"House" is returning for another season on Fox, but that will only make it tougher for the network to decide what series to order on a primetime schedule with little wiggle room. With a one-year deal finally in place after drawn-out negotiations with Universal Media Studios, Fox will likely use the medical drama to launch a new series on Mondays at 9 p.m. Either of two drama pilots getting considerable buzz will likely land the timeslot: Ethan Hawke actioner "Exit Strategy" or psych-unit hour "Weekends at Bellevue." But with the highly anticipated Simon Cowell vehicle "The X Factor" expected to take up at least two hours of the fall, and the Steven Spielberg-produced drama "Terra Nova" also set for September, Fox is facing a space crunch. Fox may only have room for one new half-hour in the fall, with returning comedy "Raising Hope" serving as a lead-in Tuesday at 9 p.m. Either middling frosh sitcoms "Breaking In" or "Traffic Light" could eke out last-minute renewals or the 9:30 p.m. slot could be inherited by either 20th Century Fox TV's "Family Album" or the Liz Meriwether project "New Girl," with Zooey Deschanel attached to star. A handful of other Fox sitcom pilots -- including "Council of Dads," "Iceland" and "Tagged" -- aren't generating much support, though that could change in the days leading up the net's Monday upfront. While the traditional January launch of "American Idol" has been powerful enough to propel Fox to top primetime ratings among broadcasters going back several seasons, the network typically struggled in the fourth quarter with its juggernaut resting on the bench. But last year Fox had its best fall showing in nearly a decade thanks in part to the success of "Glee." Picking the right shows in September will be crucial toward maintain that long-sought momentum. On Thursday and Friday, there may be few openings given "Bones" and "Fringe" have been renewed. Fox can play it safe and bring back struggling hours like "Lie to Me" or "Human Target" or roll the dice on something new. Slotting a high-profile project such as "Terra Nova" or "X Factor" on Thursday would be logical given the rich ad revenues up for grabs on the night. "Factor" may be a natural choice for replacing "Idol" in its Wednesday-Thursday footprint. Having "Nova" and "Factor" together on Thursday would be a particularly audacious gambit, but one that could send a message to Madison Avenue that the network is intent on making a splash. It would allow Fox to stock returning shows on Friday, which can be an unforgiving night for new shows looking to bloom. Sunday is expected to remain intact, with renewals announced Monday for the 9-10 p.m. pairing of "Family Guy" and "Cleveland." They join "American Dad," "The Simpsons" and "Bob's Burgers." "Burgers" is the only rookie in the bunch, but has already secured a second season. As for "House," the one-year pact means it's doubtful the show would return for a ninth season. If the Hugh Laurie starrer can maintain or even improve its ratings and halt a downward slide, Fox might rethink that strategy and negotiate once again with UMS, which owns the show.
Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com
Source: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118036744?categoryid=4076&cs=1&cmpid=RSS%7CNews%7CLatestNews
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