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UPFRONTS 2019: What FOX Should Do

Continuing my week of suggestions for the networks, here is my FOX suggestion. New FOX is moving more towards live events and animated series. To that end, there is precious little room for scripted programming especially considering they owned the biggest new hit of the season in the unscripted The Masked Singer and have now committed to WWE Smackdown on Friday nights. But they didn't have the worst year for scripted shows either as they have a roster of decent performing dramas and Last Man Standing was successfully revived a year after its ABC cancellation.

Past FOX suggestions: 2018   2017   2016   2015   2014   2013   2012   2011

For a list of FOX pilots, click here

MONDAYS
8:00 9-1-1
9:00 PRODIGAL SON
I was tempted to suggest that The Resident and 9-1-1 stay together on Mondays because they have been a pretty successful pair. But 9-1-1 is one of FOX's strongest shows and I would try to use it to launch another show. The crime drama Prodigal Son seems like it could be a good option.

 TUESDAYS
8:00 Last Man Standing
8:30 GENIUSES
9:00 The Resident
With FOX losing its Friday comedy block to wrestling, it's time to move the multi-cam comedy hour elsewhere. Tuesday seems like the only reasonable landing spot although this would pit Last Man Standing against The Conners. I still think it's the best option and I would pair Last Man with the new Geniuses to see if they can find a better companion than The Cool Kids. I would let The Resident take over the 9pm slot because I think it can do pretty decently anywhere.

 WEDNESDAYS
8:00 Empire
9:00 FILTHY RICH
I would renew Star but not give it the post-Empire slot in the fall. With the very little juice that Empire has left, let's allow it one more chance to be a lead-in and the soapy drama Filthy Rich seems like an obvious companion.

THURSDAYS
8:00 Thursday Night Football
As announced.

 FRIDAYS
8:00 WWE Smackdown
Again, as announced. It's too bad that this and football couldn't share a slot during the season and keep Fridays open for FOX.

 SATURDAYS
8:00 FOX Sports Saturday

 SUNDAYS
7:00 Hell's Kitchen/NFL Overrun
8:00 The Simpsons
8:30 BLESS THE HARTS
9:00 Bob's Burgers
9:30 Family Guy
FOX typically uses the 7pm hour in the fall for animated encores since football takes it up half the time. But I think with less real estate, they could use it for a low priority reality show like Hell's Kitchen on the weeks where they don't have the football doubleheader. With multiple animated comedies on deck, an 8-10pm animated block is the smart idea but I would give the younger Bob's Burgers the 9pm slot and slide Family Guy back to 9:30pm. The newbie Bless the Harts can take the 8:30pm slot and see if it can fit in nicely.

 MIDSEASON: DUNCANVILLE, UNTITLED ANNIE WEISMAN/JASON KATIMS, Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back, The Cool Kids, The Masked Singer, Masterchef Junior, The Orville, Star
I think the best and most obvious choice for FOX next year is to give The Masked Singer the post-Super Bowl slot and tee it up for a late winter run from there. Maybe pair it then on Wednesdays with the new Jason Katims drama or the new season of Star or maybe they have another reality show up their sleeve. Duncanville can be ready to go on Sundays if Bless the Harts doesn't work or has a shorter season. The Gordon Ramsay shows can go anywhere as usual. The Cool Kids can be a back-up if Geniuses doesn't work and of course FOX will need something for Thursdays at midseason and I'm not opposed to The Orville going back there.

 CANCELLED/ENDED: The Gifted, Gotham, Lethal Weapon, Mental Samurai, The Passage, Proven Innocent, Rel
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