Fox unveils 2010-11 schedule, shrinks 'Idol' results show

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Fox unveiled its fall and midseason schedule Monday morning that included a shortened "American Idol" results show and giving breakout hit "Glee" the coveted post-Super Bowl time slot.

This fall, Fox will pair top-rated "House" with new Texas oil soap "Lonestar" on Mondays, giving the network a strong drama night. The network will launch a comedy block on Tuesdays, fueled by "Glee." Wednesdays is a mixed pairing, with returning procedural "Lie to Me" joining network's second highest-rated reality show, "Hell's Kitchen." On Thursdays, Fox will continue its strategy of stocking the night with scripted dramas "Bones" and "Fringe." On Fridays, Fox plans to air "Human Target" leading into "The Good Guys," which the network hopes to roll from summer into fall.

Steven Spielberg's dino-drama "Terra Nova" isn't on the schedule (first image here), but Fox confirmed the show will join the network for midseason along with comedies "Bob's Burgers" and "Mixed Signals."

The network promised a high-end production with "Terra Nova," about a family from 100 years in the future that travels 150 million years back in time to prehistoric Earth.

On a conference call with reporters, Fox executives said Spielberg specifically asked for writers from "24" for the show, whose writing staff will include Brannon Braga and David Fury.

"Terra Nova" will have an "enormous production commitment," promised Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly. Episodes will be mostly stand-alone stories. There will be a mythology through-line but "you won't need a study guide to follow it."

Also in midseason, Fox plans to shrink "American Idol" results show, cutting it to 30 minutes. The Tuesday performance show will be 90 minutes (when itas not a full two hours), an expansion from its typically scheduled one hour.

"We looked at some of the feedback and viewers want us to tighten up the results show," Reilly said. "And we need spots for our new half-hour comedies, which are a big part of our development this year."

As for replacing departing judge Simon Cowell, Fox entertainment chairman Peter Rice said the network will launch its search after the upfronts. "There's no bigger question for the summer," he said. "We have to find a judge to replace Simon that has music credibility and provides incredible entertainment value."

Reilly said that "Glee" won't have another extended hiatus this year, with Fox running the show to December and then bringing it back for a post-Super Bowl slot. When asked if the musical-comedy was the best fit for a post-football game spot, Reilly said, "The Super Bowl is so big there are many shows that are not the most compatible that still [benefit] from such a wide audience. 'Grey's Anatomy' wasn't the perfect fit a few years back and that worked out well."

Reilly took a shot at press stories about other networks, which have focused on how many new shows that rivals will launch next season. 

"Oh, they say they have 12 new [shows]," Reilly said. "I assure you no network can spend enough money to support those new shows. Tentpole movies spend $75 million to create awareness. When you got that many new shows spread across the week you can't support it."  

In the wake of "Glee," one might have expected Fox to find more convention-busting shows. If anything, next season's lineup is prototypical Fox: Intense, male-friendly dramas coupled with at least at least two snarky comedies.

If the current season has impacted Fox's lineup, it's that the network has added live-action comedy block. ABC's go-for-broke strategy of launching four new comedies on Wednesday night, resulting in the enviable hit "Modern Family," promoted a surge of half-hour development this season. Fox planted its comedy flag on Tuesday nights, the only evening devoid of an existing successful comedy franchise.

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Fox's full 2010-11 lineup is below:

***New shows in red

FOX MIDSEASON 2011 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE