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CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- FOX will lean on concert specials, music award shows, outtakes compilations, theatrical films and even 14-year-old episodes of "Married With Children" to boost its December schedule. No that's not a typo: FOX plans to air the 1989 two-part episode "It's a Bundyful Life" of the long-running comedy on Monday, December 15. The episodes featured Al Bundy having a "Christmas Carol"-type experience when he gets hit on the head and an angel (Sam Kinison) shows him what life would be like if he had never been born.
More telling however is what's absent from FOX's December schedule: sophomore comedy "Wanda at Large" won't air at all while newcomer "A Minute With Stan Hooper" will air just once during the period (December 17). The news undoubtedly spells trouble for both series as the network prepares its midseason schedule. FOX has nearly a dozen series waiting in the wings for 2004 including the dramas "Still Life" and "Wonderfalls"; comedies "Oliver Beene," "Cracking Up," "The Ortegas" and "Cedric the Entertainer Presents"; and reality series like "Playing It Straight," "Love Again," "The Complex" and of course, "American Idol." In its November sweeps wrap-up call, FOX executives gave little indication about how its midseason schedule will shape up aside from the return of "American Idol" on January 20.
As for December, here's a complete breakdown of the network's schedule for the month:
Monday, December 1
8:00/7:00c - "Movie: The Wedding Singer" (Repeat)
Tuesday, December 2
8:00/7:00c - "That '70s Show: Join Together" (Repeat)
8:30/7:30c - "The Simple Life: Pilot"
9:00/8:00c - "24: Day 3: 6:00-7:00 PM"
Wednesday, December 3
8:00/7:00c - "That '70s Show: We're Not Going to Take It"
8:30/7:30c - "The Simple Life: Episode 2" (Special Night & Time)
9:00/8:00c - "The O.C.: The Best Chrismukkah Ever"
Thursday, December 4
8:00/7:00c - "Tru Calling: Haunted"
9:00/8:00c - "Funniest Wedding Outtakes" (Repeat)
Friday, December 5
8:00/7:00c - "TV's Naughtiest Blunders From Around the World #1"
9:00/8:00c - "Boston Public: Chapter Seventy-Four"
Saturday, December 6
8:00/7:00c - "Cops"
8:30/7:30c - "Cops"
9:00/8:00c - "America's Most Wanted"
Sunday, December 7
7:00/6:00c - "King of the Hill: Reborn to be Wild" (Repeat)
7:30/6:30c - "King of the Hill: After the Mold Rush"
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons: Today I am A Clown"
8:30/7:30c - "The Bernie Mac Show: It's a Wonderful Wife"
9:00/8:00c - "Malcolm in the Middle: Malcolm's Job"
9:30/8:30c - "Arrested Development: Visiting Ours"
Monday, December 8
8:00/7:00c - "Movie: Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps" (Repeat)
Tuesday, December 9
8:00/7:00c - "That '70s Show: Magic Bus" (Repeat)
8:30/7:30c - "The Simple Life: Episode 3"
9:00/8:00c - "24: Day 3: 7:00-8:00 PM"
Wednesday, December 10
8:00/7:00c - "The 14th Annual Billboard Music Awards"
Thursday, December 11
8:00/7:00c - "Tru Calling: Star Crossed"
9:00/8:00c - "Funniest Animal Outtakes" (Repeat)
Friday, December 12
8:00/7:00c - "TV's Naughtiest Blunders From Around the World #2"
9:00/8:00c - "Boston Public: Chapter Seventy-Five"
Saturday, December 13
8:00/7:00c - "Cops"
8:30/7:30c - "Cops"
9:00/8:00c - "America's Most Wanted"
Sunday, December 14
7:00/6:00c - "King of the Hill: TBA" (Repeat)
7:30/6:30c - "King of the Hill: Livin' On Reds, Vitamin C and Propane"
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons: 'Tis The Fifteenth Season"
8:30/7:30c - "The Bernie Mac Show: Road to Tradition"
9:00/8:00c - "Malcolm in the Middle: Christmas Trees"
9:30/8:30c - "Arrested Development: In God We Trust"
Monday, December 15
8:00/7:00c - "Jingle Ball Rock" (Working Title)
9:00/8:00c - "Married With Children: It's a Bundyful Life, Part 1" (Repeat)
9:30/8:30c - "Married With Children: It's a Bundyful Life, Part 2" (Repeat)
Tuesday, December 16
8:00/7:00c - "That '70s Show" (Repeat)
8:30/7:30c - "The Simple Life: Episode 4"
9:00/8:00c - "24: Day 3: 8:00-9:00 PM"
Wednesday, December 17
8:00/7:00c - "That '70s Show: Christmas"
8:30/7:30c - "A Minute With Stan Hooper: Bye Bye Miss American Pie"
9:00/8:00c - "The O.C.: The Countdown"
Thursday, December 18
8:00/7:00c - "Tru Calling: Closure"
9:00/8:00c - "Funniest Game Show Moments #2" (Repeat)
Friday, December 19
8:00/7:00c - "TV's Naughtiest Blunders From Around the World #3"
9:00/8:00c - "Boston Public: Chapter Seventy-Six"
Saturday, December 20
8:00/7:00c - "Cops"
8:30/7:30c - "Cops"
9:00/8:00c - "America's Most Wanted"
Sunday, December 21
7:00/6:00c - "King of the Hill: TBA" (Repeat)
7:30/6:30c - "King of the Hill: TBA"
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons: TBA"
8:30/7:30c - "The Bernie Mac Show: TBA"
9:00/8:00c - "Malcolm in the Middle: TBA"
9:30/8:30c - "Arrested Development: My Mother The Car"
Monday, December 22
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons: 'Tis The Fifteenth Season" (Repeat)
8:30/7:30c - "King of the Hill: Livin' On Reds, Vitamin C and Propane" (Repeat)
9:00/8:00c - "Malcolm in the Middle: Christmas Trees" (Repeat)
9:30/8:30c - "Arrested Development: In God We Trust" (Repeat)
Tuesday, December 23
8:00/7:00c - "That '70s Show: Christmas" (Repeat)
8:30/7:30c - "The Simple Life: Episode 5"
9:00/8:00c - "An American Idol Christmas" (Repeat)
Wednesday, December 24
8:00/7:00c - "Movie: Anastasia" (Repeat)
Thursday, December 25
8:00/7:00c - "World Idol, Part 1" (Two Hours)
Friday, December 26
8:00/7:00c - "Funniest Holiday Moments" (Repeat)
9:00/8:00c - "The Greatest Christmas Moments of All Time" (Repeat)
Saturday, December 27
8:00/7:00c - "Cops"
8:30/7:30c - "Cops"
9:00/8:00c - "America's Most Wanted"
Sunday, December 28
7:30/6:30c - "Movie: Die Hard" (Repeat)
Monday, December 29
8:00/7:00c - (To Be Announced)
9:00/8:00c - (To Be Announced)
Tuesday, December 30
8:00/7:00c - (To Be Announced)
8:30/7:30c - (To Be Announced)
9:00/8:00c - (To Be Announced)
Wednesday, December 31
8:00/7:00c - "Arrested Development: Pilot" (Repeat)
8:30/7:30c - "Arrested Development: Top Banana" (Repeat)
9:00/8:00c - "Arrested Development: Bringing Up Buster" (Repeat)
9:30/8:30c - "Arrested Development: Key Decisions" (Repeat)
Thursday, January 1
8:00/7:00c - (To Be Announced)
9:00/8:00c - "World Idol, Part 2" (One Hour)
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