or


[09/30/03 - 12:00 AM]
FOX Shifts 'O.C.' to Wednesdays as Part of Major Fall Overhaul
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- FOX has once again changed its fall schedule, this time making changes to three nights on its lineup: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The news was announced via press release yesterday. Here's a breakdown of all the moves:

After weeks of speculation, FOX has decided not to move its summer success story "The O.C." to Thursdays at 9:00/8:00c where it would have faced off against juggernauts "C.S.I." on CBS and "Will & Grace" on NBC. The series will instead move to Wednesdays at 9:00/8:00c beginning October 29.

To make room on the night, the network will hold back the final six episodes of "Cedric the Entertainer Presents" until midseason and shift its returning comedy "The Bernie Mac Show" to Sundays at 8:30/7:30c. And on Sundays, FOX has decided to bench the previously announced 8:30/7:30c time slot holder "The Ortegas" until midseason in favor of "Bernie Mac." Finally, FOX will fill the Thursday, 9:00/8:00c hour with same-week repeats of its new Monday drama "Skin," a strategy that worked well for "The O.C."

FOX executives stressed the moves were designed to capitalize on the success of "The O.C." and increase its chances at maintaining its strong summer numbers in the fall. As for the delays of "Cedric" and "Ortegas," the former was simply a disposable holdover from last season's production run while the latter's future is a little more fuzzy. FOX has decided to halt production on "Ortegas" after six episodes but is looking to extend its options on the creative talent involved with the series. The network had previously committed to 13 episodes but the rollback means the cast and crew will likely be free agents long before "Ortegas" makes it to air.

Meanwhile, FOX plans quite a bit of fanfare for "The O.C.'s" re-launch on Wednesday nights:

During the show's October hiatus, fox.com/oc will launch extensive new features found only on the show's official website. Every Thursday (Oct. 2, 9, 16 & 23) at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT, various cast members from THE O.C. will participate in an online chat. Fox.com/oc will also give online visitors the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes and see exclusive clips in conjunction with "character" and "soundtrack" commentaries provided by THE O.C.'s creators. Prior to THE O.C.'s return to primetime, fox.com/oc will premiere video footage from the premiere episode "The Rescue," which airs Wednesday, Oct. 29 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. On Wednesday, Oct. 29, the site will also launch bonus features including an exclusive dvd-style producers' commentary of scenes in "The Rescue." The site will also feature character downloads including new wallpapers and screensavers.

In addition, FOX plans to encore the first six episodes of the series next week starting Tuesday, October 14. Back-to-back episodes beginning at 8:00/7:00c are scheduled to run from October 14-16, contingent upon League Championship play for this year's MLB playoffs.

In review, here's the complete list of changes to FOX's fall schedule:

Wednesdays beginning October 29
8:00/7:00c - "That '70s Show"
8:30/7:30c - "A Minute With Stan Hooper"
9:00/8:00c - "The O.C."

Thursdays beginning October 30
8:00/7:00c - "Tru Calling"
9:00/8:00c - "Skin" (encore presentations)

Sundays beginning November 9
(note that with the exception of "Bernie," all of FOX's Sunday comedies premiere November 2)
7:30/6:30c - "King of the Hill"
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons"
8:30/7:30c - "The Bernie Mac Show"
9:00/8:00c - "Malcolm in the Middle"
9:30/8:30c - "Arrested Development"

Lastly, while nothing is official yet, insiders are saying FOX is close to yanking its entire Friday lineup - "Wanda at Large," "Luis" and "Boston Public" - in favor of movies for November sweeps.





  [september 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (NETFLIX)
· BERNIE MAC SHOW, THE (FOX)
· BOSTON PUBLIC (FOX)
· CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER PRESENTS (FOX)
· CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS)
· KING OF THE HILL (HULU)
· LUIS (FOX)
· MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE (FOX)
· MINUTE WITH STAN HOOPER, A (FOX)
· OC, THE (FOX)
· ORTEGAS, THE (FOX)
· SIMPSONS, THE (FOX)
· SKIN (FOX)
· THAT '70S SHOW (FOX)
· TRU CALLING (FOX)
· WANDA AT LARGE (FOX)
· WILL & GRACE (NBC)





[09/10/26 - 01:01 PM]
Video: NBC Debuts Official Promo & Highlights Key Art for "One Chicago"
The franchise follows the professional and personal lives of first responders and public service workers who lays themselves on the line to save and protect the citizens of the Windy City.

[09/10/26 - 01:00 PM]
CBS Announces 2026 Premiere Dates and Milestones for the #1 Daytime Lineup
The network has held its spot as the highest-rated network in daytime for 40 consecutive seasons.

[09/10/26 - 12:03 PM]
Get Unprecedented Access Inside Las Vegas' Golden Nugget Casino in "Secret Life of a Vegas Casino" - Premieres Tuesday, September 29 on Discovery Channel
Just off the chaos of busy Fremont Street, cameras capture the real-life and often shocking moments that unfold around the clock: unruly guests, high-pressure special events and the relentless efforts required to keep thousands of people safe and entertained each day.

[09/10/26 - 11:06 AM]
Video: Tubi Drops Official Trailer for New Original Horror-Comedy Film "Buzzkill"
When a group of sorority sisters find themselves trapped with a vengeful killer, party-girl Nora (Siena Agudong) knows that the drunker she gets, the more her tipsy memories start revealing clues about who's murdering her friends.

[09/10/26 - 11:06 AM]
Ovation TV to Debut the U.S. Premiere of "Murdoch Mysteries" Season 20 on October 5
Set in Toronto at the dawn of the 20th century, the one-hour drama series explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), a methodical and dashing detective who pioneers innovative forensic techniques to solve some of the city's most gruesome murders.

[09/10/26 - 11:02 AM]
Wisconsin-Notre Dame on NBC & Peacock Is NBC Sports' Third-Most Watched Notre Dame Football Game Since 2005, Averaging 8.1 Million Viewers
The audience for the No. 4 Fighting Irish's 41-13 victory peaked at 9.7 million viewers in the second quarter (9:15-9:30 p.m. ET) as Notre Dame led 13-10.

[09/10/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: "Prison Break: Black Creek" - Now in Production - Hulu
Welcome to Black Creek Penitentiary.

[09/10/26 - 11:01 AM]
HBO to Debut the Tony and Olivier Award-Winning Play "Oh, Mary!" in 2027
Cole Escola, Giles Terera, Bianca Leigh, Tony Macht and Michael Urie will star in the filmed adaptation.

[09/10/26 - 11:00 AM]
E!'s New Gilded Pleasure Is Here! "The Golden Life" Premieres Tuesday, October 20 at 10 PM ET/PT
Kelly Bensimon, Countess Luann De Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, Sonja Morgan, and Ramona Singer are bringing decades of friendship and feuds to sunny Palm Beach, FL, for a new start in the Sunshine State.

[09/10/26 - 10:31 AM]
Karen Kingsbury's "The Christmas Ring" to Premiere as Part of Great American Christmas 2026
Jana Kramer, Ben Hollingsworth, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Ashley Brown, and Jessie James Decker star in the project, which is based on the 2025 book of the same name.

[09/10/26 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Peacock Debuts Teaser, Key Art & First Look Images for "The Good Daughter"
Rose Byrne, Meghann Fahy, Brendan Gleeson, Olivia Williams, and Harper Steele star in the project, premiering November 12.

[09/10/26 - 10:00 AM]
Snoop Dogg to Host the "2026 MTV Video Music Awards" ("VMAs") Sunday, Sept. 27 on CBS
Snoop Dogg is a 13-time "VMAs" nominee, having won three awards.

[09/10/26 - 09:56 AM]
OWN's Hit Dating Series "Ready to Love" Heads to Chicago for an All-New Season Premiering Friday, October 2
The series follows a vibrant group of successful Black singles in their 30s and 40s as they navigate the excitement, challenges, and unexpected twists of finding lasting love in the Windy City.

[09/10/26 - 09:31 AM]
Sam Morril Returns to Netflix with a New One-Hour Stand-Up Special, "Incorrect"
The special premieres globally on September 29.

[09/10/26 - 09:09 AM]
Women's Flyweight Championship Headlines First-Ever UFC Main Card to Air Live on Both CBS and Paramount+
UFC 332: Silva vs. Wang takes place Saturday, October 3 at the Delta Center and for the first time, the entire main card will air on both CBS and Paramount+, beginning at a special start time of 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.