RENEWAL ALERT: Bones

In unsurprising news ahead of upfront season, FOX has renewed the veteran drama Bones. The upcoming season will be the show's seventh. Despite solid ratings, the status of this show was up in the air due to contract negotiations and the pregnancy of co-star Emily Deschanel. Still this show's status was never in doubt and it may even have a spinoff - the pilot titled The Finder - next season. Through 20 episodes this season, it has averaged 10.1 million viewers and a 3.0 in the demo. It has improved this spring airing after TV's #1 show American Idol, though its retention out of that show is not very strong, but that's to be expected because it already has its own audience.

Bones joins American Dad!, Bob's Burgers, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, Fringe, Glee, Hell's Kitchen, Raising Hope, and The Simpsons among renewals for next season. FOX's schedule is filling up fast for next year with X-Factor and Terra Nova already planned for the fall and the likely return of House which has not officially been renewed. It's not looking good for Lie to Me or Human Target and prospects are dimming for The Chicago Code while Traffic Light is as good as dead. There are some rumors that the long tradition of Cops and America's Most Wanted on Saturday nights may change too though those shows plus Kitchen Nightmares are likely to be back in some capacity. The comedy Breaking In remains firmly on the bubble.

Check back later tonight for an Upfront Preview of what I think FOX SHOULD do!