LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- FOX has ordered a fourth season of its hiatused comedy "'Til Death," while HBO is moving forward with a second season of its late-night animated comedy "The Life & Times of Tim."

Said pick-ups come as the TCA Winter Press Tour enters its fourth day.

The former news comes as a major surprise - "Death" has been off the air since October 8 with no return date in sight. And with 14 episodes still left to air from its 18-episode third season - not to mention one more holdover episode from season two - the network still has a significant stockpile of "Death" installments.

Nevertheless, producer Sony Pictures Television is said to have offered a reduced license fee for a 22-episode fourth season in the hopes of making up the difference in an off-network deal for the show. In total, Sony will have at least 81 episodes for its syndication package - 22 from season one, 19 from season two (only 15 of which actually aired during the strike-shortened 2007-08 season), 18 from season three and 22 from season four. Production on the current season is set to wrap on January 23 while a start date for season four wasn't specified.

Brad Garrett, Cathy Yuspa, David S. Rosenthal, Josh Goldsmith, Steve Skrovan and Tim Hobert are the show's executive producers.

Meanwhile, HBO's "Tim" has landed a second cycle. 300,000 viewers on average tuned into the show's freshman run, which concluded in November. It's not clear when the new season will roll out. Creator Steve Dildarian executive produces the series alongside Jimmy Miller, Mike Clements and Tom Werner for Media Rights Capital.