The Futon Critic reports that FOX is changing up its mid-season schedule already. Human Target will still debut on Sunday January 17, and it will have American Idol as its lead-in on Wednesday, January 20. But after that, it will move to 8pm Wednesdays with Idol taking the 9pm slot.
While Human Target would certainly benefit from the American Idol lead-in it faces less competition at 8pm. Some will see this as a sign that FOX is more concerned about getting Human Target out of of far better competition at 9pm Wednesday but it could be FOX might is just more enamored with making life harder for the other networks, who have some pretty big shows at 9pm (Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Minds, Modern Family and Cougar Town). I couldn't fault FOX for thinking the damage done to the other networks by American Idol will be greater than any damage those shows will do to American Idol.
Of course, ABC could always follow up by announcing it is moving Modern Family and Cougar Town to 8pm, but that sort of thing doesn't seem likely for a variety of reasons ranging from the content to having to contend with the Olympics for a couple of weeks in February anyway.
Update: Fox is also fiddling a bit with its plans for Sons of Tucson and The Cleveland Show.
If this move does hurt MF and CT, it’ll be interesting to see what ABC decides to do for next season. MF seems like a lock to return no matter what, but CT may be more of a question if it collapses against Idol. And then comes the question of where ABC will put them next season if they know they can perform well when not against Idol.
L&O:SVU and Cougar Town were at the very edge of renewal and now they might be in danger..
Next season abc could do that :
8:00 – New Comedy
8:30 – Cougar Town
9:00 – Modern Family
9:30 – The Middle
10:00 – new show
If RC gets decent numbers maybe fill a half hour together with CT.
What’s next? Moving House to 9:00pm Thursdays? (After screwing over Chuck on Jan 11th of course). As the days go by, my hatred for Murdoch grows exponentially.
Marcos: despite those shows relative placement and index scores (L&O: SVU below average, Cougar Town right at average)I don’t believe either show was really particularly close to the edge.
After this though, who knows!?
Gotta hand it to FOX for making it fun though. Why beat Old Christine, Gary Unmarried and Mercy to a pulp when you can go after shows that are more important to the other networks instead?
I think SVU will continue, even if it is hurt by Idol. Whether it’s NBC or USA – it will continue. The show means too much to USA in reruns to let it go now.
As for Criminal Minds – I’m sure it will be fine. The crime-dramas on CBS seem to always hold-up well against Idol (NCIS for example).
Ooh you know what would be fun? If CBS announced a special 2 hr episode of NCIS up against thr 2 hr Idol premiere. Sure, Idol would demolish it in the demos but imagine if NCIS were to win in viewers!
johnthemon, do you REALLY think Rupert Murdoch is spending his days moving TV shows around to bug you? There are far better and more accurate reasons to hate him. He is not personally running the FOX Network, and I have to wonder if he was even consulted about this.
I think this is more about Human Target than AI – recall that last year, Lie to Me’s unimpressive numbers (for post-AI, anyway) quickly lead to the two shows swapping (and Lie to Me continuing to fall).
Which means that HT is questionable for renewal already.
@victorhugo, no chance of seeing CT at 8:30. Content is too sexual. MF might take the 8 PM slot next season though and you could have this schedule:
8:00 Modern Family
8:30 The Middle
9:00 Cougar Town
9:30 Romantically Challenged or New Comedy
Part of this may be FOX feeling they’ve got a strong starter in Human Target, and that they’ll get a better idea of its appeal by starting it with no lead-in. I’m dubious about the show, but I can’t deny that the promos have made it look pretty exciting, and I think the pilot will be pretty well-sampled.
@Trent
You`re right.
ABC must be screaming right now how much they hate FOX. First only The Middle was competing with Idol but now their 2 top comedies are. Screw u FOX. Ur network and shows suck!!!!!!
i think CBS will be least affected by this move from FOX.
@Trent, you have an inflated view of CT if you think it can lead off an hour – and that’s before AI breaks out its claws (pardon the pun).
Seems to me that this is aimed at ABC to try to take the steam out of their comedy Wednesday line-up. The previews I saw of Human Target did not look that strong and I believe that Fox doesn’t have great expectations for the show but they are willing to try it at 8pm against weaker competition. Plus no other network is airing anything like it at that time. If Human Target were to air at 9pm it would get crushed by the other networks. Also the wed Idol show tend to tail off with viewers since its a result show. So the Idol bump for Target could be lost.
Maybe this is more about screwing with NBC and less about trying to damage ABC. They have already gone after Chuck and Heroes, why not try to topple NBC’s biggest drama SVU? It looks like FOX is really trying to kick NBC while they are down at this point.
Anything that helps to lower CBS’ ratings is greatly appreciated by me. I hope Criminal Minds is crushed.
Meanwhile the folks over at Mercy are wondering how many more lucky breaks they can get despite their low ratings. First they get moved up to the fall because of Maura Tierney’s illness, then they get a full season renewal despite miserable ratings now they get AI moving away from them, what next an order for season two by March?
This is going to affect ABC the most, NBC will still get the same crappy ratings and CBS will remain unchanged. ABC and FOX have basically the same audience, young men and young women. CBS skews old.
I guess the only thing ABC can hope for is that Idol takes a huge hit without Paula Abdul.