Fox adjusts fall schedule; 24 delayed

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The first of the major networks has unveiled its writers-strike-adjusted schedule, and as feared, one major show is getting postponed indefinitely.

Fox is delaying the seventh-season premiere of thriller 24, so that the new season "can air uninterrupted, in its entirety." The show was originally due to air January 13, but now has no scheduled start date.

Earlier this week, new 24 cast member Cherry Jones said that the crew would get through production of eight episodes before the strike interfered with the show's schedule, leaving the fate of the heavily serialized show's premiere up in the air. Fox clearly answered the question of whether it would be pushed back or not, but will still need to decide how and when to air the season currently in production.

The 24 delay isn't good for one of Fox's heavily hyped new shows, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Recently moved into the cushy 8 p.m. lead-in spot for 24, the sci-fi action show aimed to draw viewers from the excitement of 24's return. Now, Sarah Connor won't start blasting cyborgs until 9 p.m. and will have a back-to-back night series premiere January 13 and January 14--the same idea previously reserved for 24.

The new lead-in for Terminator will be Prison Break, which will now be on hiatus only from November 12 to January 14. Prison Break was originally scheduled to start its break in December and return in April, but now it appears as if both will be bumped up.

The writers strike had many fearing that prime time would be filled with game shows, reality shows, and reruns. Unfortunately, this looks to be the case.

March 3 will see Prison Break set free, as well as the premiere of When Women Rule the World, a gender-role-reversal show "set in a primitive, remote location." Fox describes the show thusly: "A group of strong, educated, and independent women, tired of living in a man's world, rule over a group of unsuspecting men used to calling the shots."

Game show The Moment of Truth makes its debut on Wednesday, January 23. The show straps contestants to a lie detector and asks them questions for a chance to win $500,000.

Fans of House are in luck, sort of. The megahit will be airing all over the calendar beginning in early January. Reruns of the show will air on Fridays in January and much of February, after which the show will return as scheduled in late January behind American Idol. New episodes will also encore on Mondays, beginning March 10.

As for new shows, New Amsterdam, once considered to be questionable in terms of whether it would air at all, will begin showing on Fridays on February 22 after Bones, which moves to the end of the week. The Return of Jezebel James debuts Friday, March 7 at 8:30 p.m., and New Canterbury's Law makes its series premiere on Friday, April 11 at 9 p.m. The Farrelly Brothers' Unhitched will also premiere Sunday, March 2 at 9:30 p.m.

Fox's updated (and complex) schedule is below:

Monday
Monday, Jan. 7:
7:30 p.m.-CC ET Allstate BCS National Championship Game (Live)

Mondays, beginning Jan. 14:
8:00-9:00 p.m. Prison Break
9:00-10:00 p.m. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Time Period Premiere)

Monday, March 3:
8:00-9:00 p.m. When Women Rule The World (Series Premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Mondays, Beginning March 10:
8:00-9:00 p.m. When Women Rule The World
9:00-10:00 p.m. House (Time Period Premiere)

Tuesday
Tuesday, Jan. 1:
8:00 p.m. ET Allstate Sugar Bowl (Live)

Tuesday, Jan. 15:
8:00-10:00 p.m. American Idol (Season Premiere, Part 1)

Tuesdays, Beginning Jan. 22:
8:00-9:00 p.m. American Idol (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. House

Tuesdays, Beginning April 1:
8:00-9:00 p.m. American Idol
9:00-10:00 p.m. Hell's Kitchen (Season Premiere)

Wednesday
Wednesday, Jan. 2:
7:30 p.m. ET Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Live)

Wednesday, Jan. 16:
8:00-10:00 p.m. American Idol (Season Premiere, Part 2)

Wednesdays, Beginning Jan. 23:
8:00-9:00 p.m. American Idol
9:00-10:00 p.m. The Moment Of Truth (Series Premiere)

Wednesdays, Beginning March 12:
8:00-9:00 p.m. The Moment Of Truth (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-9:30 p.m. American Idol
9:30-10:00 p.m. Back To You (Time Period Premiere)

Thursday
Thursday, Jan. 3:
7:30 p.m. ET Fedex Orange Bowl (Live)

Thursdays, Beginning Jan. 10 (No Changes To Lineup):
8:00-9:00 p.m. Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?
9:00-10:00 p.m. Don't Forget The Lyrics!

Friday
Fridays, Beginning Jan. 4:
8:00-9:00 p.m. Bones (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. House (Time Period Premiere)

Friday, Feb. 22:
8:00-9:00 p.m. Bones
9:00-10:00 p.m. New Amsterdam (Series Premiere)

Fridays, Beginning March 7:
8:00-8:30 p.m. 'Til Death (Time Period Premiere)
8:30-9:00 p.m. The Return Of Jezebel James (Series Premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. New Amsterdam

Fridays, Beginning April 11:
8:00-8:30 p.m. 'Til Death
8:30-9:00 p.m. The Return Of Jezebel James
9:00-10:00 p.m. Canterbury's Law (Series Premiere)

Saturday
Saturdays, Beginning Jan. 5: (No Changes To Lineup)
8:00-8:30 p.m. Cops
8:30-9:00 p.m. Cops
9:00-10:00 p.m. America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back
11:00 p.m.-Midnight Madtv
Midnight-12:30 Am Talkshow With Spike Feresten

Sunday
Sundays, Beginning Jan. 6: (No Changes To Lineup)
8:00-9:00 p.m. The Simpsons
8:30-9:00 p.m. King Of The Hill
9:00-9:30 p.m. Family Guy
9:30-10:00 p.m. American Dad

Sunday, Jan. 13:
8:00-9:00 p.m. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Series Premiere)
9:00-9:30 p.m. Family Guy
9:30-10:00 p.m. American Dad

Sunday, Feb. 3 (Super Bowl Sunday):
6:00 p.m. ET Super Bowl XLII (Approx. 4 Hours, Live)
Approx. 10:00 p.m. ET House (Original Episode; Guest Star Mira Sorvino)

Sundays, Beginning March 2:
8:00-8:30 p.m. The Simpsons
8:30-9:00 p.m. King Of The Hill
9:00-9:30 p.m. Family Guy
9:30-10:00 p.m. Unhitched (Series Premiere)

Sundays, Beginning April 13:
8:00-8:30 p.m. The Simpsons
8:30-9:00 p.m. King Of The Hill
9:00-9:30 p.m. Family Guy
9:30-10:00 p.m. American Dad

For more on the writers strike, check out TV.com's Strike Source, featuring up-to-date statuses on shows, the latest information, and more.

  • firetoon12

    i am done with fox network nothing is good on it prison break was good then it got stupid and waste of time and 24 is so slow and boring same over and over

    Jan 28, 2008
  • HUSSEIN24

    I can't live without 24 24 is the best show in the warld
    if anyone know anything about 24season seven tell me see ya

    Jan 23, 2008
  • lesserla

    I want 24 I need 24 I'm tired of SVU, L&O and the other 'used to be great' programs. At least 24 attempts to be current and the writers were on target with current topics. I have resigned to watch science programs... at least htey are exciting (like 24)

    Jan 14, 2008
  • reddnikkii

    i can't believe that there will be no 24. ffox had the best show on with the greatest rating on it now you all are telling us that because of the writers strike and the other stupid shows that you all are not going to are 24 that real good on treating your viewers. people should protest or get something going to prevent viewers from watching fox all together. thanks fox for leaving us up in the air like that

    Jan 12, 2008
  • xybershock

    BRING BACK 24 NOW and MOVE BACK BONES to its original air time.

    Jan 05, 2008
  • bonnieerb

    what a mess. What the heck is terminator- just a show to fill a hole. jeesh. come on wga- lets make a deal.

    Jan 05, 2008
  • kellyzy116

    I love MICHAEL. seems saw him before on an age gap dating site like agemingle.com or something. But don't know if it is him.

    Jan 03, 2008
  • BonesCSIaddict

    ok this is totally strange... NO new bones episodes until friday 22 and then after two weeks bones disappears from the schedual completely??? How do you meen kill the series... This is stupid

    Dec 18, 2007
  • Xenophes

    :( This is really upsetting. Only then do we realize how much influence do the writers have over a show...I hope everything will end up well and that we will have another great season of 24!

    Dec 10, 2007
  • Runner206

    Really bad news

    Dec 02, 2007
  • JavaJunkieQueen

    How can they just move Bones to Friday night?! That makes no sense! Nobody watches TV then. They're gonna kill the ratings, then take it off the air all because of this stupid schedule. On the bright side, nothing is happening to House.

    Nov 26, 2007
  • NPBartlett213

    Um, I happen to like Bones. I really hope Fox isn't boning them by sending them to Friday nights. I know I can't watch it at that time. Does anyone watch TV on Friday nights?

    Nov 13, 2007
  • purplemarie1980

    I would love to see Prison Break back on

    Nov 13, 2007
  • tvdvdaddict

    After reading this confusing new schedule, I noticed that the new Joss Whedon show Dollhouse wasn't on the schedule. Where is it? Will it air at all? Fox always messes with shows in the worst possible ways and now it seems as if this show has been canceled before it started. They managed to find room for another new idiotic sounding "reality" show and a stupid game show but not for Joss. Go back to WB where at least his shows get a chance to survive.

    Nov 13, 2007
  • rom1-G3

    Zedtaker First off I'm not a perv just 'coz I think there's more in life than tv shows. Especially PB the scam-show, which shows no originality since the 1st season and never had depth or justness, and only give to oblivious fans a bunch of sexy guys (if you like that I respect), what I don't respect though is a show stealing tension and suspense from 24 and conspiracy plot from...well every crappy storyline! I'm french and maybe I can see better the difference in the writing between PB and Veronica Mars, but the second one is sure hell a lot better and smarter, and I bet you didn't even watch it (really watch it, like I watched PB), so your opinion doesn't matter. And just so you know, Lost is a descent and unique show, but it's far from being the best. You obviously didn't pay attention to such intelligent, profound, compelling and amazing shows like The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, The Wire, Deadwood, Dexter or The Shield)You have your tastes and I gotta to respect that but you are the one who doesn't know what he's talking about. Also regarding the WGA strike, It's a complicated situation, because the writers are also causing a lot of damage to all the workers in sets, who are like me, what we call in France "intermittents du spectacle" but, that said, I kinda agree with them, they have to change things for them, to make a stand and say that this industry can't just make millions with dvd's with their work, their art. So if you gotta talk, inform yourself before writing anything , ok. Before even thinking about your little person. Who do you think has more to lose, them or the writers and their mortgage and houses, well that must be you. But I apologize for the last time (not for this one) I guess I misunderstood. You've shown that you cared for them despite the million they cost, and more importantly, the sadness they cause to you.moreless

    Nov 12, 2007
  • iluvgilmore7791

    I wish Bones wasn't moving to Friday.

    Nov 12, 2007
  • snap1732

    This is terrible news. I am a huge 24 fan and it seems to be already battling to find an original storyline....... Then this.

    Nov 11, 2007
  • quirkygilmore24

    With out the writers the show is nothing obviously.
    All they want is 8 cents of each $20 movie sold, and they refuse to give it to them?
    Come on folks.
    You are making me miss 24 because you don't want to give them 8 freaking cents?

    Nov 11, 2007
  • kawadge

    This is good news that Prison Break won't take a big break. But it is a bad news that 24 has no starting date. Hope the strike ends soon

    Nov 11, 2007
  • avi01

    I will miss 24, hope the strike ends soon and 24 returns.I`m happy we will get some Prison Break in January but its sad that its going on hiatus next week as things are really starting to be awesome.

    Nov 11, 2007
  • sladerous174

    Swink17 I do care about Prison Break cause its still one of the best watch

    Nov 11, 2007
  • Trustyj

    For those of you who support the writers, check this out.

    http://www.fans4writers.com

    Spread the word! If the studios don't have writers or viewers then they have no power. The execs need to learn who is REALLY responsible for all that money they make. That would be us, the fans/consumers.

    Nov 10, 2007
  • johandogod

    This really bad news for alot of people

    Nov 10, 2007
  • texanact

    Prison break getting over in March!?!!!

    Nov 10, 2007
  • mammalazz

    well I guees that is both good and bad news

    Nov 09, 2007
  • ombra2105

    Very disappointed that 24 has been pushed back indefinitely but it is for the best if the show is able to air in an uninterrupted run. Anyway I get to see Prison Break sooner so I guess that an upside to this fiasco...

    Nov 09, 2007
  • zedtaker

    rom1-G3-What crap do you watch? Veronica mars....OC( that is baaaaaddd)
    Swink17- Prison Break still has IT, you have no idea what you're chatting bout. Yes Lost is 2 GUD and the best damn show on the planet and yes I'm gonna die if that doesn't air, lol.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • zedtaker

    Linc-o & rom1-G3- Life isn't just about sex you pervs. I do have respect for the writers but out of all of this we, the viewers are loosing big time and without us there is no them. I just think the writers should think about us too, it's not like they were getting average pay like normal people get. Writers make tons of money so for them to complain is a little selfish. Now, like I said, the industry is gonna loose something like over a $1 billion so they mite as well give that to the writers. Now how am I being sad, I just gave the writers a Billion $$$.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • Kilkaine

    I hate that they moved Bones to friday, but I'm glad they're going to show New Amsterdam.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • mathwizard09

    Reality shows I actually like- Amazing Race, Fear factor, American Idol.
    I don't care about the rest.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • SMGslayer97

    So if I'm understanding this correctly so far House is unaffected by the strike, new episodes will be airing through till the sesonal hiatus (this month or next, I can never remember which month it begins) and new episodes return in Jan. as they do every year?

    Nov 08, 2007
  • tvdvdaddict

    24 was the only thing I was looking forward to watching and now there's nothing. I just hope that the long delay doesn't alienate fans into tuning in at a later date. FANS, KEEP THE SHOW ALIVE PLEASE!!

    Nov 08, 2007
  • Vital_Shot

    Ahh, that made me go insane reading it. So many different changes on so many different dates, it's going to be hard to keep up and work around my other shows.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • PerfectDark0Fan

    Its great the Fox gives Back To You a better chance with it being after American Idol which could boost ratings.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • boromirbeauty

    Okay, I'm totally confused.... but at least New Amsterdam gets a chance.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • CAPNDEL

    While my stance on unions is un-waivering, I don't support any type of work stoppage. I am however sympathetic to the writer's grievences. They should be compensated for their work as it applies to the new mediums that are available to the television networks and show producers. I just hope that both parties come to a compromise soon.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • malawi69

    Good move to save 24's plot time-line.

    But... Bones on friday???

    Nov 08, 2007
  • killcoyle

    Instead of putting time into a stupid *** schedule maybe you should be talking to the writers. *** you studios and *** you writers. I am Boycotting TV until you get your act together.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • Jigglypuff_Nut

    House, Hell's Kitchen, New Amsterdam and America's Most Wanted. {Possibly Cops too}

    The Women Rule The World, reality show sounds really dumb.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • SamusAran825

    Meh, this is just whatever. I'm not really affected by this schedule too much. The only thing I'm a little sad about is Bones. Moving it to Friday nights is just asking the show to get a low amount of viewers. I was also looking forward to the Terminator series, but depending on what happens with Heroes and/or Chuck, I'm not sure if I'd be able to watch it.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • jacksback21

    This is terrible. Prison Break on hiatus next week. :( At least we see the ending earlier.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • EveDallas

    Well, obviously FOX is determined to kill BONES! Great idea, move it Friday, exactly where nobody is watching anything on FOX! Perfect!

    Nov 08, 2007
  • petef20

    Nightmare! Still its necessary to postpone 24 so it can air in a oner.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • mathwizard09

    NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I WANT 24 NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Nov 08, 2007
  • tony7896

    This article makes a big deal about losing the lead-in to 24. I've never seen why that's such a lead-ins are such big thing (maybe because I use TiVo), so I don't know about that. The important thing is that T:SCC is going to one of the few shows on the air with new episodes. Most of the prime-time schedule is going to be reruns, reality shows and game shows. That's going to give T:SCC some attention right there--there won't be anything else for TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly, etc. to write about, and there won't be anything else to watch.[BTW, I can't believe 24 is still such a big thing. It's just not there for me anymore. It used to be a great show.]

    Nov 08, 2007
  • PerfectDark0Fan

    I want 24 now.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • rom1-G3

    Wow, Zedtaker, what kind of person are you? Writers have rights and you should show some respect, without 'em, you wouldn't even get to watch good tv (you watch PB so I guess really bad tv too) and I agree with linc-o, go get laid or start watching something else on TV.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • GODHOOD

    At least New Amsterdam will air, the last season of 24 was pretty bad so I could wait for the next one.

    Nov 08, 2007
  • mastersprucey

    wow.......I think the 24 season 7 teazer is betta-off than all these other series. So im done here........

    Nov 08, 2007
  • Linc-o

    Go have some sex. TV isn't everything.

    Nov 08, 2007
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