Getting Up Front: Day 4, Part 1: Fox

Since Day 4 features Fox and The CW, there will be two posts.

OK, so, first off, thank you, Fox, canceling Stacked. Seriously. America doesn't need that much of Pamela Anderson. Joining Pamela in the magical world of Cancelville are The Bernie Mac Show (finally), Free Ride, Head Cases, Killer Instinct, Malcolm in the Middle, Reunion, That '70s Show, and (sadly) Arrested Development.

Taking a cue from CBS, Fox is not picking up too many new shows for the upcoming season ... kinda. Since Fox breaks the season up into two (a fall and a spring season), it only seems like they're picking up less shows since they'll only be introducing a few in the fall and a few in the spring, and they still have a couple of midseason pinch hitters.

Also, shockingly, Fox renewed The O.C. for a fourth season, a surprise since ratings (and plots) took quite a nosedive this season, and then there's the following fact, which will be rendered in InvisoText since it's a MAJOR SPOILER: Marisa gets killed off because Mischa Barton's a little bitch that didn't want to be on the show anymore. I wonder how she'll die, and if it'll be an "open" death, i.e., no body so she can return later, maybe as a different actress ala Fallon on Dynasty.

Overall changes include American Dad and The War at Home switching timeslots on Sundays. Saturdays remain all real-crimey with Cops and America's Most Wanted. Fridays remain trash-TV with Nanny 911 and Trading Spouses.

New shows for the fall include:
Vanished: (Mondays following Prison Break) A drama about an FBI team investigating the disappearance of a senator's wife, and mysteries loom. I guess disappearances are the gimmicks for the upcoming season (re: NBC's Kidnapped). Doesn't sound too interesting or original. And there's reason to guess Gale Harold (formerly of Queer As Folk) won't be naked every episode. And it also stars former soap star Ming-Na and fellow former soap star The Noxema Girl. Pass.
Standoff: (Tuesdays preceding House) A show about hostage negotiators? Starring the Post-It breaker-upper and Zoe from Firefly/Serenity? Meh.
Justice: (Wednesdays following Bones) Kinda the opposite of CBS's Shark. And it has the gay guy from Dawson's Creek. And other people. Pass.
'Til Death: (Thursdays at 7 p.m.) Oy. A comedy with the other guy from Raymond. And Joely Fisher. If it were just Joely I'd almost be fine with it. But the other guy from Raymond? Pass.
Happy Hour: (Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., right before The O.C.: Season Four) Small-town guy, broken heart, blah blah blah. Pass.

And for the spring, King of the Hill returns to the 6:30 p.m. Sunday slot. Standoff moves to Mondays at 7 p.m. (replacing Prison Break), leading into 24 (which replaces Vanished). American Idol returns to Tuesdays at 7 (replacing Standoff), leading into House (which doesn't do anything). Justice moves to the 7 p.m. Wednesday slot, replacing Bones and preceding a half-hour American Idol and returning comedy The Loop. Thursdays stay the same. For now. Bones moves to Friday at 7 p.m. (replacing Nanny 911), and Trading Spouses gets replaced by new drama The Wedding Album, which stars Bruno Campos as a wedding photographer that, you guessed it, has trouble in the love department.

Did you get all that?

The Wedding Album reeks of Jake in Progress. I say pass, but, of course, if it really does follow the JiP curse, it'll be canceled before you can pass it. Heh.

As for midseason pinch hitters, there's only one new comedy and a couple of reality series. The comedy, The Winner, stars The Daily Show's Rob Corddry as a 40-something who looks back 10 years to when he was still living with his parents. Doesn't sound all too appealing, but I feel a little torn about that because Seth MacFarlane is co-producing it. Sigh.

OK, that's it for Fox. Again, for more proper coverage, visit Zap2It.

And coming right up, The CW's new-ish sked. Stay tuned ...