Well, Fringe, it was nice knowing you.Fox has today announced that it is moving Fringe to Fridays at 9 pm (sound familiar, Dollhouse fans?) amid a series of scheduling moves that include reality juggernaut American Idol moving to Wednesdays and Thursdays this January.
Fringe will make the move beginning January 28th and it's already potentially a sign that the writing is on the wall for the sci-fi drama, now in its third season. Traditionally the death slot for television series, Friday nights often signal that a series is on its way out the door. Whether this proves to be the case for Fringe remains to be seen, but it's not a promising move, even if the series has been underperforming on Thursdays. (Sigh.)
The full press release from Fox can be found below.
“AMERICAN IDOL” MOVES TO WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS
WITH TWO-NIGHT SEASON PREMIERE
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 19 AND THURSDAY, JAN. 20
FOX TUESDAYS CONTINUE TO SING WITH DEBUT
OF NEW ENSEMBLE COMEDY “MIXED SIGNALS”
FOLLOWING ALL-NEW EPISODES OF “GLEE” AND “RAISING HOPE”
TUESDAY, FEB. 8
NEW ANIMATED SERIES “BOB’S BURGERS” OPENS SUNDAY, JAN. 9
NEW POLICE DRAMA “THE CHICAGO CODE” BOOKS PREMIERE
MONDAY, FEB. 7
NEW COMEDY “BREAKING IN” SECURES DEBUT WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6
MILLION DOLLAR MONEY DROP Returns Tuesday, Jan. 4;
BONES Moves to 9:00 PM Starting Thursday, Jan. 20;
Gordon Ramsay’s KITCHEN NIGHTMARES Turns up the Heat Friday, Jan. 21;
FRINGE Travels to Fridays Beginning Jan. 28
FOX is announcing premiere dates of new and returning series, as well as revisions to its 2010-2011 midseason schedule, including AMERICAN IDOL moving to Wednesdays and Thursdays and GLEE continuing to lead off FOX’s Tuesday night of comedies featuring RAISING HOPE and the debut of MIXED SIGNALS.
Television’s No. 1 series, AMERICAN IDOL, moves to Wednesdays and Thursdays beginning with a two-night premiere event Wednesday, Jan. 19 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Thursday, Jan. 20 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). AMERICAN IDOL welcomes new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, who join judge Randy Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest, and an all-new crop of hopefuls from auditions held in Austin, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, San Francisco and East Rutherford, NJ.
BOB’S BURGERS, the new animated comedy about a man, his family and their burger joint, opens Sunday, Jan. 9 (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT). In the newest addition to the Sunday “Animation Domination” lineup, BOB (H. Jon Benjamin, “Archer”) and his quirky family have big ideas about burgers, but fall short on service and sophistication. Despite the greasy counters, lousy location and a dearth of customers, Bob and his family are determined to make Bob’s “grand re-re-re-opening” a success.
As previously announced, THE CHICAGO CODE (formerly titled “Ride-Along”), the new police drama from creator Shawn Ryan (“The Shield”), will make its anticipated debut the night after SUPER BOWL XLV, Monday, Feb. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), following all-new episodes of HOUSE (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The new fast-paced series starring Jason Clarke (“Public Enemies,” “Brotherhood”), Jennifer Beals (LIE TO ME, “The L Word”), Delroy Lindo (“Kidnapped”) and Matt Lauria (“Friday Night Lights”) follows the Windy City’s most powerful and respected cops as they navigate the city’s underbelly to fight crime and expose corruption.
MIXED SIGNALS, the new relationship comedy created by Bob Fisher (“Wedding Crashers”) that reveals how friendships and romances both enhance and complicate the lives of the men and women in them, will have its series premiere Tuesday, Feb. 8 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) following all-new episodes of GLEE (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) and RAISING HOPE (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT). The new ensemble comedy stars David Denman (“The Office”), Nelson Franklin (“I Love You, Man”), Kris Marshall (HUMAN TARGET), Liza Lapira (“Dexter”) and Aya Cash (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”).
Additionally, FOX has picked up BREAKING IN (working title), an offbeat half-hour workplace comedy about a high-tech security firm that takes extreme – and often questionable – measures to sell their protection services. Created by Adam F. Goldberg (“Fanboys”) and Seth Gordon (“Four Christmases” and the upcoming “Horrible Bosses”), the series centers on a team of uniquely skilled oddball geniuses hand-picked to work for a manipulative mastermind. Starring Christian Slater (“The Forgotten”), Bret Harrison (“Reaper”) and Odette Yustman (“You Again”), the new comedy premieres Wednesday, April 6 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) following 90-minute AMERICAN IDOL episodes (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT).
KITCHEN NIGHTMARES serves up a new season Friday, Jan. 21 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). Each week, Chef Gordon Ramsay will try to help turn around some of the country’s most unsanitary and unsuccessful restaurants on the verge of closing their doors forever.
FOX midseason sees other changes as well. LIE TO ME reveals a special two-hour episode Monday, Jan. 10 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) with Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth) continuing his search for the truth in its regular time period Mondays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) until Jan. 31.
GLEE continues with encores until all-new episodes begin in February with a special installment airing immediately following SUPER BOWL XLV Sunday, Feb. 6 (approximately 10:30-11:30 PM ET/7:30-8:30 PM PT). Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 8 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) GLEE leads a night of all-new episodes of FOX comedies, including RAISING HOPE (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and MIXED SIGNALS (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT).
MILLION DOLLAR MONEY DROP will challenge more duos to keep their $1 million with all-new episodes airing for four weeks on Tuesdays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) starting Jan. 4, plus two bonus Thursday (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) episodes on Jan. 6 and 13.
After a run of six all-new episodes in a row this fall, HUMAN TARGET springs into action with special two-hour episodes airing Wednesday, Jan. 5 and 12 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). The action-packed drama charges into its time period premiere Wednesday, Jan. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) following AMERICAN IDOL (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) for three weeks.
The thrill continues when BONES moves to a new time period Thursdays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) after AMERICAN IDOL (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) starting Jan. 20. Fan-favorite FRINGE will travel to a new night and time with all-new episodes beginning Friday, Jan. 28 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).
THE CLEVELAND SHOW makes its time period premiere Sunday, Jan. 9 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT), with AMERICAN DAD moving to a new time a week later Sunday, Jan. 16 (7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT).
FOX 2010-2011 MIDSEASON SCHEDULE
(All times ET/PT except as noted)
MONDAY
Monday, Jan. 10:
8:00-10:00 PM LIE TO ME (Two-Hour Episode)
Mondays, beginning Jan. 17:
8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE (All-New Episodes)
9:00-10:00 PM LIE TO ME (All-New Episodes)
Mondays, beginning Feb. 7
8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE (All-New Episodes)
9:00-10:00 PM THE CHICAGO CODE (Series Premiere)
****************************
TUESDAY
Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 4:
8:00-9:00 PM GLEE (Encore Episodes)
9:00-10:00 PM MILLION DOLLAR MONEY DROP (All-New Episodes)
Tuesdays, beginning Feb. 8:
8:00-9:00 PM GLEE (All-New Episodes)
9:00-9:30 PM RAISING HOPE (All-New Episodes)
9:30-10:00 PM MIXED SIGNALS (Series Premiere)
***************************
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday, Jan. 5 and 12:
8:00-10:00 PM HUMAN TARGET (All-New, Two-Hour Episodes)
Wednesday, Jan. 19:
8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Two-Hour Season Premiere, Part One)
Wednesdays, beginning Jan. 26:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL
9:00-10:00 PM HUMAN TARGET (All-New Episodes)
Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 16:
8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Two-Hour Episodes)
Wednesdays, beginning April 6:
8:00-9:30 PM AMERICAN IDOL (90-Minute Episodes)
9:30-10:00 PM BREAKING IN (Series Premiere)
***************************
THURSDAY
Thursdays, beginning Jan. 6:
8:00-9:00 PM MILLION DOLLAR MONEY DROP (All-New Episodes)
9:00-10:00 PM BONES (Encore Episodes)
Thursdays, beginning Jan. 20:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part Two)
9:00-10:00 PM BONES (Time Period Premiere)
***************************
FRIDAY
Friday, Jan. 7:
8:00 PM-CC ET AT&T COTTON BOWL (Live)
Friday, Jan. 21:
8:00-9:00 PM KITCHEN NIGHTMARES (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM KITCHEN NIGHTMARES (Encore)
Fridays, beginning Jan. 28:
8:00-9:00 PM KITCHEN NIGHTMARES (All-New Episodes)
9:00-10:00 PM FRINGE (Time Period Premiere)
**************************
SATURDAY
Saturday, Jan. 15:
8:00 PM-CC ET NFC DIVISION PLAYOFFS (Live)
Saturdays, beginning Jan. 22 (no change to lineup):
8:00-8:30 PM COPS (All-New Episodes)
8:30-9:00 PM COPS (Encore Episodes)
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S MOST WANTED (All-New Episodes)
**************************
SUNDAY
Sunday, Jan. 9:
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS (All-New Episode)
8:30-9:00 PM BOB’S BURGERS (Series Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY (All-New Episode)
9:30-10:00 PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW (Time Period Premiere/All-New Episode)
Sunday, Jan. 16 and 23:
7:00-7:30 PM THE SIMPSONS (Encore Episodes)
7:30-8:00 PM AMERICAN DAD (Time Period Premiere)
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS (All-New Episodes)
8:30-9:00 PM BOB’S BURGERS (All-New Episodes)
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY (All-New Episodes)
9:30-10:00 PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW (All-New Episodes)
Sunday, Jan. 30:
7:00 PM-CC ET NFC PRO BOWL (Live)
Sunday, Feb. 6:
6:00 PM-CC ET SUPER BOWL XLV (Live)
10:30 PM ET/7:30 PT GLEE (All-New Special Episode; Approximate Start Time)
Sundays, beginning Feb. 13 (no change to lineup):
7:00-7:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
7:30-8:00 PM AMERICAN DAD
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM BOB’S BURGERS
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW
Comments
Fringe on Fridays - its the death march. final season. will it even get resolution? will the manifesto or the pattern return?