TUESDAY
SHILO: I’d move Glee to Tuesdays at 8:00, with Delirium taking the spot at midseason. While I understand the argument for not moving Glee away from Thursdays, it gets hammered too much by Grey’s Anatomy and Person of Interest to leave there, particularly since it’s been renewed for the next two seasons. Although returning to Tuesdays is not a perfect solution to securing the show’s viability, Glee’s main strength these days is its 18-34 numbers, which the network’s two comedies also excel in. It could (and likely will) be blunted by The Voice, but that would be acceptable if it provides a decent enough lead-in for New Girl and The Mindy Project. I don’t think FOX would try another female-centric comedy bloc after watching the night implode this season and although Hell’s Kitchen has done well for them, it’s better served as being a midseason replacement if/when one of part of their lineup fails.
New Girl may have taken a hit this season in the ratings, but it’s still the night’s anchor and the best option they have for Tuesdays at 9:00. The show still does well in 18-34 and in L+7 and has garnered quite a bit of buzz for its treatment of the Nick/Jess romance this season, so with a stronger lead-in to launch with in 2013-2014, it might regain some of what it’s lost in live ratings. After that, The Mindy Project has been a creative disappointment this season for FOX, not stirring up the critical love that seems inevitable for Mindy Kaling’s first post-Office sitcom. However, it has been hitting its stride recently and holds just enough of the New Girl audience that I would keep it at 9:30 for another season. This hasn’t been the commercial breakout that FOX wanted, but it’s a decent enough performer with a leading lady they want to stay in business with. Plus, given New Girl’s loss of commercial strength in recent months, there’s no guarantee that launching something new after it would result in better ratings than what Mindy’s been putting up. Therefore, FOX should (and likely will) still with the known quantity and rebuild elsewhere.
CRAIG: I love your suggestion of moving Glee back to Tuesdays and wish I had thought of that myself, though I think I’ll still stick to what FOX is currently doing. I feel their comedy night is still decently strong, with the only hole being at 8:30. So, the only major thing I’d change is that I’d put Mindy Project on an hour earlier, to follow Raising Hope at 8. 9PM could stay with New Girl, and 9:30 could go to the Gavin & Stacey remake, Friends & Family. Audiences are used to seeing a Gilmore girl and Jason Ritter on Tuesday nights, and maybe this one won’t make people cry as much as that other one would.
WEDNESDAY
On a similar losing/keeping note, I also hope Idol keeps Nicki Minaj. I know she is controversial but she is honest, and kind of random, which makes her criticism fun.
SHILO: Part of the difficulty in fantasy scheduling a network like FOX is that so much of their schedule is eaten up by reality-competitions. There are things they could do to lessen the impact that weakening X Factor ratings could have on their bottomline (cutting the results show, reducing Wednesdays to an hour, shifting it to a Thursday/Friday airing pattern), but I don’t see them doing anything about it just yet. My feeling is they keep it on the same schedule they’ve had it, only with a reduced budget (i.e. no more expensive superstar judges, scaled down live productions) and a shorter leash. The X Factor fell in season two from its already modest season one numbers and if it were to take another stumble, it might be best for FOX to cut bait, use the nights to focus on scripted programming, and offer Simon Cowell a dump truck of hundred dollar bills to return to American Idol.
CRAIG: If The X Factor continues to fizzle, and American Idol keeps going downhill ratings wise, that really would be worth trying. Heck, I would even love to see a “last hurrah” season of Simon, Paula, and Randy, though I have a feeling egos won’t allow that to happen. It still disappoints me that Paula of all people was dropped after The X Factor Season 1, considering it was her reunion that made the show worth tuning in for in Season 1. Definitely loads better than Britney’s empty critiques.
THURSDAY
CRAIG: Another area that I wouldn’t change. X Factor/Idol Results at 8, Glee at 9.
SHILO: As mentioned above, I don’t see FOX messing with the X Factor schedule this season or moving it to another night, so expect them to keep the one-hour results show at 8:00. It’s not the best option in the world and doesn’t give them much of a launching pad for new programming, but unless they’ve developed something they think can self-start, it’s about all they can do right now. Despite the show’s troubles, The X Factor results show might still end up being second on the night, given NBC being in rebuilding mode, ABC being uncertain (and unlucky in this slot), and The CW being The CW.
At 9PM, FOX needs new dramas. Period, full-stop. Bones likely one has 1-2 more seasons in it, Glee has no buzz and fractional ratings from its peak, and the second season of The Following is an uncertainty in terms of success. Therefore, I think that they should use the Thursdays at 9:00 slot to premiere Sleepy Hollow, a drama with name brand recognition from producers familiar to the FOX audience and with a procedural bent. If CBS moves Person of Interest, Sleepy Hollow would be unlike anything else on in the slot and with a splashy, Following-esque marketing campaign, could get a foothold on the night that Glee couldn’t.
And next: Our thoughts on Friday… and a run-down of our schedules, as well as midseason ideas.