Even if its rare, Fox knows a winner when it has one. That’s why the network is making breakout hit “Empire” the centerpiece of the Fox 2015-16 schedule despite adding 10 news shows to its roster.
The network gave Lee Daniels’s soapy drama an 18-episode order and kept it in its winning 8 p.m Wednesday timeslot, pairing it with new procedural drama “Rosewood.”
The Fox brass isn’t messing with the success of “Gotham” either, keeping it in its 7 p.m. Monday position. The Batman prequel should give new drama “Minority Report,” based on Steven Spielberg’s movie, a nice boost when it airs right after.
Another big announcement the network shared Monday is that “American Idol” will end its run with an abbreviated 15th season, which is set to launch at midseason in 2016. The show’s declining ratings assured it wouldn’t last too much longer. Fox will launch all but four of it 10 new series at midseason.
Besides “Minority Report” and “Rosewood,” news comedies “Grandfathered” and “Scream Queens” will debut in the fall. Midseason launches include dramas “Lucifer” and “The Frankenstein Code,” the comedy “The Guide to Surviving Life” and animated comedy “Bordertown.” The six-part “The X-Files” revival is set for Jan. 24 and a live version of “Grease” will air Jan. 31, the network says.
Fox canceled “The Mindy Project,” “Backstrom,” “The Following,” “Kitchen Nightmares,” “Gang Related,” “Gracepoint,” “Red Band Society,” “Utopia” and “Weird Loners.” “Glee” ended its run.
“New Girl” will return to the schedule at midseason.
Check out the fall schedule, new series information and preview clips below.
Related: NBC 2015-16 schedule
Related: ABC 2015-16 schedule
Related: The CW 2015-16 schedule
Related: CBS 2015-16 schedule
FOX 2015-16 SCHEDULE FOR FALL
(New shows in ALL CAPS; all times CT)
MONDAY
7-8 p.m. “Gotham”
8-9 p.m. “MINORITY REPORT”
TUESDAY
7-7:30 p.m. “GRANDFATHERED”
7:30-8 p.m. “THE GRINDER”
8-9 p.m. “SCREAM QUEENS”
WEDNESDAY
7-8 p.m. “ROSEWOOD”
8-9 p.m. “Empire”
THURSDAY
7-8 p.m. “Bones”
8-9 p.m. “Sleepy Hollow”
FRIDAY
7-8 p.m. “Masterchef Junior”
8-9 p.m. “World’s Funniest”
SATURDAY
6:30-9:30 p.m. “Fox Sports Saturday; Fox College Football”
SUNDAY
6-6:30 p.m “NFL on Fox”
6:30-7 p.m. “The OT” / “Bob’s Burgers”
7-7:30 p.m. “The Simpsons”
7:30-8 p.m. “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
8-8:30 p.m. “Family Guy”
8:30-9 p.m. “The Last Man on Earth”
NEW FALL ANTHOLOGY SERIES
SCREAM QUEENS
The girls of Kappa House are dying for new pledges. “Scream Queens” is a new killer comedy-horror series from Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, the Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning Executive producers of “Glee” and “American Horror Story.” Wallace University is rocked by a string of murders. Kappa House, the most sought-after sorority for pledges, is ruled with an iron fist (in a pink glove) by its Queen Bitch, Chanel Oberlin (Emma Roberts, “American Horror Story: Freak Show,” “Scream 4”). But when anti-Kappa Dean Munsch (Jamie Lee Curtis, “Halloween,” “A Fish Called Wanda,” “True Lies”) decrees that sorority pledging must be open to all students, and not just the school’s silver-spooned elite, all hell is about to break loose, as a devil-clad killer begins wreaking havoc, claiming one victim, one episode at a time. Part black comedy, part slasher flick, “Scream Queens” is a modern take on the classic whodunit, in which every character has a motive for murder … or could easily be the next blood-soaked casualty.
- Production companies: 20th Century Fox Television, Ryan Murphy Television, Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision
- Co-creators/Writers/Executive producers: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan
- Directors: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan
- Cast: Emma Roberts as Chanel Oberlin, Jamie Lee Curtis as Dean Munsch, Lea Michele as Hester, Abigail Breslin as Chanel #5, Nasim Pedrad as Gigi, Oliver Hudson as Wes, Skyler Samuels as Grace, Keke Palmer as Zayday, Billie Lourd as Chanel #3, Diego Boneta as Pete, Glen Powell as Chad, Lucien Laviscount as Earl, Niecy Nash as Denise, Nick Jonas as Boone, Ariana Grande as Chanel #2
NEW FALL COMEDIES
GRANDFATHERED
What’s the fastest way to put the brakes on a cruise-controlled bachelor lifestyle? Fatherhood? Guess again. Television icon John Stamos (“Full House,” “ER”) stars in a new comedy about the ultimate bachelor who discovers he’s not only a father, but a grandfather. Successful restaurateur and man-about-town Jimmy Martino (Stamos) is used to being the most suave, most handsome and most single person in the room. All that changes with the surprise appearance of Jimmy’s adult son, Gerald (Josh Peck, “The Mindy Project”), and his baby daughter, Edie. Now Jimmy has to unlearn a lifetime of blissful selfishness and grapple with the fact that he went straight from single to grandfather in six seconds flat. Keeping tabs on Jimmy is Gerald’s mother and Jimmy’s former girlfriend, rocker chick-turned-mother Sara (Paget Brewster, “Criminal Minds,” “Community”). Equally concerned about how Jimmy will manage these new developments is Jimmy’s restaurant family, especially assistant manager Annelise (Kelly Jenrette, “Audrey”) and chef Ken (Ravi Patel, “Super Fun Night”). Can Jimmy teach Gerald to be a little more like him in order to win the affection of Edie’s hot mess of a mom, Vanessa (Christina Milian, “Baggage Claim”)? Will Jimmy and Sara fall for each other all over again, even though she’s the one thing he never dates—a woman his own age? And who’s higher maintenance, Jimmy or the baby? “Grandfathered” is an unconventional, sophisticated comedy about coming of age—at any age.
- Production company: ABC Studios, 20th Century Fox Television
- Writer: Daniel Chun
- Executive producers: Daniel Chun, Dan Fogelman, John Stamos
- Director: Chris Koch
- Cast: John Stamos as Jimmy, Josh Peck as Gerald, Paget Brewster as Sara, Christina Milian as Vanessa, Kelly Jenrette as Annelise, Ravi Patel as Ken
THE GRINDER
How many TV lawyers does it take to try a real-life case in a real-life courtroom? One, and his name is “The Grinder.” Starring Emmy Award nominee Rob Lowe (“Parks and Recreation,” “The West Wing”), “The Grinder” is a new comedy about a famous TV lawyer at a crossroads. When his legal series ends, he decides to move back home and join his family’s real law firm—despite having no formal education, no bar certification, no license to practice and no experience in an actual courtroom. Dean Sanderson (Lowe) spent eight seasons playing the title role on the hit legal drama “The Grinder.” Now he’s moving back to his hometown of Boise, Idaho, where his brother, Stewart (Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee Fred Savage, “The Wonder Years”), is a real-life attorney who is poised to take over the family law firm. It doesn’t take long for Dean to start injecting his TV drama into every aspect of Stewart’s life, both in the courtroom and at home, impacting Stewart’s wife—and Dean’s high school sweetheart—Debbie (Mary Elizabeth Ellis, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”); their two kids, 15-year-old Lizzie (Hana Hayes, “Bucket and Skinner’s Epic Adventures”) and 13-year-old Ethan (Connor Kalopsis, “Days Of Our Lives”); and Dean and Stewart’s father, the law firm’s head, Dean Sr. (William Devane, “24: Live Another Day”). Dean and Stewart don’t see to eye to eye, but when they stop arguing with each other and start arguing together in court … they make a formidable team. “The Grinder” is the story of two brothers, who took different paths, but meet again in the middle—for justice … sort of.
- Production company: 20th Century Fox Television
- Writers: Andrew Mogel, Jarrad Paul
- Executive producers: Andrew Mogel, Jarrad Paul, Nicholas Stoller, Jake Kasdan, Rob Lowe
- Director: Jake Kasdan
- Cast: Rob Lowe as Dean, Fred Savage as Stewart, Mary Elizabeth Ellis as Debbie, William Devane as Dean Sr., Hana Hayes as Lizzie, Connor Kalopsis as Ethan
NEW FALL DRAMAS
MINORITY REPORT
The future is coming. Based on the international blockbuster film by executive producer Steven Spielberg and the first of his films to be adapted for television, “Minority Report” follows the unlikely partnership between a man haunted by the future and a cop haunted by her past, as they race to stop the worst crimes of the year 2065 before they happen. Set in Washington, D.C., it is 10 years after the demise of Precrime, a law enforcement agency tasked with identifying and eliminating criminals … before their crimes were committed. To carry out this brand of justice, the agency used three precogs—”precognitives” Dash, Arthur and Agatha—who were able to see the future. Now, in 2065, crime-solving is different, and justice leans more on sophisticated and trusted technology than on the instincts of the precogs. Precog Dash (Stark Sands, “Inside Llewyn Davis”)—driven by his terrifying, but fragmented visions—now has returned in secret to help a brash, but shrewd police detective, Lara Vega (Meagan Good, “Think Like A Man” franchise, “Californication”), attempt to stop the murders that he predicts. As they navigate this future America, they will search for Dash’s missing twin brother, Arthur, and elude others who will stop at nothing to exploit their precog abilities. Also complicating matters is Dash and Arthur’s ingenious, but reclusive, foster sister, Agatha (Laura Regan, “Mad Men,” “Unbreakable”), who just wants Dash to return home. A drama of crime and conspiracy, this is a timeless story of connection: two lost souls, Dash and Vega, who find friendship, purpose and redemption in each other.
- Production companies: 20th Century Fox Television, Paramount Television, Amblin Television
- Written/developed by: Max Borenstein
- Executive producers: Max Borenstein, Kevin Falls, Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Mark Mylod
- Director: Mark Mylod
- Cast: Meagan Good as Vega, Stark Sands as Dash/Arthur, Wilmer Valderrama as Will Blake, Daniel London as Wally, Laura Regan as Agatha, Li Jun Li as Akeela, Zhane Hall as Rico
ROSEWOOD
Meet the Beethoven of private pathologists … From executive producer Todd Harthan (“Psych,” “Dominion”), “Rosewood” is the story of Dr. Beaumont Rosewood, Jr. (Morris Chestnut, “Nurse Jackie,” “The Best Man” franchise), the most brilliant private pathologist in Miami. Using his wildly sophisticated autopsy lab, he performs for-hire autopsies to uncover clues that the Miami PD can’t see. His new partner-in-crime is Detective Villa (Jaina Lee Ortiz, “The After”), a Miami PD detective with attitude and demons to spare. While she’s impressed by Rosewood’s incredible abilities, his constant optimism is more annoying than it is infectious. But somehow, week-to-week, this unlikely tag team will solve many crimes together. Joining Rosewood in his practice are his sister and “toxicology queen,” Pippy (Gabrielle Dennis, “The Game”); and DNA specialist Tara Milly Izikoff aka TMI (Anna Konkle, “Man Seeking Woman,” “Betas”), who is Pippy’s fiancée. Plagued with his own set of medical ailments, Rosewood sees that every moment of life should be embraced and lived to the fullest. And those moments of victims’ lives that will never be are what drive him the most.
- Production companies: 20th Century Fox Television, Temple Hill
- Writer: Todd Harthan
- Executive producers: Todd Harthan, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Richard Shepard
- Director: Richard Shepard
- Cast: Morris Chestnut as Beaumont Rosewood, Jr., Jaina Lee Ortiz as Det. Villa, Gabrielle Dennis as Pippy, Anna Konkle as TMI, Maggie Elizabeth Jones as Bella
NEW EVENT SERIES
THE X-FILES
Thirteen years after the original series run, the next mind-bending chapter of “The X-Files” will be a thrilling, six-episode event series helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter, with stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson re-inhabiting their roles as iconic FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. “The X-Files” originally premiered in September 1993. Over the course of its nine-season run, the influential series went from breakout sci-fi favorite to massive global hit, and became one of the most successful television dramas of all time. The show, which earned 16 Emmy Awards, five Golden Globes and a Peabody Award, follows FBI special agents Scully (Anderson) and Mulder (Duchovny), as they investigate unexplained cases—”X-Files”—for which the only answers involve paranormal phenomena.
- Production companies: 20th Century Fox Television, Ten Thirteen Productions
- Creator: Chris Carter
- Executive producers: Chris Carter, Glen Morgan
- Cast: David Duchovny as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder, Gillian Anderson as FBI Special Agent Dana Scully, Mitch Pileggi as Walter Skinner
NEW MIDSEASON COMEDIES
THE GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE
Wouldn’t it be great to have a friend who has made all the mistakes in life there are to make, and then tells you exactly where he went wrong, so you don’t have to? “The Guide to Surviving Life” is a new comedy that explores what we all go through on our way to figuring out what life is all about. Cooper Barrett (Jack Cutmore-Scott, “Kingsman: The Secret Service”) still doesn’t have the job he wants; he’s accidently fallen in love with his across-the-hall neighbor, Kelly Bishop (Meaghan Rath, “Being Human”); one of his roommates, Neal (Charlie Saxton, “Betas,” “Hung”), just can’t seem to dump his bodybuilder girlfriend; his other roommate, Barry (James Earl, “Ground Floor,” “Glee”), is a “loveable jackass” who can’t stop getting into trouble; and his 40-year-old-brother, Josh (Justin Bartha, “The New Normal,” “The Hangover” franchise), a married father of two, is constantly popping in to come hang with the fellas. The one thing they do have is each other. As Cooper struggles to survive each of life’s many challenges—a night in jail, an inappropriate text he never should have sent, an ill-advised household pet—he will guide us through the often-messy, always-hilarious ordeal, so that our lives don’t have to be nearly the entertaining disaster that Cooper’s is turning out to be.
- Production companies: 20th Century Fox Television, The Jackal Group
- Writer: Jay Lacopo
- Executive producers: Jay Lacopo, Gail Berman, Bill Callahan, James Griffiths
- Director: James Griffiths
- Cast: Jack Cutmore-Scott as Cooper, Meaghan Rath as Kelly, James Earl as Barry, Charlie Saxton as Neal, Justin Bartha as Josh, Maureen Sebastian as Leslie
BORDERTOWN
From “Family Guy” writer Mark Hentemann comes “Bordertown,” a new animated comedy about two families living in a Southwest desert town on the U.S.-Mexico border. The series takes a satirical look at the cultural shifts occurring in America, where the U.S. Census forecasts that by 2017, ethnic minorities will become the majority. Set against this increasingly diverse backdrop, the comedy explores family, politics and everything in between with a cross-cultural wink. “Bordertown” centers on two clans: the Buckwalds and the Gonzalezes. Bud Buckwald (Hank Azaria, “The Simpsons”) is a married father of three and a Border Patrol agent who is just a tad behind the times and feels slightly threatened by the cultural changes transforming his neighborhood. He lives next door to Ernesto Gonzalez (Nicholas Gonzalez, “Sleepy Hollow”), an ambitious family man, who has been in the country less than 10 years, but is already doing better than Bud—which, it turns out, is a bit of an issue for Bud. Bud is married to Janice Buckwald (Alex Borstein, “Family Guy”), both the wisest and most oblivious member of the family. The Buckwald kids include BEecky (Borstein), a socially awkward, big-boned geek; Sanford (Judah Friedlander, “30 Rock”), a loser who thinks he’s a player; and Gert (Missi Pyle, “The Exes,” “Galaxy Quest”), a beauty pageant-obsessed five-year-old with a pet pig. Meanwhile, living the American Dream next door are the Gonzalezes, including Maria (Stephanie Escajeda, “100 Things To Do Before High School”), Ernesto’s no-nonsense wife; their son, Ruiz (guest voice Efren Ramirez, “Napoleon Dynamite”); and their 21-year-old nephew, J.C. (Gonzalez), a graduate student who is engaged to Becky and frequently butts heads with Bud. As Bud and Ernesto’s paths begin to cross, their two families soon become bound by romance, conflict and, perhaps most importantly, friendship—a word that means the same, no matter what side of the border you’re from.
- Production company: 20th Century Fox Television
- Creator/writer: Mark Hentemann
- Executive producers: Seth MacFarlane, Mark Hentemann
- Co-executive producers: Alex Carter, Dan Vebber
- Consulting producers: Lalo Alcaraz, Gustavo Arellano
- Supervising producer: Valentina L. Garza
- Cast: Hank Azaria as Bud Buckwald, Nicholas Gonzalez as Ernesto Gonzalez and J.C Gonzalez, Alex Borstein as Janice and Becky Buckwald, Missi Pyle as Gert Buckwald, Judah Friedlander as Sanford Buckwald, Stephanie Escajeda as Maria Gonzalez, Efren Ramirez as Ruiz Gonzalez
NEW MIDSEASON DRAMAS
THE FRANKENSTEIN CODE
What would you do with a second chance? From executive producer/writer Rand Ravich (“Life,” “Crisis”) and executive producer Howard Gordon (“Homeland,” “24”) comes “The Frankenstain Code,” a modern reimagining of the Mary Shelley classic, about a man brought back to life by two scientists playing god. Seventy-five-year-old Jimmy Pritchard (guest star Philip Baker Hall, “Modern Family,” “Magnolia”) is a shell of his former self. A drinker, a womanizer and a father who always put work before family, Pritchard was forced to resign as L.A. County Sheriff for corrupt conduct more than a decade ago. Now, some 15 unkind years later, he is killed when he stumbles upon a robbery at the home of FBI Agent Duval Pritchard (Tim DeKay, “White Collar”), one of his three children. But death is surprisingly short for Jimmy, who is brought back to life by billionaire tech-genius twins Mary Goodwin (Dilshad Vadsaria, “Revenge”) and her brother, Otto (Adhir Kalyan, “Rules of Engagement”), founders of the social networking empire, Lookinglass. Resurrected as a younger version of himself, with physical abilities of which he never dreamed, a re-animated Pritchard (Rob Kazinsky, “True Blood”) is given a second chance at life. What will he do with it? Will he seek vengeance against those who killed him? Will he try to repair the damage he did to his family? Will he embrace a new sense of purpose or fall prey to old temptations?
- Production companies: 20th Century Fox Television, Teakwood Lane Productions, Kara Productions
- Writer: Rand Ravich
- Executive producers: Rand Ravich, Howard Gordon, Michael Cuesta (pilot)
- Co-executive producer: Hugh Fitzpatrick
- Director: Michael Cuesta
- Cast: Rob Kazinsky as Jimmy Pritchard, Dilshad Vadsaria as Mary, Adhir Kalyan as Otto, Tim DeKay as Duval Pritchard, Ciara Bravo as Gracie Pritchard
LUCIFER
The Devil has come to Los Angeles … Based upon the characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg for DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint, “Lucifer” is the story of the original fallen angel. Bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis, “Merlin”) has abandoned his throne and retired to L.A., where he owns Lux, an upscale nightclub. Charming, charismatic and devilishly handsome, Lucifer is enjoying his retirement, indulging in a few of his favorite things—wine, women and song—when a beautiful pop star is brutally murdered outside of Lux. For the first time in roughly 10 billion years, he feels something awaken deep within him as a result of this murder. Compassion? Sympathy? The very thought disturbs him—as well as his best friend and confidante, Mazikeen aka Maze (Lesley-Ann Brandt, “The Librarians”), a fierce demon in the form of a beautiful young woman. The murder attracts the attention of LAPD homicide detective Chloe Dancer (Lauren German, “Chicago Fire”), who initially is dismissive of Lucifer. But she becomes intrigued by his talent for drawing out people’s secrets and his desire to dispense justice, doling out punishment to those who deserve it. As they work together to solve the pop star’s murder, Lucifer is struck by Chloe’s inherent goodness. Accustomed to dealing with the absolute worst of humanity, Lucifer is intrigued by Chloe’s apparent purity and begins to wonder if there’s hope for his own soul yet. At the same time, God’s emissary, the angel Amenadiel (DB Woodside, “Suits,” “24”), has been sent to Los Angeles to convince Lucifer to return to the underworld … can the Devil incarnate be tempted toward the side of Good, or will his original calling pull him back toward Evil?
- Production companies: Warner Bros. Television, Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Aggressive Mediocrity
- Based on characters created by: Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg for DC Entertainment’s Vertigo Imprint
- Writer: Tom Kapinos
- Executive producers: Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Kapinos, Jonathan Littman, Len Wiseman, Ildy Modrovich, Joe Henderson
- Director: Len Wiseman
- Cast: Tom Ellis as Lucifer, Lauren German as Det. Chloe Dancer, Rachael Harris as Linda Martin, DB Woodside as Amenadiel, Lesley-Ann Brandt as Maze, Nicholas Gonzalez as Dan, Scarlett Estevez as Trixie