Fox adds toon, returns Masked Singer

Fox’s The Masked Singer was adapted from MBC’s King of Mask Singer

UPFRONTS: US broadcaster Fox is adding its latest animated comedy, Bless the Harts, to its Sunday night line-up, while new crime drama Prodigal Son has been given a Monday night slot.

Revealing its fall schedule today, Fox has rejigged its traditional Sunday evening animation line-up with Bless the Harts sliding in at 20.30, moving Bob’s Burgers and Family Guy back 30 minutes in the schedule.

The comedy, from Emmy winner Emily Spivey, features the voices of Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Jillian Bell.

In total, four new comedies and six new dramas are joining the line-up for 2019/20. They include crime drama Prodigal Son, from executive producer Greg Berlanti and starring Tom Payne and Michael Sheen. It will air on Mondays at 21.00 following 9-1-1.

A spin-off from 9-1-1, the Rob Lowe-starring 9-1-1: Lone Star, will begin a two-night premiere event following the NFL’s NFC Championship game on Sunday January 19, continuing the following evening.

Another of the network’s new scripted series, Not Just Me, a family drama starring Brittany Snow and Timothy Hutton, will air on Wednesdays at 21.00.

That follows last year’s breakout format success The Masked Singer, which will return for a third season after the Super Bowl on Sunday February 2.

Midseason drama premieres include police drama Deputy, starring Stephen Dorff; gothic family saga Filthy Rich, starring Kim Cattrall; and thriller neXt, starring John Slattery.

Comedies making their bow in midseason include Outmatched, starring Jason Biggs and Maggie Lawson, and Amy Poehler’s animated series Duncanville. The Great North, an animated comedy from Emmy winner Loren Bouchard, will appear in 2020.

New format Ultimate Tag must also wait until midseason for its debut.

Fox fall 2019/20 schedule (new shows in caps, all times ET)

MONDAY
20.00-21.00 9-1-1
21.00-22.00 PRODIGAL SON

TUESDAY
20.00-21.00 The Resident
21.00-22.00 Empire

WEDNESDAY
20.00-21.00 The Masked Singer
21.00-22.00 NOT JUST ME

THURSDAY
19.30-20.00 Thursday Night Football Pregame Show
20.00-23.00 NFL Thursday Night Football

FRIDAY
20-00-22.00 WWE’s Smackdown Live

SATURDAY
19.00-22.30 Fox Sports Saturday – College Football

SUNDAY
19.00-19.30 NFL
19.30-20.00 The OT/Fox Encores
20.00-20.30 The Simpsons
20.30-21.00 BLESS THE HARTS
21.00-21.30 Bob’s Burgers
21.30-22.00 Family Guy