FOX’s 2014-2015 Schedule: Thoughts & Predictions

WEDNESDAY

CRAIG: Hart Hanson’s Backstrom is a new entry that has a good mix of drama and humor that makes his other show, Bones, work well. It’d probably be a better 9PM show but there aren’t a whole lot of 9PM slots available. Either way, Hanson’s pedigree + the familiarity of Rainn Wilson might make that a winner to lead the night. Following that, the very well reviewed Red Band Society starring Octavia Spencer might be a good alternative to the procedurals on the other networks.

SHILO: With American Idol suffering some pretty eye-opening drops as of late and the cancellation hammer finally dropping on The X Factor, FOX will have some decisions to make when it comes to what their Wednesday lineup looks like. Though they could opt to unload some scripted programming here, it might be better if they use Utopia, a recently ordered reality series about a group of people charged with creating the perfect society. It keeps the slot warm for Idol in the winter and allows FOX to focus its energy and scripted content on other nights; plus, its concept seems big enough to break out on its own and face down Survivor and the night’s weakened scripted ranks.

THURSDAY

CRAIG: What’s FOX’s most resilient show, that seems to work no matter where they throw it? That would be Bones, and that could be a good thing to anchor the night in the months before American Idol inevitably returns. My dream schedule for a FOX Thursday also would include the very high profile Gotham on Thursday night at 9. It might have been and might still be a shoe-in for Mondays, but I really think it’d be a great and powerful piece for FOX to rebuild their Thursday. Also, much of Thursday night television skews female, and this could be a good alternative.

SHILO: One of the major moves FOX could make next year is cutting the American Idol results show and keeping the venerable competition series to two weekly hours in the same way ABC did with Dancing with the Stars. While the results show might be cheap to produce and profitable for the network, it’s taking up space that could be used for other endeavors; in its place, I would use the final season of Bones to help launch what could be the next big character procedural for FOX – Backstrom. With Bones and Glee likely ending next season and Sleepy Hollow not a guaranteed success, FOX needs dramas more than they need filler programming taking up scheduling real estate, so while they have Bones and while it’s strong enough to do so, they need to use it to replenish their drama slate.

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