We Give FOX its Mid-Season Report Card

THE GOOD: Afters years of being shuffled around the schedule, BONES has settled nicely into its Wednesday night time-slot to become one of the evening’s highest rated shows. After shifting the focus to Walter (our new favorite mad scientist), FRINGE survived a shaky start to their season to finish off the year strongly. While THE SIMPSONS and FAMILY GUY continue to provide for consistent laughter on Sundays.

THE BAD: Unfortunately, the laughter stops after FAMILY GUY. I mean literally, we really don’t find AMERICAN DAD the least bit funny (and lord knows we’ve given it a fair shot!). Stellar seasons from both TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES and PRISON BREAK have gotten buried under what has become the most competitive night of the week. Viewers not surprisingly checked out of the Jerry O’Connell hotel ‘laugher’ DO NOT DISTURB. And quick, we challenge you to name one show on FOX that you watch between Thursday and Saturday.

THE FUTURE: Looks about as unstoppable as Shirley Manson’s Catherine Weaver, as FOX gets ready to unleash its perennial midseason juggernaut AMERICAN IDOL on to a salivating public. A show that not only still owns the highly coveted 18-49 demographic, but more importantly serves as a launching pad to promote exciting mid-season entires like the return of 24, Joss Whedon’s DOLLHOUSE and the Tim Roth vehicle, LIE TO ME. All that plus fans will finally have a reason to turn to FOX between Thursday and Saturday with BONES moving to Thursday night at 8PM and Friday night culminating in a nerd orgasm for SciFi fans with TERMINATOR at 8PM, DOLLHOUSE at 9PM and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA at 10PM (on SciFi, Space in Canada)

THE GRADE: B+