Fox Banks on X Factor and Terra Nova in the Fall

Posted May 16, 2011 by Walt Belcher

Updated May 16, 2011 at 09:51 AM

  Fox is banking on Simon Cowell’s new singing competition “The X Factor” to carry the network in the fall along with a Steven Spielberg dinosaur thriller “Terra Nova.”

The network announced its 2011-2012 season today. The network adds four new comedies, three dramas, one unscripted series for 2011-12 TV season.

Most of the newcomers were reported last week.  Of note is a new animated series “NAPOLEON DYNAMITE” coming to Sundays at mid-season.

Based on the hit film, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE is about a 16-year-old awkward teenager and his quirky family and friends in rural Idaho. The original cast from the film – Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries and Diedrich Bader – will voice their characters in the series.

FOX FALL 2011 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

*New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET/PT

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM   TERRA NOVA    
9:00-10:00 PM   House

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM   Glee
9:00-9:30 PM   NEW GIRL
9:30-10:00 PM   Raising Hope

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:30 PM   THE X FACTOR Performance Show
9:30-10:00 PM   I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER    

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM   THE X FACTOR Results Show
9:00-10:00 PM   Bones’

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM   Kitchen Nightmares
9:00-10:00 PM   Fringe

SATURDAY

8:00-8:30 PM   Cops
8:30-9:00 PM   Cops
9:00-10:00 PM   Encores/America’s Most Wanted (specials)

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 PM   The OT (NFL post-game)
7:30-8:00 PM   The Cleveland Show
8:00-8:30 PM   The Simpsons
8:30-9:00 PM   ALLEN GREGORY
9:00-9:30 PM   Family Guy
9:30-10:00 PM   American Dad

FOX MIDSEASON 2012 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

(All Times ET/PT)

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM   House
9:00-10:00 PM   ALCATRAZ    

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM   Glee
9:00-9:30 PM   NEW GIRL
9:30-10:00 PM   Raising Hope

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:30 PM   American Idol Performance Show
9:30-10:00 PM   I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM   American Idol Results Show
9:00-10:00 PM   THE FINDER / Bones (spring)

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM   Kitchen Nightmares
9:00-10:00 PM   Fringe

SATURDAY

8:00-8:30 PM   Cops
8:30-9:00 PM   Cops
9:00-10:00 PM   Encores/America’s Most Wanted (specials)

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 PM   Animation Domination (encores)
7:30-8:00 PM   The Cleveland Show
8:00-8:30 PM   The Simpsons
8:30-9:00 PM   NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
9:00-9:30 PM   Family Guy

“THE X FACTOR” marks the return of Simon Cowell who along with Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Cheryl Cole and Paula Abdul will judge the U.S. version of the international TV hit.  Singers will compete for a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music to the next global superstar or breakout music group.

The adventure series “Terra Nova.” executive-produced by Steven Spielberg and Brannon Braga (“24”) stars Jason O’Mara (“Life On Mars”) and Stephen Lang (“Avatar”). It follows an ordinary family on an extraordinary journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a daring experiment to save the human race.

Also debuting this fall are the half-hour comedies “NEW GIRL “(working title) and “I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER” (working title).

Comedy “NEW GIRL” stars Zooey Deschanel as Jess, an offbeat girl who – after a bad breakup – moves in with three single guys and essentially sets a bomb off in their lives.

Comedy “I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER” stars Emmy Award winner Jaime Pressly (“My Name Is Earl”) and Tony Award winner Katie Finneran (“Wonderfalls”) as single moms, life-long friends – and former nerds – who fear their privileged and overly indulged daughters are turning out to be just like the girls who picked on them in high school. 

Joining the Sunday night lineup is “ALLEN GREGORY,” an animated comedy created by and featuring the voice of Jonah Hill (“Get Him to the Greek,” “Superbad”). It’s abut an extremely pretentious 7-year-old about to embark on his greatest challenge yet: leaving the safety of homeschooling and attending elementary school with children his own age.

Fox announces “AMERICAN IDOL” will kick off midseason with a special premiere event Sunday, Jan. 22 immediately following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

Two new dramas set to launch in midseason are “ALCATRAZ” and “THE FINDER.”

From executive producer J.J. Abrams (“Lost,” “Star Trek”) and writer Elizabeth Sarnoff (“Lost”) and starring Sarah Jones (“Sons of Anarchy”), Jorge Garcia (“Lost”) and Sam Neill (“Jurassic Park”), “ALCATRAZ” is about prisoners and guards from America’s most infamous jail who time travel from the 1960s to present day.

Created by Hart Hanson, the executive producer and creator of “BONES,” “THE FINDER” is a new procedural drama starring Geoff Stults (“She’s Out of My League”) as an Iraq war vet with an extraordinary ability to help people find the unfindable.