NEW YORK - Fox, the No. 1 television network, is trying to bring some balance to the force. (Locally, it is Channel 19.)
As the final network to unveil its fall schedule this week for advertisers, Fox executives acknowledge the lofty success is lopsided - coming from a handful of powerhouses, such as its quirky medical drama "House" and the cultural phenomenon that is "American Idol." (In its 6th season, "American Idol" almost single-handedly resurrected the network from a dismal fourth place at the beginning of this year to first by spring.)
On Thursday, Fox officially announced its fall and midseason prime-time lineup, which features four new dramas, three new comedies and three reality-based series in hopes of bolstering its rank-and-file programming.
Slated for a fall release are:
"Back 2 You," a much-buzzed-about comedy because of its stars: Kelsey Grammer of "Frazier" fame and Patricia Heaton of "Everybody Loves Raymond." The two play a pair of TV news anchors and former lovers who are unexpectedly reunited at a Pittsburgh station after Grammer's career in Los Angeles crashes.
"New Amsterdam," a drama from acclaimed film director Lasse Hallstrom about an immortal named John Amsterdam, played by newcomer Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and his centuries-old search for love.
"K-ville," a police drama set in New Orleans two years after Hurricane Katrina. The show is from writer and executive producer Jonathan Lisco ("NYPD Blue," "The District").
Also, a trio of unscripted series launches in the fall:
"The Search for the Next Great American Band" (its working title) from the producers of "American Idol."
"Kitchen Nightmares" follows a hot-tempered chef as he whips restaurants into shape.
"Nashville" (working title), called a docu-soap that focuses on wannabe performers as they try to navigate the music industry.
Meanwhile, tapped for a midseason premiere are:
"The Return of Jezebel Jane," a comedy about a woman ("Six Feet Under's" Lauren Ambrose) who agrees to carry a child for her infertile older sister ("For Your Consideration's" Parker Posey).
"The Rules for Starting Over," another comedy about a group of newly single friends who discover that dating in their 30s after divorce is definitely different. Executive producers include the zany Farrelly brothers, whose films include "There's Something About Mary." It stars Craig Bierko from "Boston Legal," Shaun Majumder from "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle" and Rashida Jones from "The Office."
"The Sarah Connor Chronicles," a dramatic series based on characters from "The Terminator" movie series. Sarah Conner (Lena Headey) and her 15-year-old son, John (Thomas Dekker), are fugitives who try to stay alive so he can save humanity.
"Canterbury's Law," a courtroom drama starring Juliana Margulies ("ER") as a defense attorney who will cut corners in the pursuit of justice. Her single-mindedness is driven in part by the mysterious disappearance of her young son, which remains unsolved.
This year, Fox's once total commitment to the baseball postseason has been considerably pared back.
With TBS and TNT airing all the division series playoffs, Fox now just shares the league championship series but retains all of the World Series. This will leave the network better able to roll out its new fall for the first time in years. Fox executives will make a final decision on exactly when to launch the new fall shows in the coming weeks.
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