FOX network is in a state of panic mode after last year's fallout of canceling 6 dramas ("The Good Guys", "Lone Star", "Lie to Me", "Human Target", "The Chicago Code" and the now "Terra Nova"). This year after canceling the Fall somewhat rookie hit (but not enough for FOX's high budget standards) Terra Nova, they're looking into the future hoping to finding the next multi-year hit like "House" (which by the way, this season is its final season) and "24″. Right now, the state of FOX canceling more of its rookie dramas has increased as the BONES spin-off "The Finder" is headed towards cancelation and critically acclaimed hit "Alcatraz" is definetly headed towards cancelation (it is doing far worse than Terra Nova ratings). Also take into account of the state of FRINGE. FOX brought it back by a huge fan movement and moved it to Fridays because the ratings are terrible for any other night (mainly its Thursday timeslot after BONES pre-American Idol timeslot change). Back in January of the TCA FOX conference, FOX admitted that they are losing money on FRINGE and the show's future, even in its Friday night timeslot, will soon in May 2012 doom to fail. FOX has ordered only five drama for the 2012-2013 season, only of two of the five ordered pilots are already committed for a 12-13 episode order (because of the huge star power of the two shows). Cuba Gooding Jr will star in Greg Berlanti's "Guilty" (think of James Spader's role in Boston Legal). Kavin Bacon will star in an Kevin Williamson's project that's currently untitled but the premise is that Kevin Bacon will be a former FBI profiler that comes out of retirement to help catch a serial killer. Sounds great for a movie plot, even better if they fit it perfectly for a TV show. Other 3 drama pilots ordered are unknown at this time.
How about FOX comedies this year? The "dramedy" of GLEE is not going anywhere. New Girl is a huge hit with excellent ratings and it's not going anywhere (nice to see the Deschanel Sisters having successful hits on the same network). Speaking of New Girl, why is it becoming a huge hit for Zooey Deschanel? How did America fell in love with her? Simple, the correct promotions at the right time. FOX did the same for Terra Nova during the 2011 Super Bowl but they pushed back the pilot to Fall 2011 (originally the pilot supposed to premiere in April 2011), this known as one of the main reasons why it canceled. New Girl promos were blasting all over the Summer time on FOX into the Fall 2011 on FOX and the ratings were a huge hit. Also, the show is actually funny. Breaking In was brought back for a second season and it is still an unknown how it wil do of its cast change (a bit of a change) and new timeslot after the lead-in of New Girl. I Hate My Teenage Daughter is dead. Raising Hope is still a toss-up in ratings. FOX also ordered four comedy pilots, all unknown at this point but one of them is a Mindy Kaling's (The Office) executive produced show.
Here's my prediction of FOX future of the 2012-2013 season: TOUCH by Kiefer Sutherland will be a huge hit and will be Kiefer's next '24′ of spanning multiple seasons on FOX. I'm going to say the same thing for GLEE & New Girl. These three shows are not going anywhere. I can see BONES being the final season for the 2012-2013 season, the ratings have fallen a bit and the episodes are getting a bit stale. Unknown for Breaking In but if it does phenomenal for the second season, expect it to be paired up with New Girl for a full season order for the following year. Terra Nova, Alcatraz, Raising Hope, How I Hate My Teenage Daughter, The Finder, FRINGE = All dead. Maybe FRINGE can get a final season renewal for next year. X Factor will be the next 'The Voice' ala ratings will be huge for the second season of the reality show. American Idol will continue to drop in ratings and will be canceled by 2014-2015 (thus moving Ryan Seacrest as the new host of the X Factor in the future, maybe even the 2nd season of the show). But who knows for FOX? After canceling majority of their shows from last year, they might do the same for this year but we'll have to wait until May 2012.
