New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com

Net has Fox holes to fill

By MARISA GUTHRIE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Wednesday, January 18th, 2006

LOS ANGELES - This season marks the swan songs for Fox stalwarts "Malcolm in the Middle" and "That '70s Show," Peter Liguori, president of Fox Entertainment, said yesterday - adding that the network also is hard at work developing new shows to fill the scheduling holes.
"It's daunting when you realize there are aging comedies on Fox, but we're looking at it from a long-term perspective," said Liguori. "We're out there aggressively developing and we're going to replace those shows."

"Malcolm in the Middle" returns to the schedule Jan. 29, with new episodes leading to the series finale in May. "That '70s Show" also ends in May, after eight years that also launched the careers of Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher. Fox is in talks with both actors to return for the series finale, said Liguori.

And it's a foregone conclusion that "Arrested Development," a critical favorite that has struggled to build a broad audience, also will end its run this year.

"It's highly unlikely the show is going to be back," said Liguori." It's regrettable that we could not find the audience that that show deserved."

"Arrested Development" is being courted by cable, specifically Showtime. Not in the mix to take up the "Arrested" mantle is Fox's sister network, FX.

"'Arrested Development' is an expensive show," said Liguori. "It's way more difficult to make that show work on an economic standpoint [on cable]."

On the bubble is "The Bernie Mac Show." But Liguori said he is satisfied with the creative direction of the show and a decision about its fate will come in May when the network assesses its development choices.

And there may still be life left in "King of the Hill," which is no longer in production.

"There is a chance that it could come back," said Liguori. If "King of the Hill" does return, said Liguori, it likely wouldn't be back until January 2007.

New comedies premiering in March include "The Loop" and "Free Ride."

"The Loop" revolves around the work and personal life of Sam (Bret Harrison), the youngest executive at a major airline. The first of his slacker friends to get a real post-college job, he struggles to balance the daily grind with nightly partying.

"Free Ride" is about a college graduate (Allan Havey) who is not gainfully employed and, in fact, has moved home to mooch from his parents.

Both sitcoms will be previewed on separate Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. in the post-"Idol" slot. ("Free Ride" on March 1 and "The Loop" on March 15.) "The Loop" will move to Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. beginning March 16, replacing "Stacked," which returns later this season. And "Free Ride" moves to Sundays at 9:30 p.m. beginning March 12, replacing "American Dad," which returns in April.

it's surprising how Punk'd totally killed Malcolm In The Middle, when Frankie Muniz acted like a spoiled brat on there, it completely destroyed his career and the shows ratings went downhill, while before then, MITM was a hip and popular show

I am curious if That 70's Show will end on December 31, 1979?

I think that T70sS would end their run on 12/31/79 with all of the gang back in the basement after all of these years celebrating New Years 1980. The final farewell would have the sticker show 1980 with The decal sticker saying That's All Folks.

As for Malcolm, that show started dwindling after season 5 with Reese going to join the Military. That show should end good. Plus there a bit to old to still be playing a bunch of 10 yr. olds.

Also for KOTH, it has 10 seasons, with all do respect. I just don't want to see another season because of the Simpsons Syndrome of having a tiring storyline as well as a very old cartoon sitcom that will have charecters that never age. So KOTH should end out on top before it turns into something like The Drew Carey Show.

I'm looking forward to see how they end "That 70's Show." In the past year (through reruns and DVDs) it's become one of my top ten favorite sitcoms. I'm also surprised that it's getting the chance to have a finale. After last season's finale (with Eric moving to Africa) I figured the ratings would be so low that the show would just fade away this season. I'm glad that's not the case.

As for "Malcolm in the Middle", I've never liked that show, but I know how popular it once was. I think it's time for the show to end.

As for "King of the Hill", I like the show, but don't really want it to go on past ten years.

As for "Arrested Developent", I want it to come back! You'd think with those other three shows leaving, they'd keep this one. However, no matter how good the show is, the ratings always seem to suck. I don't understand why. But that is the case.

Even though it's different people in charge, I still am upset with FOX for the way they canceled "Married with Children." Eleven seasons and they just cancel it without giving the show a proper finale. It was the show that made their network, too.

it's surprising how Punk'd totally killed Malcolm In The Middle, when Frankie Muniz acted like a spoiled brat on there, it completely destroyed his career and the shows ratings went downhill, while before then, MITM was a hip and popular show

What did Frankie do? I've never seen that episode of Punk'd (or most episodes).

What did Frankie do? I've never seen that episode of Punk'd (or most episodes).

Same here. I wouldn't think whatever Muniz did would make the Punk'd audience stop watching MITM.

IIRC, Frankie started cussing out a little kid, I never saw it, but heard about it, and I read it in an article saying how Malcolm's ratings started to plummet after that version of Punkd aired

Like the other networks, FOX relied too much on reality programs instead of developing more sitcoms and dramas. Now their veteran shows are leaving, and they're facing some big gaps in scheduling.
Oh well, there's always another season of "Skating With Celebrities" to look forward to!

;)

Oh well, there's always another season of "Skating With Celebrities" to look forward to!

;)


I'm holding out for "Celebrity Rehab Rejects on Ice"

Now who wouldn't want to watch that?

Like the other networks, FOX relied too much on reality programs instead of developing more sitcoms and dramas. Now their veteran shows are leaving, and they're facing some big gaps in scheduling.
Oh well, there's always another season of "Skating With Celebrities" to look forward to!

;)

Skating With Celebrities was HORRIBLE. Worst reality show on the Big 4 networks right now.

Both "That 70s Show" and "Malcolm In The Middle" were good shows that just stayed on longer than they should have, like "The Simpsons", which doesn't know when to quit, while "Arrested Development" was unwatchable from Day 1. Both shows should have seen the danger signs coming a lot sooner than this season. For Frankie Muniz, the end came when he reached puberty sooner than expected. The show was great when he was a cute little kid, but when he grew bigger and stopped being cute, his sense of humour and general public appeal stopped as well. He's still a good actor and he might turn up on another hit show someday, like former child stars Neil Patrick Harris and Fred Savage have done. He just has to remember two things: Stay away from the cast of "Diff'rent Strokes" at all costs and never, under any circumstances, make any more movies with Hilary Duff!

Which brings me to "That 70s Show". It was fine and dandy when the cast was getting equal billing but when Ashton Kutcher started showing up in movies, magazine covers, and anyplace else where the public could see his face, for no other reason than he married Demi Moore, following in the footsteps of fellow ex-TV icon Jennifer Aniston, then it was all over for me. Coincidentally, when I did watch the show in the last couple of years, his character was getting dumber than usual, especially after Kelso became a cop. I wonder if people like that really exist in police forces all across North America. (There now, don't you feel safer already?)

Having said that, I will miss both shows and I will try to watch them in syndication every once in a while. I would also like to congratulate them on their longevity. "That 70s Show" will end after 200 episodes. "Malcolm" will have reached 150. As for "Arrested Development", the less said the better. I never liked it and my heart bleeds toilet water at its sudden passing.

Both "That 70s Show" and "Malcolm In The Middle" were good shows that just stayed on longer than they should have, like "The Simpsons", which doesn't know when to quit, while "Arrested Development" was unwatchable from Day 1. Both shows should have seen the danger signs coming a lot sooner than this season. For Frankie Muniz, the end came when he reached puberty sooner than expected. The show was great when he was a cute little kid, but when he grew bigger and stopped being cute, his sense of humour and general public appeal stopped as well. He's still a good actor and he might turn up on another hit show someday, like former child stars Neil Patrick Harris and Fred Savage have done. He just has to remember two things: Stay away from the cast of "Diff'rent Strokes" at all costs and never, under any circumstances, make any more movies with Hilary Duff!

Which brings me to "That 70s Show". It was fine and dandy when the cast was getting equal billing but when Ashton Kutcher started showing up in movies, magazine covers, and anyplace else where the public could see his face, for no other reason than he married Demi Moore, following in the footsteps of fellow ex-TV icon Jennifer Aniston, then it was all over for me. Coincidentally, when I did watch the show in the last couple of years, his character was getting dumber than usual, especially after Kelso became a cop. I wonder if people like that really exist in police forces all across North America. (There now, don't you feel safer already?)

Having said that, I will miss both shows and I will try to watch them in syndication every once in a while. I would also like to congratulate them on their longevity. "That 70s Show" will end after 200 episodes. "Malcolm" will have reached 150. As for "Arrested Development", the less said the better. I never liked it and my heart bleeds toilet water at its sudden passing.
Well SAID!!! :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap: