Article from nashvillecitypaper.com:
Fox's new year's revolutions
The television season really begins for the Fox (WZTV, Ch. 17) network in January, even though they introduced a handful of shows during the fall. But despite the success of this year's World Series telecasts and the critical acclaim for the new House medical drama, there hasn't been much Fox presence in the top 20 so far. But they hope to turn things around with a revised lineup. Things get underway Jan. 9 with the two-hour premiere of 24.
Kiefer Sutherland returns in his role as Jack Bauer, and the program again follows an unfolding adventure over the course of one day with each show depicting one hour. But otherwise there are numerous changes.
For one, Bauer is no longer working for the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU). That agency has a new boss. There's a different president in charge, and the producers promise even more surprises along the way.
Following its premiere episode, 24 settles into a regular weekly slot (Mondays, 8 p.m.). That is a tough position, one that has been dominated by Las Vegas (WSMV, Ch. 4) on NBC and the comedies Everybody Loves Raymond and Two and A Half Men (WTVF, Ch. 5) on CBS.
Viewers who missed past episodes or haven't purchased any of the DVD packages from earlier seasons will soon be able to catch weekly reruns on the A&E network. The Hollywood Reporter announced the deal last week, with A&E picking up syndication rights for $250,000 per episode. No starting date was announced for when the reruns begin airing on A&E.
In addition, what is most likely the final season for The Bernie Mac Show starts Jan. 14 (WZTV, Ch. 17, 7 p.m.). Fox will air one new episode and an encore show each week. A pair of new dramas, Johnny Zero and Point Pleasant, debut Jan. 14 (Fridays, 8 p.m.) and Jan. 20 (Thursdays, 8 p.m.) respectively. Johnny Zero returns to weekly television the private eye saga, once a network staple. Point Pleasant is being billed as a "supernatural soap" and is the creation of former Buffy The Vampire Slayer writer Marti Noxon.
Fox has huge expectations for American Idol (Tuesdays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. through February) and The Simple Life 3: Interns (Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.). Idol launches Jan. 18, while The Simple Life 3 starts Jan. 26.
There haven't been many problem areas for CBS, but the 9 p.m. Friday slot remains a trouble spot. They hope to resolve that beginning Jan. 21 with the premiere of Numb3rs, a procedural crime show co-starring David Krumholtz and Rob Lowe. Krumholtz plays a mathematics genius that reluctantly assists his brother, an FBI agent, in complicated crimes occurring in Los Angeles. Others in the cast include Peter MacNicol, Judd Hirsch, Sabrina Lloyd and Alimi Ballard.
Sweeps wrap-up
Once again, each network is trying to put a good face on the results from the November sweeps. CBS rode the CSI trilogy, specials like the Country Music Association Awards and reality hit Survivor to an across the board win in every category. It even finished first in the coveted 18-49 demographic (truly the only thing the networks care about anymore). ABC did enjoy multiple improvement on all fronts and can boast the season's two biggest new hits in Desperate Housewives and Lost. NBC cites having seven of the top 10 shows in households with incomes above $75,000, but couldn't be very happy losing nine percent of its audience from November 2003. As for Fox, UPN and the WB, they are all looking toward February, because each took body blows during sweeps.
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