I give FOX huge credit for three things. First, they didn’t go and make Empire a three or four night a week show and renew it for a huge block of episodes. Two, they are finally putting American Idol out of its misery. Three, they are giving The X-Files limited series return tons of love in one of the best ways possible. I just might stop being mad at this network.


FOX started the whole first half/second half season thing because of American Idol. That hasn’t always worked out for FOX, which usually has a stronger second half than first half. This past season, except for Empire, both halves have been equally as bad. Years of bad programming decisions have come back to haunt them, but with that all done now the only direction to go is up.

The fall schedule is pretty smart. It is structured to learn from last season’s errors. On Monday, Sleepy Hollow and Gotham were not compatible. It makes sense to pair a strong show like Gotham with a new top shelf show, and Minority Report has potential. The concept is futuristic yet it isn’t an unknown one to many viewers. It remains to be seen if it can sustain a whole season, but it’s going to get some interest right off the bat.

Tuesday is the riskiest night, featuring all new programming. The two comedies and one comedy-horror (insert your own reaction here) seems like a good fit, and anything is worth a try considering how badly their comedies/reality failed last season.   At least half of Wednesday is a sure thing with the return of Empire, so that’s never a bad thing. As for Thursday, Bones is a much better companion for Sleepy Hollow. Their audiences are similar. The downer, Thursday at 9pm is a tough slot and no show has worked in that slot for FOX. Friday is standard reality fare, and stable Sunday remains the same, which is a damn good thing.

The MOST EXCITING news is not only will the new X-Files six episode limited series be making the Winter schedule, it gets the post NFC championship slot! That’s huge. Chris Carter is still being very secretive about the plot or direction for this limited series, but that can be a good or bad thing. January 24th is already marked on my calendar. Hell, I would have been watching FOX anyway. I never miss the NFL championship games.

Here’s the Fall Schedule:

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          GOTHAM

9:00-10:00 PM                       MINORITY REPORT (new)

TUESDAY

8:00-8:30 PM                        GRANDFATHERED (new)

8:30-9:00 PM                         THE GRINDER (new)

9:00-10:00 PM                       SCREAM QUEENS (new)

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                        ROSEWOOD (new)  

9:00-10:00 PM                       EMPIRE

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                         BONES

9:00-10:00 PM                       SLEEPY HOLLOW

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                        MASTERCHEF JUNIOR

9:00-10:00 PM                       WORLD’S FUNNIEST

SATURDAY

7:00-10:30 PM                       FOX SPORTS SATURDAY: FOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 PM                         NFL ON FOX

7:30-8:00 PM                         THE OT / BOB’S BURGERS

8:00-8:30 PM                         THE SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM                          BROOKLYN NINE-NINE

9:00-9:30 PM                         FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 PM                       THE LAST MAN ON EARTH

MIDSEASON

American Idol (final season)

The X-Files (six episode limited series running during Gotham’s winter hiatus)

Lucifer

The Frankenstein Code

Bordertown (new animated series)

The Guide to Surviving Life

New Girl

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader

Bob’s Burgers

Boom!

Bullseye

Hell’s Kitchen

Home Free

Master Chef

So You Think You Can Dance (Summer)

Grease: Live (three hour event)

Shows I Will Be Watching: Duh, The X-Files!

I also can’t abandon Sleepy Hollow, even though I was very disappointed with the second season. I’m hoping upon hope that the producers have seen the error of their ways and the new showrunner guides it toward its true potential.

I haven’t been a great follower of The Simpsons every week, but I haven’t failed to stay in touch and catch up here in there (especially on FXX now). Still one of my all time favorite shows!

Also, I binge watched Last Man on Earth on Fox.com and like many people, was very disappointed to see how much it sunk as the weeks progressed. They turned it into Three’s Company meets the apocalypse! I will be checking this out with one eye, see if it becomes worthy of another binge watch. But I won’t be glued to it every week.

Shows I Might Take a Peek At: Lucifer. It all depends what fellow critics are saying about it and if I have time. I also wrote off American Idol a couple of seasons ago and maybe I’ll check it out for old times sake? Nah.  Also, I have 21 episodes of Gotham on my DVR. They are all ready for summer binging. If they hook me, I just might be back for season two.

What do you think of the FOX schedule? What will you be watching?

Below is the full press release with all the new show descriptions, courtesy of the FOX Network:

FOX ANNOUNCES NEW PRIMETIME SERIES
FOR 2015-2016 SEASON

ONE NEW COMEDY-HORROR ANTHOLOGY, FOUR NEW COMEDIES,
FOUR NEW DRAMAS AND ONE NEW EVENT SERIES JOIN SCHEDULE

ALL-NEW TUESDAY BEGINS THIS FALL WITH
JOHN STAMOS COMEDY “GRANDFATHERED,”
“THE GRINDER,” STARRING ROB LOWE AND FRED SAVAGE, AND
RYAN MURPHY’S COMEDY-HORROR SERIES “SCREAM QUEENS”

FUTURISTIC CRIME DRAMA “MINORITY REPORT” AND
MIAMI-SET PROCEDURAL “ROSEWOOD,” FEATURING MORRIS CHESTNUT,
TO DEBUT THIS FALL

“THE X-FILES” BEGINS ITS TWO-NIGHT PREMIERE EVENT,
FOLLOWING NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SUNDAY, JANUARY 24

NEW SERIES SET TO PREMIERE IN 2016 INCLUDE
DEVILISH, DC COMICS-INSPIRED “LUCIFER,”
MODERN ACTION DRAMA “THE FRANKENSTEIN CODE,”
YOUNG ENSEMBLE COMEDY “THE GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE”
AND ANIMATED SATIRE “BORDERTOWN”

AMERICAN IDOL Begins Its Final Season Celebration in January;

NEW GIRL Returns in January with Season of Uninterrupted Episodes;

GREASE: LIVE Electrifies Sunday, January 31

New York – Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Chairmen and CEOs, Fox Television Group, today unveiled the FOX primetime slate for the 2015-2016 television season to the national advertising community during its annual Programming Presentation at the Beacon Theatre.

“Building on the phenomenal momentum created by GOTHAM, THE LAST MAN ON EARTH and, of course, EMPIRE, we’re infusing next season’s schedule with new ambitious dramas, smart comedies, aspirational unscripted series and big live events and specials – all from the best creators in the business,” said Walden and Newman. “And our strategy with these bold creative swings is simple: schedule them strategically, market them relentlessly and create events that break through and captivate viewers across every platform.”

Tuesdays are all-new this fall on FOX, with new comedies GRANDFATHERED and THE GRINDER, followed by killer comedy-horror series SCREAM QUEENS.

The new comedies kicking off an all-new Tuesday are GRANDFATHERED and THE GRINDER. A comedy about coming of age – at any age – GRANDFATHERED stars John Stamos (“Full House,” “ER”) as the ultimate bachelor whose life is turned upside down when he discovers he’s not only a father, but a grandfather. THE GRINDER, starring Emmy Award nominee Rob Lowe (“Parks and Recreation,” “The West Wing”) and Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee Fred Savage (“The Wonder Years”), follows a famous TV lawyer (Lowe) who, after his hit series, “The Grinder,” is canceled, moves back home and joins his brother (Savage) at their family’s real-life law firm – despite having no formal education, no bar certification, no license to practice and no experience in an actual courtroom.

Award-winning executive producers Ryan Murphy (GLEE, “American Horror Story”), Brad Falchuk (GLEE, “American Horror Story”) and Ian Brennan (GLEE) meld comedy, mystery and horror in SCREAM QUEENS. All hell is about to break loose for the Kappa House sisters of Wallace University when a murder takes place, exactly 20 years after a mysterious death originally rocked their college campus. The super-charged anthology series is a modern take on the classic whodunit with a killer cast, including Emma Roberts (“American Horror Story: Freak Show,” “Scream 4”), Jamie Lee Curtis (“Halloween,” “A Fish Called Wanda,” “True Lies”), Lea Michele (GLEE), Oliver Hudson (“Nashville,” “Rules of Engagement”), Keke Palmer (“Akeela and the Bee,” “Masters of Sex”) and guest stars Ariana Grande and Nick Jonas (“Kingdom”), among others. With at least one casualty each week until the mystery is solved, anyone could be the next victim – or the murderer.

Two new dramas – the futuristic MINORITY REPORT and the Miami-set ROSEWOOD – debut this fall. Based on Steven Spielberg’s international blockbuster film and the first of his films to be adapted for television, MINORITY REPORT follows the partnership between a man (Stark Sands, “Inside Llewyn Davis”) haunted by the future and a cop (Meagan Good, “Think Like A Man” franchise, “Californication”) haunted by her past, as they race to stop the worst crimes before they happen.

Also joining the schedule this fall is ROSEWOOD. From executive producer Todd Harthan (“Psych,” “Dominion”), ROSEWOOD stars Morris Chestnut (“Nurse Jackie,” “The Best Man” franchise) as DR. BEAUMONT ROSEWOOD, JR., a brilliant private pathologist who uses wildly sophisticated technology and his drive to live life to the fullest to help a tough-as-nails detective (Jaina Lee Ortiz, “The After”) and the Miami PD uncover clues no one else can see.

The next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The thrilling, six-episode event series, helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents FOX MULDER and DANA SCULLY, marks the momentous return of the Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history.

In 2016, additional new series joining the schedule include devilish drama LUCIFER and modern action series THE FRANKENSTEIN CODE; and two comedies, THE GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE and animated BORDERTOWN.

Based on characters from DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint, LUCIFER stars Tom Ellis (“Merlin”) as the charming, charismatic and handsome-as-hell original fallen angel, who, bored and unhappy in Hell, takes refuge in Los Angeles, where he uses his gift of persuasion to punish bad guys. But the longer he’s away from the underworld, the greater the threat that the worst of humanity could escape.

In THE FRANKENSTEIN CODE, from executive producer/writer Rand Ravich (“Life,” “Crisis”) and executive producer Howard Gordon (“Homeland,” “24”), a disgraced, 75-year-old ex-sheriff, whose life ends at the hands of corrupt cops, is brought back to life and given a second chance by a pair of young tech scientists, as a 35-year-old (Rob Kazinsky, “True Blood”) with unpredictable near-superhuman abilities.

NEW GIRL will return to Tuesdays in January, for its first-ever season of virtually uninterrupted originals. These weekly all-new episodes will platform THE GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE, the new young ensemble comedy about a group of friends living together for the first time. Each episode is told from the perspective of COOPER BARRETT (Jack Cutmore-Scott, “Kingsman: The Secret Service”), a wickedly charming and deeply flawed recent college grad whose life is filled with terrible choices, excellent mistakes and fantastic misadventures.

A new animated comedy from FAMILY GUY’s Mark Hentemann and Seth MacFarlane, BORDERTOWN is a satirical look at the cultural shifts taking place in America. Exploring family, politics and everything in between with a cross-cultural wink, the series centers on two very different families living in a fictional Southwest desert town on the U.S. – Mexico border.

AMERICAN IDOL will begin its 15th – and final – season this January on FOX. A season-long celebratory event, AMERICAN IDOL XV will feature host Ryan Seacrest and judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr., as they search for the final IDOL superstar and pay tribute to the past 14 seasons of amazingly talented contestants and the millions of fans who tweeted, texted and championed their IDOLs.

As previously announced, GREASE: LIVE, a three-hour production of the massively popular crossover musical “Grease,” starring superstar singers, dancers and actresses Julianne Hough (“Safe Haven,” “Rock of Ages”) and Vanessa Hudgens (Broadway’s “Gigi,” “Spring Breakers”), will air LIVE Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016 on FOX. With Hough as the angelic “Sandy” – Rydell High’s most talked-about newcomer – and Hudgens as iconic bad girl “Rizzo,” this first-ever live television production of “Grease” will re-imagine the hit musical for an entirely new generation.

Additional FOX series include: ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER?, BOB’S BURGERS, BONES, BOOM!, BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, BULLSEYE, EMPIRE, FAMILY GUY, GOTHAM, HELL’S KITCHEN, HOME FREE, THE LAST MAN ON EARTH, MASTERCHEF, MASTERCHEF JUNIOR, THE SIMPSONS, SLEEPY HOLLOW, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE and WORLD’S FUNNIEST.

Additional schedule information to be announced.

FOX 2015-2016 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

NEW SERIES SYNOPSES

The following new anthology series will debut this fall on FOX:

SCREAM QUEENS

The girls of Kappa House are dying for new pledges. SCREAM QUEENS is a new killer comedy-horror series from Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, the Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning executive producers of GLEE and “American Horror Story.” Wallace University is rocked by a string of murders. Kappa House, the most sought-after sorority for pledges, is ruled with an iron fist (in a pink glove) by its Queen Bitch, CHANEL OBERLIN (Emma Roberts, “American Horror Story: Freak Show,” “Scream 4”). But when anti-Kappa DEAN MUNSCH (Jamie Lee Curtis, “Halloween,” “A Fish Called Wanda,” “True Lies”) decrees that sorority pledging must be open to all students, and not just the school’s silver-spooned elite, all hell is about to break loose, as a devil-clad killer begins wreaking havoc, claiming one victim, one episode at a time. Part black comedy, part slasher flick, SCREAM QUEENS is a modern take on the classic whodunit, in which every character has a motive for murder…or could easily be the next blood-soaked casualty. SCREAM QUEENS stars Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee Curtis, Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee Lea Michele (GLEE), Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine,” “Zombieland,” “August: Osage County”), Nasim Pedrad (“Saturday Night Live”), Oliver Hudson (“Nashville,” “Rules of Engagement”), Skyler Samuels (“American Horror Story: Coven”), Keke Palmer (“Akeela and the Bee,” “Masters of Sex”), newcomer Billie Lourd, Diego Bonita (“Rock of Ages”), Glen Powell (“The Expendables 3”), Lucien Laviscount (“Episodes”), Niecy Nash (“Getting On,” “The Soul Man”), pop superstar and actor Nick Jonas (“Kingdom”) and Grammy Award nominee and actress Ariana Grande.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Ryan Murphy Television, Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision

CO-CREATORS/WRITERS/EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan

DIRECTORS: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan

CAST: Emma Roberts as Chanel Oberlin, Jamie Lee Curtis as Dean Munsch, Lea Michele as Hester, Abigail Breslin as Chanel #5, Nasim Pedrad as Gigi, Oliver Hudson as Wes, Skyler Samuels as Grace, Keke Palmer as Zayday, Billie Lourd as Chanel #3, Diego Boneta as Pete, Glen Powell as Chad, Lucien Laviscount as Earl, Niecy Nash as Denise, Nick Jonas as Boone, Ariana Grande as Chanel #2

The following new comedies will premiere this fall on FOX:

GRANDFATHERED

What’s the fastest way to put the brakes on a cruise-controlled bachelor lifestyle? Fatherhood? Guess again. Television icon John Stamos (“Full House,” “ER”) stars in a new comedy about the ultimate bachelor who discovers he’s not only a father, but a grandfather. Successful restaurateur and man-about-town JIMMY MARTINO (Stamos) is used to being the most suave, most handsome and most single person in the room. All that changes with the surprise appearance of Jimmy’s adult son, GERALD (Josh Peck, THE MINDY PROJECT), and his baby daughter, EDIE. Now Jimmy has to unlearn a lifetime of blissful selfishness and grapple with the fact that he went straight from single to grandfather in six seconds flat. Keeping tabs on Jimmy is Gerald’s mother and Jimmy’s former girlfriend, rocker chick-turned-mother SARA (Paget Brewster, “Criminal Minds,” “Community”). Equally concerned about how Jimmy will manage these new developments is Jimmy’s restaurant family, especially assistant manager ANNELISE (Kelly Jenrette, “Audrey”) and chef KEN (Ravi Patel, “Super Fun Night”). Can Jimmy teach Gerald to be a little more like him in order to win the affection of Edie’s hot mess of a mom, VANESSA (Christina Milian, FAMILY GUY, “Baggage Claim”)? Will Jimmy and Sara fall for each other all over again, even though she’s the one thing he never dates – a woman his own age? And who’s higher maintenance, Jimmy or the baby? GRANDFATHERED is an unconventional, sophisticated comedy about coming of age – at any age.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: ABC Studios, 20th Century Fox Television

WRITER: Daniel Chun

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Daniel Chun, Dan Fogelman, John Stamos

DIRECTOR: Chris Koch

CAST: John Stamos as Jimmy, Josh Peck as Gerald, Paget Brewster as Sara, Christina Milian as Vanessa, Kelly Jenrette as Annelise, Ravi Patel as Ken

THE GRINDER

How many TV lawyers does it take to try a real-life case in a real-life courtroom? One, and his name is THE GRINDER. Starring Emmy Award nominee Rob Lowe (“Parks and Recreation,” “The West Wing”), THE GRINDER is a new comedy about a famous TV lawyer at a crossroads. When his legal series ends, he decides to move back home and join his family’s real law firm – despite having no formal education, no bar certification, no license to practice and no experience in an actual courtroom. DEAN SANDERSON (Lowe) spent eight seasons playing the title role on the hit legal drama “The Grinder.” Now he’s moving back to his hometown of Boise, Idaho, where his brother, STEWART (Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee Fred Savage, “The Wonder Years”), is a real-life attorney who is poised to take over the family law firm. It doesn’t take long for Dean to start injecting his TV drama into every aspect of Stewart’s life, both in the courtroom and at home, impacting Stewart’s wife – and Dean’s high school sweetheart – DEBBIE (Mary Elizabeth Ellis, NEW GIRL, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”); their two kids, 15-year-old LIZZIE (Hana Hayes, “Bucket and Skinner’s Epic Adventures”) and 13-year-old ETHAN (Connor Kalopsis, “Days Of Our Lives”); and Dean and Stewart’s father, the law firm’s head, DEAN SR. (William Devane, “24: Live Another Day”). Dean and Stewart don’t see to eye to eye, but when they stop arguing with each other and start arguing together in court…they make a formidable team. THE GRINDER is the story of two brothers, who took different paths, but meet again in the middle – for justice…sort of.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television

WRITERS: Andrew Mogel, Jarrad Paul

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Andrew Mogel, Jarrad Paul, Nicholas Stoller, Jake Kasdan, Rob Lowe

DIRECTOR: Jake Kasdan

CAST: Rob Lowe as Dean, Fred Savage as Stewart, Mary Elizabeth Ellis as Debbie, William Devane as Dean Sr., Hana Hayes as Lizzie, Connor Kalopsis as Ethan

The following new dramas will debut this fall on FOX:

MINORITY REPORT

The future is coming. Based on the international blockbuster film by executive producer Steven Spielberg and the first of his films to be adapted for television, MINORITY REPORT follows the unlikely partnership between a man haunted by the future and a cop haunted by her past, as they race to stop the worst crimes of the year 2065 before they happen. Set in Washington, D.C., it is 10 years after the demise of Precrime, a law enforcement agency tasked with identifying and eliminating criminals…before their crimes were committed. To carry out this brand of justice, the agency used three precogs – “precognitives” Dash, Arthur and Agatha – who were able to see the future. Now, in 2065, crime-solving is different, and justice leans more on sophisticated and trusted technology than on the instincts of the precogs. Precog DASH (Stark Sands, “Inside Llewyn Davis”) – driven by his terrifying, but fragmented visions – now has returned in secret to help a brash, but shrewd police detective, LARA VEGA (Meagan Good, “Think Like A Man” franchise, “Californication”), attempt to stop the murders that he predicts. As they navigate this future America, they will search for Dash’s missing twin brother, ARTHUR, and elude others who will stop at nothing to exploit their precog abilities. Also complicating matters is Dash and Arthur’s ingenious, but reclusive, foster sister, AGATHA (Laura Regan, “Mad Men,” “Unbreakable”), who just wants Dash to return home. A drama of crime and conspiracy, this is a timeless story of connection: two lost souls, Dash and Vega, who find friendship, purpose and redemption in each other.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Paramount Television, Amblin Television

WRITTEN/DEVELOPED BY: Max Borenstein

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Max Borenstein, Kevin Falls, Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Mark Mylod

DIRECTOR: Mark Mylod

CAST: Meagan Good as Vega, Stark Sands as Dash/Arthur, Wilmer Valderrama as Will Blake, Daniel London as Wally, Laura Regan as Agatha, Li Jun Li as Akeela, Zhane Hall as Rico

ROSEWOOD

Meet the Beethoven of private pathologists…From executive producer Todd Harthan (“Psych,” “Dominion”), ROSEWOOD is the story of DR. BEAUMONT ROSEWOOD, JR. (Morris Chestnut, “Nurse Jackie,” “The Best Man” franchise), the most brilliant private pathologist in Miami. Using his wildly sophisticated autopsy lab, he performs for-hire autopsies to uncover clues that the Miami PD can’t see. His new partner-in-crime is Detective VILLA (Jaina Lee Ortiz, “The After”), a Miami PD detective with attitude and demons to spare. While she’s impressed by Rosewood’s incredible abilities, his constant optimism is more annoying than it is infectious. But somehow, week-to-week, this unlikely tag team will solve many crimes together. Joining Rosewood in his practice are his sister and “toxicology queen,” PIPPY (Gabrielle Dennis, “The Game”); and DNA specialist TARA MILLY IZIKOFF aka TMI (Anna Konkle, “Man Seeking Woman,” “Betas”), who is Pippy’s fiancée. Plagued with his own set of medical ailments, Rosewood sees that every moment of life should be embraced and lived to the fullest. And those moments of victims’ lives that will never be are what drive him the most.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Temple Hill

WRITER: Todd Harthan

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Todd Harthan, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Richard Shepard

DIRECTOR: Richard Shepard

CAST: Morris Chestnut as Beaumont Rosewood, Jr., Jaina Lee Ortiz as Det. Villa, Gabrielle Dennis as Pippy, Anna Konkle as TMI, Maggie Elizabeth Jones as Bella

The following new event series will debut in January 2016 on FOX:

THE X-FILES

Thirteen years after the original series run, the next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES will be a thrilling, six-episode event series helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter, with stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson re-inhabiting their roles as iconic FBI Agents FOX MULDER and DANA SCULLY. This marks the momentous return of the Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history. Production on THE X-FILES event series is set to begin in summer 2015. THE X-FILES originally premiered in September 1993. Over the course of its nine-season run, the influential series went from breakout sci-fi favorite to massive global hit, and became one of the most successful television dramas of all time. The show, which earned 16 Emmy Awards, five Golden Globes and a Peabody Award, follows FBI special agents Scully (Anderson) and Mulder (Duchovny), as they investigate unexplained cases – “X-Files” – for which the only answers involve paranormal phenomena.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Ten Thirteen Productions

CREATOR: Chris Carter

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Chris Carter, Glen Morgan

CAST: David Duchovny as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder, Gillian Anderson as FBI Special Agent Dana Scully, Mitch Pileggi as Walter Skinner

The following new comedies will debut in midseason on FOX:

THE GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE

Wouldn’t it be great to have a friend who has made all the mistakes in life there are to make, and then tells you exactly where he went wrong, so you don’t have to? THE GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE is a new comedy that explores what we all go through on our way to figuring out what life is all about. COOPER BARRETT (Jack Cutmore-Scott, “Kingsman: The Secret Service”) still doesn’t have the job he wants; he’s accidently fallen in love with his across-the-hall neighbor, KELLY BISHOP (Meaghan Rath, “Being Human”); one of his roommates, NEAL (Charlie Saxton, “Betas,” “Hung”), just can’t seem to dump his bodybuilder girlfriend; his other roommate, BARRY (James Earl, “Ground Floor,” GLEE), is a “loveable jackass” who can’t stop getting into trouble; and his 40-year-old-brother, JOSH (Justin Bartha, “The New Normal,” “The Hangover” franchise), a married father of two, is constantly popping in to come hang with the fellas. The one thing they do have is each other. As Cooper struggles to survive each of life’s many challenges – a night in jail, an inappropriate text he never should have sent, an ill-advised household pet – he will guide us through the often-messy, always-hilarious ordeal, so that our lives don’t have to be nearly the entertaining disaster that Cooper’s is turning out to be.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, The Jackal Group

WRITER: Jay Lacopo

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jay Lacopo, Gail Berman, Bill Callahan, James Griffiths

DIRECTOR: James Griffiths

CAST: Jack Cutmore-Scott as Cooper, Meaghan Rath as Kelly, James Earl as Barry, Charlie Saxton as Neal, Justin Bartha as Josh, Maureen Sebastian as Leslie

BORDERTOWN

From FAMILY GUY’s Mark Hentemann comes BORDERTOWN, a new animated comedy about two families living in a Southwest desert town on the U.S. – Mexico border. The series takes a satirical look at the cultural shifts occurring in America, where the U.S. Census forecasts that by 2017, ethnic minorities will become the majority. Set against this increasingly diverse backdrop, the comedy explores family, politics and everything in between with a cross-cultural wink. BORDERTOWN centers on two clans: the Buckwalds and the Gonzalezes. BUD BUCKWALD (Hank Azaria, THE SIMPSONS) is a married father of three and a Border Patrol agent who is just a tad behind the times and feels slightly threatened by the cultural changes transforming his neighborhood. He lives next door to ERNESTO GONZALEZ (Nicholas Gonzalez, SLEEPY HOLLOW), an ambitious family man, who has been in the country less than 10 years, but is already doing better than Bud – which, it turns out, is a bit of an issue for Bud. Bud is married to JANICE BUCKWALD (Alex Borstein, FAMILY GUY), both the wisest and most oblivious member of the family. The Buckwald kids include BECKY (Borstein), a socially awkward, big-boned geek; SANFORD (Judah Friedlander, “30 Rock”), a loser who thinks he’s a player; and GERT (Missi Pyle, “The Exes,” “Galaxy Quest”), a beauty pageant-obsessed five-year-old with a pet pig. Meanwhile, living the American Dream next door are the Gonzalezes, including MARIA (Stephanie Escajeda, “100 Things To Do Before High School”), Ernesto’s no-nonsense wife; their son, RUIZ (guest voice Efren Ramirez, “Napoleon Dynamite”); and their 21-year-old nephew, J.C. (Gonzalez), a graduate student who is engaged to Becky and frequently butts heads with Bud. As Bud and Ernesto’s paths begin to cross, their two families soon become bound by romance, conflict and, perhaps most importantly, friendship – a word that means the same, no matter what side of the border you’re from.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television

CREATOR/WRITER: Mark Hentemann

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Seth MacFarlane, Mark Hentemann

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Alex Carter, Dan Vebber

CONSULTING PRODUCERS: Lalo Alcaraz, Gustavo Arellano

SUPERVISING PRODUCER: Valentina L. Garza

CAST: Hank Azaria as Bud Buckwald, Nicholas Gonzalez as Ernesto Gonzalez and J.C Gonzalez, Alex Borstein as Janice and Becky Buckwald, Missi Pyle as Gert Buckwald, Judah Friedlander as Sanford Buckwald, Stephanie Escajeda as Maria Gonzalez, Efren Ramirez as Ruiz Gonzalez

The following new drama series will debut in midseason 2016 on FOX:

THE FRANKENSTEIN CODE

What would you do with a second chance? From executive producer/writer Rand Ravich (“Life,” “Crisis”) and executive producer Howard Gordon (“Homeland,” “24”) comes THE FRANKENSTEIN CODE, a modern reimagining of the Mary Shelley classic, about a man brought back to life by two scientists playing god. Seventy-five-year-old JIMMY PRITCHARD (guest star Philip Baker Hall, “Modern Family,” “Magnolia”) is a shell of his former self. A drinker, a womanizer and a father who always put work before family, Pritchard was forced to resign as L.A. County Sheriff for corrupt conduct more than a decade ago. Now, some 15 unkind years later, he is killed when he stumbles upon a robbery at the home of FBI Agent DUVAL PRITCHARD (Tim DeKay, “White Collar”), one of his three children. But death is surprisingly short for Jimmy, who is brought back to life by billionaire tech-genius twins MARY GOODWIN (Dilshad Vadsaria, “Revenge”) and her brother, OTTO (Adhir Kalyan, “Rules of Engagement”), founders of the social networking empire, Lookinglass. Resurrected as a younger version of himself, with physical abilities of which he never dreamed, a re-animated Pritchard (Rob Kazinsky, “True Blood”) is given a second chance at life. What will he do with it? Will he seek vengeance against those who killed him? Will he try to repair the damage he did to his family? Will he embrace a new sense of purpose or fall prey to old temptations?

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Teakwood Lane Productions, Kara Productions

WRITER: Rand Ravich

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Rand Ravich, Howard Gordon, Michael Cuesta (pilot)

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Hugh Fitzpatrick

DIRECTOR: Michael Cuesta

CAST: Rob Kazinsky as Jimmy Pritchard, Dilshad Vadsaria as Mary, Adhir Kalyan as Otto, Tim DeKay as Duval Pritchard, Ciara Bravo as Gracie Pritchard

LUCIFER

The Devil has come to Los Angeles…Based upon the characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg for DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint, LUCIFER is the story of the original fallen angel. Bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, LUCIFER MORNINGSTAR (Tom Ellis, “Merlin”) has abandoned his throne and retired to L.A., where he owns Lux, an upscale nightclub. Charming, charismatic and devilishly handsome, Lucifer is enjoying his retirement, indulging in a few of his favorite things – wine, women and song – when a beautiful pop star is brutally murdered outside of Lux. For the first time in roughly 10 billion years, he feels something awaken deep within him as a result of this murder. Compassion? Sympathy? The very thought disturbs him – as well as his best friend and confidante, MAZIKEEN aka MAZE (Lesley-Ann Brandt, “The Librarians”), a fierce demon in the form of a beautiful young woman. The murder attracts the attention of LAPD homicide detective CHLOE DANCER (Lauren German, “Chicago Fire”), who initially is dismissive of Lucifer. But she becomes intrigued by his talent for drawing out people’s secrets and his desire to dispense justice, doling out punishment to those who deserve it. As they work together to solve the pop star’s murder, Lucifer is struck by Chloe’s inherent goodness. Accustomed to dealing with the absolute worst of humanity, Lucifer is intrigued by Chloe’s apparent purity and begins to wonder if there’s hope for his own soul yet. At the same time, God’s emissary, the angel AMENADIEL (DB Woodside, “Suits,” “24”), has been sent to Los Angeles to convince Lucifer to return to the underworld…can the Devil incarnate be tempted toward the side of Good, or will his original calling pull him back toward Evil?

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Warner Bros. Television, Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Aggressive Mediocrity

BASED ON THE CHARACTERS CREATED BY: Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg for DC Entertainment’s Vertigo Imprint

WRITER: Tom Kapinos

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Kapinos, Jonathan Littman, Len Wiseman, Ildy Modrovich, Joe Henderson

DIRECTOR: Len Wiseman

CAST: Tom Ellis as Lucifer, Lauren German as Det. Chloe Dancer, Rachael Harris as Linda Martin, DB Woodside as Amenadiel, Lesley-Ann Brandt as Maze, Nicholas Gonzalez as Dan, Scarlett Estevez as Trixie

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