Dollhouse, Sarah Connor relegated to Friday on Fox

Fox has posted its midseason schedule earlier today and it’s pretty much bad news for the network’s only two non-procedural science fiction shows, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and the much anticipated Dollhouse.

The entire schedule spells out one thing: caution. With the current economic crisis adding to all  major networks’ other problems (losing viewers to cablers, inadequate ratings measurement systems, apparent lack of competence in coming up with a sustainable business model or at least working out international online distribution rights),  Fox has decided to play it safe.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which currently airs on Mondays, will be shifted to the ratings killer Friday slot in February and act as the lead-in to Dollhouse. At the same time, the more viewer friendly slots will be filled with a new season of 24, reality shows, including the returning American Idol, procedural shows – House, Fringe, and the new Tim Roth starrer Lie to Me.

The Terminator series was recently picked up for a full season despite underwhelming ratings, which led to speculation about Dollhouse possibly being pushed back on account of some not-so-minor tweaks that the series supposedly needed to become more ‘accessible’ to wider audiences. Long story short, the network people had enough time on their hands to become more involved with Joss Whedon’s ideas and apparently the creative differences led to a minor reboot. In Joss’ words:

Basically, the Network and I had different ideas about what the tone of the show would be. They bought something somewhat different than what I was selling them, which is not that uncommon in this business. Their desires were not surprising: up the stakes, make the episodes more stand-alone, stop talking about relationships and cut to the chase. Oh, and add a chase.

There have also been some cast shifts, with Miracle Laurie no longer playing the character she was originally intended to play and Homicide and Journeyman‘s Reed Diamond sticking around, even though he was only supposed to be in the original pilot (ditched at Joss’ request a while ago).

Beyond that, Steven DeKnight is no longer with the show – he will be writing for Starz’ Spartacus instead – and everyone’s favourite blogging writer, Jane Espenson, now free of her Battlestar Galactica duties, has come on board.

While these are mostly good reasons to be optimistic about the creative aspects of Dollhouse, all the rumours in recent months about network people having reservations about the show are as good as confirmed: Friday at 10, after the excellent, yet ratings-challenged Terminator show, looks like a resounding vote of no confidence.

Here is the full schedule:

MONDAY
Monday, Jan. 5:
7:30 PM-CC ET TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL (LIVE)

Monday, Jan. 12:
8:00-10:00 PM 24 (Season Premiere, Part 2)

Mondays, beginning Jan. 19:
8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM 24 (Time Period Premiere)

TUESDAY
Tuesday, Jan. 13:
8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part 1)

Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 20:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM FRINGE

WEDNESDAY
Wednesday, Jan. 14:
8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part 2)

Wednesdays, beginning Jan. 21:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM LIE TO ME (Series Premiere)

THURSDAY
Thursday, Jan. 1:
7:30 PM-CC ET FEDEX ORANGE BOWL (LIVE)

Thursday, Jan. 8:
7:30 PM-CC ET FEDEX BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (LIVE)

Thursdays, beginning Jan. 15:
8:00-9:00 PM BONES (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM KITCHEN NIGHTMARES

Thursdays, beginning Jan. 29:
8:00-9:00 PM BONES
9:00-10:00 PM HELL’S KITCHEN (Season Premiere)

FRIDAY
Friday, Jan. 2:
7:30 PM-CC ET ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL (LIVE)

Friday, Jan. 9:
8:00-10:00 PM FOX MOVIE SPECIAL: BRUCE ALMIGHTY

Fridays, beginning Jan. 16 (no change to lineup):
8:00-9:00 PM ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER?
9:00-10:00 PM DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS!

Fridays, beginning Feb. 13:
8:00-9:00 PM TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES
(Time Period Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM DOLLHOUSE (Series Premiere)

SATURDAY
Saturdays, beginning Jan. 3 (no change to lineup):
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S MOST WANTED: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK
11:00 PM-Midnight MADtv
Midnight-12:30 AM TALKSHOW WITH SPIKE FERESTEN

SUNDAY
Sunday, Jan. 11:
8:00-10:00 PM 24 (Season Premiere, Part 1)

Sundays, beginning Jan. 18:
7:00-7:30 PM HOLE IN THE WALL (Time Period Premiere)
7:30-8:00 PM HOLE IN THE WALL (Time Period Premiere)
8:00-10:00 PM ANIMATION DOMINATION
(THE SIMPSONS, KING OF THE HILL, FAMILY GUY and AMERICAN DAD)

(PRISON BREAK and ‘TIL DEATH will return to the schedule at a later date.)

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