Walden Bullish on Rebuilding Fox in the Post-'Idol' Age

08.08.2016

Dana Walden, chairman and CEO of the Fox Television Group, was bullish about the rebuilding of the Fox broadcast network in the wake of American Idol's decline and ultimate departure last spring after 16 seasons on the air.

"We are in the midst of a turnaround at Fox," she told the Television Critics Association at the Beverly Hilton on Monday. Walden appeared on the TCA stage without her longtime partner, Gary Newman, who shares the title of chairman and CEO with her, and with relatively new Fox Entertainment President David Madden. "And we have a slate of new shows that stand up to the best of anything being produced on any platform."

That said, Walden admitted that Fox's summer has not been particularly bright and said the network has both scripted and unscripted shows in the pipeline for next summer, although she did not elaborate on what those shows might be.

The network's current star performer, Empire, remains the highest-rated scripted show on broadcast television, and will boast a guest appearance from global superstar Mariah Carey on Oct. 5, after opening season three on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 9 p.m. While Fox is taking some big swings on originals, it's also wrung some life out of reboots, particularly last winter's six-episode limited run of The X-Files and this year's upcoming dramas Lethal Weapon, 24: Legacy, which will premiere after the Super Bowl, and The Exorcist, for which Fox spent two nears negotiating through rights issues to be able to produce.

"No bar was set higher than the one for Lethal Weapon," said Walden. "Reboots are not a guarantee of success. We know that as well as anyone. You get the advantage of recognition then face challenge of living up to the original."

Fox also is in negotiations with Chris Carter and the three principals-David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson and Mitch Pileggi-of The X-Files to return the show to Fox for another run. While critics weren't overwhelmingly complementary about the quality of the reboot, it turned in strong ratings and audiences seemed to receive it well.

"The show was off air for a long time," said Walden. "It was introduced to new viewers through [over-the-top] platforms. There was still a lot of time to cover in the six episodes so they had the challenge of filling in the mythology and explaining where the characters were and how they got to where they are over the six episodes. Going forward, there won't be the same need to reset the series."

Reboots also offer networks marketing advantages, particularly not having to get viewers familiar with the concept, said Walden.

In other announcements:

-Fox's new combo live action/animated show, Son of Zorn, starring Jason Sudeikis, will offer a sneak preview on Sunday, Sept. 11, after an NFL double-header. It will then premiere in its official time slot of Sundays at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on Sept. 25, following The Simpsons.

-Comedian Amy Schumer will guest star as voice talent across Fox's Sunday night animated shows on Sunday, Sept. 25, to kick off the seasons of The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob's Burgers.

-Speaking of The Simpsons, the series' first ever one-hour episode, "The Great Phatsby," will air in January during the show's 28th season. The episode will feature the guest voices of Empire's Taraji P. Henson and Keegan-Michael Key.

"I just pray it won't be the last thing people see before a Trump inauguration," said executive producer Al Jean in a statement.

In addition, the series record-setting 600th episode will air Sunday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m., with this year's "Treehouse of Horror" episode.

-On Tuesday, Oct. 11, New Girl and Brooklyn Nine-Nine will meet in New York City for a special crossover episode.

"Brooklyn Nine-Nine crossing over with New Girl is very exciting, but (and this is supposed to be a secret), it's just the first step," said Dan Goor, co-creator and executive producer of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, in a statement. "Stay tuned for our two casts to do a soulful R&B number on Empire, co-anchor the Fox 10 O'Clock News and connect for a touchdown on Fox NFL Sunday. "

"The crossover episode has historically been the artistic high point of any show that has dared to attempt it," said Elizabeth Meriwether, creator and executive producer of New Girl, also in a statement. "Maybe you remember 'Blackout Thursday' on NBC, or even further back the infamous Alf/Gilligan's Island crossover of the late 1980s. New Girl and Brooklyn Nine-Nine will proudly and humbly go where few shows have done since the 1990s. We know we have big shoes to fill, and we look forward to disappointing everyone. There's a 50% chance Alf will also be in both episodes. But there's also a 50% chance that is a lie."

Both shows' new seasons debut on Tuesday, Sept. 20 on Fox.

-Finally, Twentieth Century Fox Television has signed development deals with two men involved with Fox's successful production last fall of Grease: Live. Producer Marc Platt signed a first-look deal with the studio, while director Thomas Kail, who just won a Tony for his direction of Broadway smash hit Hamilton, is launching a production company, Old 320 Sycamore, at the studio, with Kate Sullivan heading up development.

[Image of Walden and Madden at TCA on Aug. 8 courtesy of IndieWire.]