FOX has taken the surprising move of being generally conservative with their new show scheduling. Most shows from last season return this season with only three new series launching this fall.
Terra Nova – Mondays 8:00/7:00c starting Sept 26
First off, we have Terra Nova, which is FOX’s latest attempt to move return to the science fiction genre. Terra Nova follows the 10th colonial expedition to prehistoric Earth. In the year 2149, the earth is dying, and humanity’s last hope is to utilize time travel to rebuild the human civilization from age of the dinosaurs.
Executive produced by Stephen Spielberg, Terra Nova stars Jason O’Mara, Shelly Conn, Landon Liboiron, Allison Miller, and Naomi Scott. It’s an interesting concept, and is hopefully a successful show after his previous show from t his summer Falling Skies. The only thing I fear is that while being on FOX, it’s possibly already canceled.
New Girl – Tuesdays 9:00/8:00c starting Sept 20
One of FOX’s newest comedy this year is the Zooey Deschanel comedy New Girl, a single camera comedy from Liz Meriwether featuring a young ensemble cast that takes a look at young relationships, breakups, and friendship.
Jess Day (Deschanel) is a odd girl in her late 20s who, after a bad breakup, finds herself as the new roommate to three single guys. The show follows Jess as she discovers the next chapter of her life as she attempts to return to the dating world supported by her new roommates. Starting Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, and Damon Wayans Jr, New Girl seems like a FOX show that is already destined for cancellation. While the cast has a lot of chemistry, based on the initial pilot episode, I feel that this show has very weak writing and doesn’t utilize the cast dynamic as well as it needs to. Meriweather represses Deschanel’s artistic abilities and forces her into her type-cast awkwardly goofy stereotype that she is known for. Despite it’s waning Glee lead in and Raising Hope follow, I’m almost certain this show will not make it though the season.
Fortunately, you can take a look at the pilot episode now on iTunes until it’s air date on the 20th.
I Hate My Teenage Daughter – Wednesdays 9:30/8:30c starting Nov 30th
In the second of FOX’s new comedies, I Hate My Teenage Daughter is another example of mediocre concepts hoping they will find their niche audience. Staring Jamie Pressly and Katie Finneran, I Hate My Teenage Daughter follows the exploits of two mothers who fear that their teenage daughters are turning into the very type of people that tormented them in high school. Airing later in November after X-Factor’s run, this new comedy seems to be another example of FOX banking on the popularity of previous character types in the hope of reviving their dismal sitcom offerings. Though the show has some time before it airs, I doubt it will make it beyond the winter.
Returning Shows
On a more positive note, many of FOX’s shows return for new seasons this Fall, including Fringe (Sept 23), Bones (Nov 3), and House (Oct 3). X-Factor begins September 21 and will no doubt dominate against it’s rivals.
