crew set out on a gripping new mission to track down and put an end to these enemy aliens. With the fate of the planet in their hands, the crew faced strange new life forms, dangerous unexplored regions of space and difficult moral questions. In addition to being more action packed with spectacular special effects, this new season will take STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE into further uncharted territory, while advancing last season's critically acclaimed storylines, including Vulcan Sub Commander T'Pol's (Jolene Blalock) blossoming relationship with Chief Engineer Charles “Trip” Tucker III (Connor Trinneer) and mysterious twists in the familiar timeline. The series also stars John Billingsley as Dr. Phlox, Dominic Keating as Lt. Malcolm Reed, Anthony Montgomery as Ensign Travis Mayweather and Linda Park as Ensign Hoshi Sato. Rick Berman and Brannon Braga are creators/executive producers. STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE is a production of Paramount Network Television.

Following is the 2003-2004 UPN primetime schedule:

UPN 2004-2005 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

MONDAY
8:00-8:30 PM ONE ON ONE
8:30-9:00 PM HALF AND HALF
9:00-9:30 PM GIRLFRIENDS
9:30-10:00 PM SECOND TIME AROUND

TUESDAY
8:00-8:30 PM ALL OF US
8:30-9:00 PM EVE
9:00-10:00 PM VERONICA MARS

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL
9:00-10:00 PM KEVIN HILL

THURSDAY
8:00-10:00 PM WWE SMACKDOWN!

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL (R)
9:00-10:00 PM STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE

 

[Jason Seaver]

Oh, this can't be good. Granted, it's not unheard of for staff changes to be made over the summer, but I just don't see Paramount having the balls to do it.

Still, not a bad schedule considering it's UPN. The two new dramas at least look worth checking out, even if I don't quite understand why Taye Diggs is doing TV (and UPN at that) rather than movies - he's seemed like he would be a big star for years.

Pretty thin bench, though, considering there's already a built-in rerun hour. Still, from Monday to Wednesday, UPN is starting to look like a real network.

 

[Jason Seaver]

And now for the "what Jay will be watching" portion:

Sunday
Definite: Malcolm In The Middle, Cold Case, The Simpsons, Arrested Development, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Crossing Jordan

Samples: Desperate Housewives, Jack & Bobby, , Fleet Street

Later on: Alias, The Sketch Show, American Dad

Comments: Sunday could wind up much more streamlined for me; though there's a possibility of another 9pm three-show logjam (and I don't even get HBO), I'm expecting Housewives or Jack & Bobby not to impress. Fleet Street I'm looking at for Shatner, and that's about it.

Monday
Definite: Las Vegas, Two And A Half Men, probably The Benefactor

Samples: North Shore, Listen Up, LAX

Later on: 24

Comments: From what I've been reading on Mark Cuban's weblog, The Benefactor may play almost as a parody of unscripted shows. North Shore and LAX have good-looking casts, but I'm not sure how much soap I want. Zap2It's story has 24 at 8pm, while all the schedules say 9pm; the first seems like it would give a bigger boost to Athens when they start in January.

Tuesday
Definite: Gilmore Girls, House, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Samples: Clubhouse, Veronica Mars, maybe Father of the Pride

Comments: Setting Clubhouse in a team modeled on the Yankees may be too much for my gag reflex to handle, Christopher Lloyd or no Christopher Lloyd. On the other hand, Veronica Mars is produced by Joel Silver, so it'll probably look slicker than anything else on UPN; it also looks like it could be the heir apparent to Buffy as a fun, but potentially dark, youth-oriented adventure show. House is Hugh Laurie in a drama, so I'm not sure whether I should root for it to succeed or to fail so he'll go back to England and do funny things. That he'll be playing a cranky eccentric guy (I'm thinking him in Sense & Sensibility) helps.

Wednesday
Definite: Lost, That 70s Show, Smallville, Law & Order

Samples: Hawaii, Quintuplets, Kevin Hill, Center of the Universe, Green Screen, CSI: New York

Later: Revelations

Comments: Look at 8pm. With four shows I may want to watch on at the same time, it'll bust my recording capability. I'll take some solace from the near-certain knowledge that Fox will use recent That 70s Show reruns to fill other holes, but... Damn. I also suspect that if Lost does well, Alias may wind up running on 9pm this night when it returns, rather than Sunday, with The Bachelor bumping Wife Swap. Revelations is Bill Pullman and Natascha McElhone, so I'm there despite the "Left Behind"-sounding premise.

Thursday
Definite: Tru Calling, Without a Trace

Samples: Joey, The Mountain (though probably not; its concept is close to North Shore but its cast isn't)

Comments: Last year ABC was one of the big proponents of the 8pm family hour; now they're running Extreme Makeover there. I hate ABC. At least the stations are mostly trying to compete on this night, now that CBS has shown NBC isn't a juggernaut any more. Tru Calling has improved since its very rocky beginning, although it still threatens to go off the rails when the story doesn't directly affect the main characters.

Friday
Definite: Joan of Arcadia, Dr. Vegas, Medical Investigation

Samples: The Jury

Later: Johnny Zero, maybe The Inside

If people are fired: Star Trek: Enterprise

Comments: A lot of medical mysteries this season, if Dr. Vegas fits that mold. Both it and Medical Investigation have killer casts, but I don't know if they can co-exist. The Inside is Fox going back to its roots (21 Jump Street was their first big hit), and Johnny Zero could be a cool crime show. I will laugh heartily if Stargate on cable beats Enterprise some night. What those people have done with the ST legacy deserves mockery.

Saturday
It's all about: The Amazing Race

TV's best unscripted show is back on the schedule as a regular series, and even if it's on Saturday.

The Bench
Definites: Eyes, Law & Order: Trial By Jury

Maybe: Blind Justice, Point Pleasant, Crazy For You, Medium, Global Frequency.

Comments: Eyes is John MacNamara, who always deserves a look, even if it leads to a couple weeks of watching Fastlane; L&O is the most dependable franchise in TV history.

General Comment
There's been a lot of debate on the move toward no-repeat programming and unorthodox scheduling. I like it, though - getting Alias and 24 without breaks will be fantastic, and the end result is more original programming all season long, without January/March/April lulls, and Fox even doing good stuff during the summer. In the short term, yeah, it means waiting for a couple pretty good series, but in the long term, it means more quality entertainment for us.

 

[David_Blackwell]

I feel this upcoming fall schedule looks to be the least interesting for new shows. I so wanted the new Lost in Space and Dark Shadows series (I suspect these pilots may never see the light of day).

LAX sounds interesting, but I'm more of a CSI: Miami fan. I suspect the eye may have to relocate CSI: New York after it fails against Law and Order. Enterprise on Fridays gives me something to watch on Friday (since none of the other stuff really interests me that much on Fridays). Saturdays becomes more of a TV wasteland.

I will check out LOST (and later Global Frequency).

I'm glad Tru Calling is back!!! The WB only has Smallville to hold my attention where their two new dramas just don't seem to hold a wide age appeal like buffy or Angel. Their new dramas seem to be too much geared to the 18-24 age group. I think Dark Shadows and Lost In Space would have been wide age range potential (and series to build if the audience responds to them).

I don't know if Blind Justice will fly as a show. It seems to be a long shot (given how any drama created by the creator of NYPD Blue has bombed after he created NYPD Blue).

Be Seeing You,
David Blackwell

 

[Rob P S]

I totally agree on that, and I am pissed about The Bernie Mac Show bouncing all over the place. Yes, I'm glad that it was renewed at all, but I don't see how a show is supposed to maintain an audience with this kind of treatment.

 

[Brad Porter]

Viewer Demographic Information: Single, white, professional male, aged 32 years. Now a homeowner (and therefore minus much of the expendable income that he loved so much). Alcohol and Automobile advertisements, while sometimes entertaining, have no effect on Brad because he a) doesn't drink, and b) doesn't drive that much. Brad also watches most things (that aren't live sporting events) on TiVo, so whatever the commercials are won't matter, so this demographic info will only be helpful to tell you what people like me might be likely to watch.

What I'll be watching:
Everything gets funnelled through one of the two TiVos:
TiVo #1: Connected to Comcast digital cable box, used for recording pay cable content (HBO and Showtime original programming, BBC America, films on TCM and others) and picking up network shows that conflict with TiVo#2. It's usually packed with movies.
TiVo #2: Connected to analog cable feed, used for most regular network recordings and long-term show storage. FX and USA original programming also go here.


Summer Schedule

MONDAY

10:00
USA - Touching Evil (through June 14)

TUESDAY

09:00
Fox - The Jury

10:00
CBS - The Amazing Race 5
FX - The Shield / nip/tuck

WEDNESDAY

09:00
ABC - The Drew Carey Show

THURSDAY

09:00
Bravo - Celebrity Poker Showdown
tWB - The Jamie Kennedy Experiment

09:30
NBC - Scrubs (haven't watched it before)

FRIDAY

08:00
HBO - Real Time with Bill Maher (starting July 30)
10:00
USA - Monk (starting June 18)

SUNDAY

07:00
Fox - Oliver Beene

08:30
Fox - Arrested Development (catching the unaired episode)

09:00
USA - The 4,400 (July 10 - )

09:30
Fox - Quintuplets

10:00
USA - The Dead Zone

NIGHT/TIME UNKNOWN
Showtime - Dead Like Me (starting July 30)
HBO - The Wire (starting in September)

Thoughts:
1. I'm really hoping The Jury doesn't disappoint. Levinson & Fontana could put anything on the air and I'd watch it.
2. I don't know why I added The Drew Carey Show since I haven't watched it in three years. I guess I just couldn't believe that nothing was scheduled on Wednesday nights.
3. Is Junkyard Wars coming back? I didn't care too much for the Junkyard Mega-Wars version they produced last year, but I'm still addicted. I thought TLC always had a season airing in the summer, but I don't see any mention of it on their website. It can't be that costly to re-air the Scrapheap Challenge episodes from the UK.

FALL SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

07:00
Fox - King of the Hill
ESPN - football highlights

07:30
Fox - Malcolm in the Middle
ESPN - High-Def Sunday Night NFL

08:00
Fox - The Simpsons

08:30
Fox - Arrested Development

09:00
tWB - Jack & Bobby (sample)
NBC - L&O:CI (If J&B sucks, otherwise recorded in repeats on USA)

10:00
NBC - Crossing Jordan

Thoughts:
1. Sunday night is still packed with programming, but the Fox lineup still wins for me. It looks like I may just have to record it as one giant two hour block with padding since I think they're going to shuffle the shows around in the diffent time slots.
2. While I'm kind of mad that I won't get new Alias until January, this is great news for my football watching. I'd always been forced to ditch the game part way through so I didn't miss Alias. And now TiVo#2 is free to record something else during that hour since Fox decided to program some lawyer reality show there. Hey ABC, this would have been a good time slot for you to place The DA, but you didn't renew it, now did you? It would also have been a good time slot for you to have placed Line of Fire, had you renewed it. As it is, you've freed TiVo#1 to record football, which is still good for you and the Disney folks since I'll be tuned to your sister network ESPN.
3. They could call it The Practice: Brad Please Watch This and I still wouldn't tune in. Please let the franchise die, and give David Kelley some time off to make me care about his writing again.
5. I haven't watched any of the Crossing Jordan episodes from this season yet. Once I dig through them over the summer I'll decide if I will actually keep watching it.
6. Jack & Bobby has Jessica Paré in it. She's mucho pretty.

Monday

09:00
ABC - Monday Night Football
CBS - Everybody Loves Raymond

10:00
CBS - CSI:Miami

Thoughts:
1. I'm ready to stop recording CSI:Miami whenever somebody programs something worthwhile against it. LAX isn't it. I'll probably try Grey's Anatomy at midseason because Ellen Pompeo is just so adorable, but I don't expect much from it.
2. If the local ABC affiliate would provide a high-def feed to Comcast (and if MNF would broadcast in high-def), then I'll be watching that live most of the night. Here in the mountain time zone, it runs concurrently with all of the primetime lineup. This also means that I'm giving up on watching Las Vegas.

Tuesday

08:00
tWB - Gilmore Girls

09:00
Fox - House
NBC - Father of the Pride

09:30
NBC - Scrubs

Thoughts:
1. I loves me some Gilmore Girls. It's number one on the Season Pass Manager and that's where it's staying.
2. NYPD Blue is still on??? Now that I've seen the wonderful vulgarity that Milch wields on Deadwood, I think I'd just be sad at seeing what is done on this show to please the network censors these days.
3. Blind Justice (midseason) - "They're all in for the shock of their lives, because being blind makes Dunbar a better cop than he ever has been." Then he must have been a really lousy cop. This show sounds stupid, but it's got Rena Sofer in it, so I must watch it.

Wednesday

08:00
ABC - Lost (sample)
tWB - Smallville

08:30
Fox - Quintuplets (if I think it's good during its summer airing and if Lost isn't)

09:00
empty spot where The O.C. should be
NBC - The West Wing

09:30
CBS - Center of the Universe (sample)

10:00
CBS - CSI: New York
NBC - Law & Order

Thoughts:
1. Hawaii doesn't sound bad, but it's coming in third place in its timeslot for me - therefore I won't be watching. I'm scheduling Lost, but this line - "...the intense howls of the mysterious creatures stalking the jungle fill them all with fear..." and some of the laughably stupid Rambaldi plotlines on Alias have me concerned that they'll push this into Land of the Lost territory.
2. Wife Swap???? Somebody please tell me that the Brits are stealing our crappy show ideas and making bad versions of them so that there's some sense of balance across the Atlantic.
3. Why didn't they call it CSI:NYC? Then they could have paired it up with NCIS and JAG and called it Acryonym Television.

Thursday

08:00
CBS - Survivor: Vanuatu
Fox - The O.C.

09:00
ABC - Life As We Know It
CBS - CSI

09:59 (Grrrrrr)
NBC - ER

Thoughts:
1. Life As We Know It - from the writers of "Freaks & Geeks", therefore let's put it on opposite the highest rated show on TV - then maybe move it to Saturday and Monday before cancelling it. :rolleyes
2. Joey - NOT GONNA WATCH IT! Ha! Take that, NBC!
3. Why would they schedule The Mountain and The O.C. opposite each other? I suspect somebody's moving soon, or McG will be angry.
Friday

09:00
Fox - The Jury
UPN - Star Trek: Enterprise

Thoughts:
1. Commando Nanny???? No thanks.
2. I still have all the episodes of Enterprise recorded from this past season and I haven't had any desire to watch them yet. If I get through them and they suck, then I'll probably program Grounded for Life at 09:30 instead.
3. I'll sample Dr. Vegas, but I'm setting the bar pretty high for what it needs to be to get a season pass.

Saturday

09:00
CBS - The Amazing Race


Spring Schedule

I'll be adding Alias, 24, and American Dad for sure. I'll probably sample Law & Order: Trial by Jury, but my need for yet another cops & lawyers show is pretty much nonexistent at this point.

Brad