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FOX Reconfigures Midseason Slate Amid Extended Strike

Well, that's one less unscripted series to worry about clogging up air time this spring.

FOX has pulled reality series When Women Rule the World off its schedule, benching the series until this summer, a move which has freed up real estate on its now 24-free Monday night lineup.

According to Variety, the decision to cut When Women Rule the World "could have come down to a sales issue. On the surface, When Women Rule the World -- which follows a group of women who control a group of men -- does not sound like something advertisers would be keen on.

New midseason dramas Canterbury's Law--starring Julianna Margulies as a hard-edged attorney who takes whatever is necessary to win a case (though one to whom Damages' Patty Hewes wouldn't likely give a second thought)--and New Amsterdam, about an immortal detective (no, not Angel... or Moonlight) will now launch on Monday nights.

Both series will launch after Prison Break and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles wrap their shortened runs on Monday evenings, behind repeats of House.

Also on tap: midseason series The Return of Jezebel James, Unhitched, and Thursday night installments of American Idol, along with reality series Moment of Truth.

While I am not particularly keen on any of FOX's midseason entries, I'm at least glad that some of them are scripted series that were held over until now, rather than ghastly strike-replacement programming like When Women Rule the World.

Comments

Anonymous said…
When Women Rule the World sounded truly, truly awful and I'm happy to see it disappearing from the Fox schedule, although I can't say that the scripted programs look much better.
rockauteur said…
I think WHEN WOMEN RULE THE WORLD was moved because they actually have high hopes for the show, and will lead FOX's summer line-up. Since FOX actually wants to promote New Amsterdam and Canturbury's Law now, rather than shoving them on the graveyard Friday night shift, and hopefully see one or both of them become a hit to return in the fall. There hasn't been much talked about any of the network's summer plans, and WHEN WOMEN definitely gives something for Fox to crow about this summer rather than close up shop. THis combined with a possible additional season of Hell's Kitchen - which has already been shot - could give Fox a potent summer... and I've heard they are pretty high on this show.
John T. Folden said…
It's worth noting that New Amsterdam has it's first two episodes premiering behind American Idol on March 4th and 6th, too... they suddenly seem determined to make a hit out of it.

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