Fox Shuffles Deck; UPN Caters to Men

By BRIAN LOWRY

May 20, 1999 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Fox will shake up its prime-time schedule in the fall with five new dramatic series and a pair of comedies, as well as the new season’s most unusual concept: a half-hour version of “Ally McBeal,” culled from unused and previously seen footage, to lead off its Tuesday lineup.

As part of the overhaul Fox will move five shows into new time periods, with the most significant change arguably involving the risque animated series “Family Guy,” which will challenge NBC’s “Frasier” on Thursdays. The family drama “Party of Five,” meanwhile, is expected to shift from Wednesday to Tuesday nights, even as a “Party” spinoff starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, “Time of Your Life,” becomes the Monday lead-in to the regular “Ally.”

All told, only a third of Fox’s time slots will be occupied by the same program come September, at a time when the other networks have stressed the need for stability to help viewers find their favorite shows.

Known for pushing the broadcast standards, Fox--which officially presents its roster to advertisers today--will also continue to test boundaries of taste. “Action,” an inside-Hollywood comedy about a high-strung producer of blockbuster movies played by Jay Mohr (“Jerry Maguire”), will bleep out the central character’s cursing, as is done in the animated Comedy Central series “South Park.”

Fox’s entertainment president, Doug Herzog, previously worked at Comedy Central and has expressed a desire to offer edgier programming. “Action” was originally written for pay channel Home Box Office and has been modified only slightly from that first incarnation.

In addition to the “Party of Five” spinoff, new dramas include “Harsh Realm,” a sci-fi series from “The X-Files” creator Chris Carter, starring former “Party” regular Scott Bairstow and D.B. Sweeney. Based on a comic book, the program is said to be one of the most expensive series prototypes ever produced.

“Harsh Realm” will fill an opening left Fridays by Carter’s 3-year-old series “Millennium,” which joins “Brimstone” and the long-running serial “Melrose Place” as cancellation victims. Fox will open Fridays with an action show about a young cop, “Ryan Caulfield,” produced by “Set It Off” director F. Gary Gray.

The remaining new dramas both focus on teenagers, one of the strongest discernible trends in this year’s new prime-time shows. “Get Real,” which views a family through the eyes of three teenage siblings, is expected to follow “Beverly Hills, 90210” on Wednesday nights, while “Manchester Prep”--a twice-removed version of “Dangerous Liaisons” based on the recent teen movie “Cruel Intentions”--will precede “Family Guy” on Thursdays.

Both those programs face the added task of airing opposite similarly targeted dramas on the WB network, which has established a strong presence among young viewers thanks to shows like “Dawson’s Creek” and “7th Heaven.”

“Futurama,” the animated program from “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening that premiered in March, moves back to Sundays sandwiched between “The Simpsons” and “The X-Files”--a change for which the cartoonist had vigorously lobbied. “King of the Hill” also rejoins the Sunday lineup, this time prior to “The Simpsons” instead of following it. A new show about a 9-year-old boy in a dysfunctional family, “Malcolm in the Middle,” will round out that night.

Beyond capitalizing on “Ally’s” name recognition, the half-hour edited version of that show offers the advantage of costing less than an average show because the footage already exists. The question remains whether airing the show on back-to-back nights will be too much of a good thing.

Fox’s revised lineup virtually rids the network of so-called “reality” programs, with the exception of the long-running “Cops” and “America’s Most Wanted,” which continue to patrol Saturday nights. Although Fox has drawn solid ratings with such fare, the network has endeavored to keep shows like “World’s Wildest Police Videos” off its schedule, in part because they are not looked upon favorably by some advertisers. Sources say the network is nevertheless ordering numerous reality programs and specials, holding them in reserve should its new series falter.

“The PJs,” a controversial animated comedy produced by Eddie Murphy, will also be relegated to a backup role.

UPN, meanwhile, will attempt to breathe life into its sluggish ratings by catering to men--adding a two-hour prime-time wrestling show, “WWF Smackdown!,” on Thursday nights, airing a night of African American comedies and relocating its action movie to Fridays.

“Moesha” will lead off Mondays, followed by the spinoff “Mo’Nique,” “The Grown-Ups” (featuring “Family Matters” star Jaleel White) and “Malcolm & Eddie.” Two new programs--”Shasta McNasty,” about a zany rock band, and “Secret Agent Man,” a globe-trotting spy show--will follow “Dilbert” on Tuesdays.

UPN has canceled several existing shows, including “Clueless,” “Love Boat: The Next Wave,” “Legacy,” “DiResta” and “America’s Greatest Pets.”

Here is Fox’s anticipated fall schedule, with new series in italics:

Sunday: “Malcolm in the Middle,” “King of the Hill,” “The Simpsons,” “Futurama,” “The X-Files.”

Monday: “Time of Your Life,” “Ally McBeal.”

Tuesday: “Ally McBeal” (half-hour version), “That ‘70s Show,” “Party of Five.”

Wednesday: “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Get Real.”

Thursday: “Manchester Prep,” “Family Guy,” “Action.”

Friday: “Ryan Caulfield,” “Harsh Realm.”

Saturday: “Cops,” “America’s Most Wanted.”

Here is the UPN fall schedule:

Monday: “Moesha,” “Mo’Nique,” “The Grown-Ups,” “Malcolm & Eddie.”

Tuesday: “Dilbert,” “Shasta McNasty,” “Secret Agent Man.”