Fox Upfront/General News and Discussion: 2019-20

[James28]

The last two episodes of Empire's final season are scrapped, and episode 18 (to air on April 21) will now be its final episode; it will incorporate some scenes from the unfinished episode 19.

I don't know why they couldn't have just use those two scrapped episodes and combined them into one TV movie, and start production on it once the coronavirus shutdown is over (whenever that may be). After ranking fifth in viewership for each of its first two seasons, it looks like we're seeing a botched ending for a network's former flagship series. No matter how any sources will spin it, there will almost certainly be cliffhangers in that 18th episodes. Personally, I thought this was nothing but an April Fool's joke. Or maybe it could just be a "for now" rather than Empire's cliffhangers being left unresolved forever.

https://deadline.com/2020/04/empire-...ox-1202897276/

[TMC]

Fox is well-suited to weather the coronavirus shutdown with fewer live-action scripted shows

The Fox network has lucked out in a number of ways. This season of The Masked Singer was completed before the shutdown. Michael Sheen had to film Prodigal Son's Season 1 finale early and out of order due to a theater commitment in London. Postseason baseball and NFL wrapped long before the shutdown. WWE's Smackdown can continue shooting without an audience. Fox has also become less dependent on scripted series since it became an independent network last year. "Additionally, Fox is the only broadcast network to feature primetime animation," says Deadline's Nellie Andreeva. "The network has been ramping up that part of its portfolio over the past year and currently has five series, plus two more, Housebroken and The Great North, joining next season. Animation is one film/TV area that is still going strong, with production done remotely, so the network is able to get fresh episodes for the current season and its suppliers can work on next season’s orders."

[icecream]

FOX's continuing insistence on all animated Sundays sucks! Duncanville was undeservedly renewed for season 2. That joins Bless the Harts' undeserved freshman renewal. Meanwhile a pleasant live action surprise Outmatched doesn't have much of a renewal chance simply because of being a live action comedy. Best hope for it is if Last Man Standing gets too expensive to keep. Plus their airing disgusting wrestling crap on Fridays takes away from possible renewals, The Cool Kids got screwed like this last year. The Disney buyout of FOX Studios never should have been approved, what a big conflict of interest having half of the big 4 networks both under the Disney umbrella. And yes, I know the FOX TV station is technically separate, but this ill-advised takeover still hinders how many scripted live action shows FOX can air.

[James28]

^^The Duncanville renewal will make it five animated shows (The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, Family Guy, and Bless the Harts being the others) that will be returning for 2020-21. Personally, out of Duncanville and Bless the Harts, I only wanted either one or the other coming back, and I was leading towards BtH. I guess the Duncanville renewal was because New Fox Corporation owns Bento Box Entertainment. There's just no way BtH will be having a full season of 20-plus episodes now.

And the reason FOX-TV went back to all-animated Sundays was because Rel was such a huge misfire after replacing The Last Man on Earth.

And I just hate The Simpsons's continued insistence of staying on the air as long as possible, thanks to its showrunner Al Jean. He just can't be trusted. The next renewal it gets, I hope it's for a 16-episode final season (if it wants to end on a number that's divisible by 22 (726), that final season will probably end up being 20 episodes). The Simpsons will probably have 706 episodes by the time its current renewal deal ends (at season 32).

[MA]

The Simpsons just really needs to end already.

[MA]

Fox Upfront 2020-21: Fall 2020 Schedule;

https://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2020/...le_11.html?m=1