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[05/15/03 - 12:00 AM]
The Futon's Upfront Notes: Fox
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) - As a supplement to the press releases issued by the networks, here's an addendum to all the fanfare that went on at each upfront presentation:

-- FOX will lean heavily on "American Idol" spin-off, "American Juniors," next season as the network has committed to two seasons of the series despite not having premiered yet. The first edition will bow on June 3 at 8:00/7:00c (pushed back from May 27) with the second landing in the fall as a lead-in to "24." While none of the current "Idol" judges nor host Ryan Seacrest were said to be involved with the spin-off, Paula Abdul is reportedly in talks to host (but not judge) the series.

-- Much like former soaps "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Melrose Place," FOX is hoping to produce 30 episodes of "The O.C." each season. The series is expected to get a late July/early August start to get a jump on the fall season.

-- FOX's new comedy "A Minute With Stan Hooper" received the network's best test audience scores of any of its comedy pilots in recent memory according to several network executives.

-- Two of FOX's new series received slight title changes: "True Calling" is now "Tru Calling" (dropped the "e" in "True") and "Wonder Falls" will run as the one word "Wonderfalls."

-- "Oliver Beene," which will replace "Futurama" on Sundays at 7:00/6:00c, has only been given a 13 episode order for its second season.

-- On the midseason front, "Wonderfalls" (which was originally eyed for an August start) will take over for "Joe Millionaire" in January. "Still Life" is expected to land a Thursday slot while "Banzai" will get a limited run this summer before appearing some time during midseason.

-- Formally getting the axe/ending this season were: "Andy Richter Controls the Universe," "Fastlane," "Firefly," "Futurama," "Girls Club," "The Grubbs," "John Doe," "Married by America," "Mr. Personality," "The Pitts" and "Septuplets."





  [may 2003]  
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· 24 (FOX)
· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)
· AMERICAN JUNIORS (FOX)
· ANDY RICHTER CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE (FOX)
· BANZAI (FOX)
· BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 (FOX)
· FASTLANE (FOX)
· FIREFLY (FOX)
· FUTURAMA (HULU)
· GIRLS CLUB (FOX)
· GRUBBS, THE (FOX)
· JOE MILLIONAIRE (FOX)
· JOHN DOE (FOX)
· MARRIED BY AMERICA (FOX)
· MINUTE WITH STAN HOOPER, A (FOX)
· MR. PERSONALITY (FOX)
· OC, THE (FOX)
· OLIVER BEENE (FOX)
· PITTS, THE (FOX)
· SEPTUPLETS (FOX)
· STILL LIFE (FOX)
· TRU CALLING (FOX)
· WONDERFALLS (FOX)





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