Fox sets summer slate sans new shows

'Moment of Truth' returns to air
By James Hibberd

April 7, 2008

Fox is bringing back its top-rated game show "The Moment of Truth" to air this summer as part of a just-announced new schedule.

The network has ordered seven hours of "Truth" to run starting May 27. Fox also plans original episodes of "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader," "So You Think You Can Dance" and the conclusion of "Hell's Kitchen."

The only thing missing from Fox's summer schedule: new shows. The summer lineup includes all familiar titles, at least for now.

One notable omission is longtime reality project "When Women Rule the World," where a group of strong-minded women dominate male contestants. The show was previously pushed from a midseason launch to summer.

The reality shows are joined by repeats of "Bones" and "House" on Mondays and repeats of Fox's comedies on Sunday. Like ABC and NBC, Fox is debuting some of its summer schedule in May.


The complete summer lineup follows:

MONDAY (beginning June 2)

8-9:00 p.m. "Bones"
9-10:00 p.m. "House"

TUESDAY (beginning May 27)

8-9:00 p.m. "The Moment of Truth"
9-10:00 p.m. "Hell's Kitchen"

WEDNESDAY (beginning May 28)

8-10:00 p.m. "So You Think You Can Dance"

THURSDAY (beginning May 22)

8-10:00 p.m. "So You Think You Can Dance"

8-9:00 p.m. "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" (June 12)
9-10:00 p.m. "So You Think You Can Dance" (June 12)

FRIDAY

8-10:00 p. Fox movie special

SATURDAY

8-8:30 p.m. "Cops"
8:30-9:00 p.m. "Cops"
9-10:00 "America's Most Wanted"
11:00 - Midnight "MadTV"
Midnight - 12:30 "Talkshow with Spike Feresten"

SUNDAY (beginning June 1)

7-8:00 p.m. "Don't Forget the Lyrics!"
8-8:30 p.m. "The Simpsons"
8:30-9:00 p.m. "King of the Hill"
9-9:30 p.m. "Family Guy"
9:30-10:00 p.m."American Dad"


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FOX made a smart move not airing When Women Rule The World. It was a dumb idea that would be cancelled after its first airing.

The demotion for Lyrics is a little surprising, but it may actually be a positive sign - they're going to keep it going in the regular season and don't want to overexpose it with 12 months of originals. I wouldn't think they would run originals on Sun at 7pm.

Another question mark is Kitchen Nightmares, which had been suggested was going to show up in summer but may end up getting held to the fall.

Fox should've held off on 5th Grader this summer too. I don't think it would've hurt from at least trying when Women Rule the World on Tuesdays and keeping Moment of Truth of Thursdays. If Women fail, they could just insert encores of Hell's Kitchen or "gulp" another hour of House repeats.

Kitchen Nightmares is likely to air Wednesdays this fall again with Til Death and B2Y, both which are likely to return. Another option imo is to bring back Nanny 911 and Trading Spouses. One could lead off Tuesdays and another Wednesdays when Dance backs down to an hour. Til Death and B2Y could then simply repeat on Sundays at 7 until late summer.

I think that likely, that's very close to FOX's proposed fall schedule. The only changes I foresee are Prison Break taking over Monday (and sending whipping boy Bones back to Fridays), Kitchen Nightmares takes place of Hell's Kitchen, Lyrics returning to Thursday, and new shows (likely Dollhouse or Fringe) taking slots on Wednesdays and Fridays--depending on if Sarah Connor makes it.