TV Jots

Network Adds 4 Comedies, 2 Dramas, 1 Talk Show

Fox held its upfront presentation on Monday, May 18, to announce the top network’s 2009–2010 schedule. As long expected, the terrific Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is kaput, but I currently feel sorrier for poor Fringe, poor Dollhouse, and poor Sons of Tucson.

The first sophomore sci-fi show — a bona fide hit in its recently ended freshman season airing Tuesdays at 9pm after American Idol — has a new and much more challenging Thursday time slot that will pit it against the likes of The CW’s Supernatural and ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy. Good luck, Fringe Division!

Meanwhile, Joss Whedon‘s latest sci-fi drama, Dollhouse, which is extremely lucky to even still be around, remains in place on Fridays at 9pm ET, but with a sitcom lead-in — the roundly derided ‘Til Death — that couldn’t be more bizarrely incompatible. The overused expression “WTF?!” was created just for situations like this.

As for new midseason sitcom Sons of Tucson, which stars Reaper‘s Tyler Labine, it finds itself buried in a Sunday sandwich of animated series. Yes, all of the Sunday shows are technically comedies. But animated and live-action go together about as well as, well, ‘Til Death and Dollhouse.

Continue reading for Fox’s upcoming slate, which is also notable for the introduction of a fall version of the popular dance competition So You Think You Can Dance. Sure, I watch, but summer and fall editions seem like overkill to me. Hope the double dose so close together doesn’t ruin fans’ enjoyment of the show.

Preview clips and descriptions for Fox’s new scripted series will follow in separate posts since the network has recently released tons of videos.

FALL 2009

Monday

• 8pm: House
• 9pm: Lie to Me

Tuesday

• 8pm: So You Think You Can Dance – Performance Show [2 hours]

Wednesday

• 8pm: So You Think You Can Dance – Results Show
• 9pm: Glee [NEW COMEDY]

Thursday

• 8pm: Bones
• 9pm: Fringe

Friday

• 8pm: Brothers [NEW COMEDY]
• 8pm: ‘Til Death
• 9pm: Dollhouse

Saturday

• 8pm: Cops
• 8:30pm: Cops
• 9pm: America’s Most Wanted
• 11pm-12am: The Wanda Sykes Show [NEW TALK SHOW]
• 12-12:30am: Animation Domination Encores

Sunday

• 7pm: The OT (NFL Post-Game)
• 8pm: The Simpsons
• 8:30pm: The Cleveland Show [NEW COMEDY]
• 9pm: Family Guy
• 9:30pm: American Dad

MIDSEASON 2010

Monday

• 8pm: House
• 9pm: 24

Tuesday

• 8pm: American Idol – Performance Show
• 9pm: Past Life [NEW DRAMA]

Wednesday

• 8pm: American Idol – Results Show
• 9pm: Human Target (January) [NEW DRAMA]
• 9pm: Glee (Spring)

Thursday

• 8pm: Bones
• 9pm: Fringe

Friday

• 8pm: Brothers
• 8pm: ‘Til Death
• 9pm: Dollhouse

Saturday

• 8pm: Cops
• 8:30pm: Cops
• 9pm: America’s Most Wanted
• 11pm-12am: The Wanda Sykes Show
• 12-12:30am: Animation Domination Encores

Sunday

• 7pm: Animation Domination Encores
• 7pm: American Dad
• 8pm: The Simpsons
• 8:30pm: Sons of Tucson [NEW COMEDY]
• 9pm: Family Guy
• 9:30pm: The Cleveland Show