FOX Desperate For "American Idol" and "24"

FOX's prime-time schedule is falling apart. The new shows premiered with poor ratings and then they were gone as baseball took over. Now the baseball is gone and the new shows are back doing even worse. And to add insult to injury, the baseball coverage did not do too well either.


As previously reported, the 4th season premiere of teen soap "The O.C." did so badly last week (a little over 3 million people tuned in), the network decided to air two episodes this week, trying the drama out in its old Wednesday at 9pm slot.

If the show does better (and it could hardly do worse) it may actually stay there. Since the network ordered only 16 episodes this season, it may end up burning those off while "Lost" is off air.

The new reality show "The Rich List" was yanked after only 1 airing as was the Thursday night sitcom "Happy Hour". This is the second hiatus for the latter, so it is safe to assume the comedy no one ever loved and all critics hated will never be back.

The network had already given up on the mystery thriller "Vanished" when it made a decision to move it to TV graveyard known as Friday night. Last week's anemic ratings for the show's return (a little over 3 million, down 50% from the last October episode) only proved it may be gone before we actually find out who and why abducted the senator's wife. If anyone cares, that is.

Then there are freshman dramas "Standoff" and "Justice" that keep on bleeding. They are now both down to about 6 million and the new comedy "Till Death", that FOX is for now forced to stick with, is doing even worse.

But, there is hope. "House", "The Simpsons" and "Prison Break" still have their loyal following. And the network has already started heavy promotion of their megahits "American Idol" (last year's unbelievable January average of over 35 million viewers) and "24" (the counter-terrorist drama clocked in almost 15 million viewers last season) that once again may end up saving the network.

If only January was tomorrow.

More stories:
The O.C. Moves To Wednesday
The O.C. Premiere D.O.A.
Showdown on 'Prison Break'
A New Day For Bearded Jack Bauer
The Simpsons November Highlights