With a schedule suddenly shortened of singing competitions, Fox announced seven dramas (two of which are short term “event” series) and four new comedies to join its 2014-15 schedule.
Even with a schedule that’s seven hours shorter a week than its network competition, Fox had to do a lot to fill the holes left by the canceled “X Factor” and a slimmed down “American Idol,” which will go down to once a week next season.
The new dramas are:
- “Gotham” (pictured above), yet another comics-derived series, this one about the early days of Commissioner Gordon with Ben McKenzie, Jada Pinkett Smith and Donal Logue, from the maker of “Rome” and “The Mentalist,” Bruno Heller.
- “Red Band Society” stars Octavia Spencer (“The Help”) and Dave Annable (“Brothers & Sisters”) about teens who meet in a pediatric ward of a Los Angeles hospital. From Steven Spielberg’s Ambiln Television.
- “Gracepoint” the remake of the acclaimed UK series “Broadchurch” that also employs that show’s star David Tennant (“Dr. Who”) though it also features Anna Gunn (“Breaking Bad”), Nick Nolte and Michael Pena.
- “Empire” is from Lee Daniels (“The Butler” and Danny Strong (“Game Change”) is a drama about the music empire, with original music by Timaland, strring Terrence Howad, Taraji P. Henson. Midseason.
- “Hieroglyph” goes way back, to ancient Egypt in the land of the Pharaoh, form producer Travis Beachmam (“Pacific Rim”). No cast announced. Midseason.
- “Backstrom” from “Bones” creator Hart Hanson is an “offbeat comedic crime procedural staring Rainn Wilson of “The Office.” Midseason.
- “Wayward Pines” from M. Night Shyamalan is a 10-episode thriller starring Matt Dillon as a Secret ervice agent in search of missing agents in rural Idaho. It features Melissa Leo, Toby Jones, Carla Gugino, Juliete Lewis and once again, Terrence Howard. Midseason.
The new comedies are:
- “Mulaney” stars “SNL” writer John Mulaney as a stand-up comic, with a cast that includes Martin Short, Elliott Gould, Nasim Pedrad and Zack Pearlman. From producer Lorne Michaels.
- “The Last Man on Earth” Will Forte stars as the last guy on the planet, from the team behind “The Lego Movie” and “21 Jump Street.” Midseason.
- “Weird Loners” about 30-somethings in a Queens townhouse. With Becki Newton, Zachary Knighton, Nate Torrence and Meera Khumbhani. From “King of Queens” writer Michael J. Weithorn and “New Girl” girector Jake Kasdan. Midseason.
- “Bordertown” a new Seth MacFarlane cartoon about Mexicans and Americans on the border, bound to create some controversy. Midseason.
In addition there is a new reality show, “Utopia,” which places 15 Americans to an isolated, undeveloped location for a year, challenging them to create their own civilization.
Returning to the Fox schedule are “Sleepy Hollow,” “New Girl,” “Mindy Project,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Bones,” Bob’s Burgers,” “The Simpsons,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Family Guy,” “The Following,” “American Idol” and “Glee.”
Not returning to the Fox schedule: “Almost Human,” “Dads,” “Enlisted,” “Rake,” “Surviving Jack.”