Fox's Bubble: A Deep Dive into the Network's Renewal Status
The Bubble at Fox: A Small but Mighty Lineup
Fox's upcoming season is shaping up to be a tight one, with the majority of its scripted shows poised for renewal. This includes the network's drama contingent, which has been consistently charting on Hulu's daily Top 10 during their runs. Among these, 'Doc' and 'Murder In a Small Town' are expected to return for another season, with 'Doc' receiving a supersized 22-episode second-season pickup last year and 'Murder In a Small Town' emerging as a reliable utility player with a sturdy performance at an appealing price point.
The Freshmen: 'Best Medicine' and 'Memory Of a Killer'
Fox's freshman dramas, 'Best Medicine' and 'Memory Of a Killer', premiered last month alongside the unscripted 'Fear Factor' reboot. Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch hailed this as the network's best midseason launch in 14 years, with each show exceeding 11 million viewers across platforms in their first week. 'Best Medicine' is considered a lock for renewal with its potent, consistent week-to-week delivery, while 'Memory Of a Killer' is still early in its run but looks primed for renewal unless its ratings fall off a cliff.
The Sweet Spot: Comfort Food and Soapy Procedurals
After experimenting with different genres, Fox has found a sweet spot with comfort food, soapy/small town character procedurals such as 'Doc', 'Best Medicine', and 'Murder In a Small Town', which have delivered strong results on both linear and streaming platforms. Of the current slate, only 'Memory of a Killer' is in the masculine thriller genre, following in the tradition of signature Fox shows like '24' and 'Prison Break'.
New Dramas on the Horizon
As Fox's existing drama series are doing well, the network is also picking up new ones for next season. The 'Baywatch' reboot was ordered in September, while 'The Interrogator' starring Stephen Fry was recently greenlit. One more series pickup is likely out of two candidates, with 'Katie Greaves' (working title) believed to be the current frontrunner.
Comedy Corner: 'Animal Control' and 'Going Dutch'
On the comedy side, Fox has two live-action series, 'Animal Control', now in its fourth season, and 'Going Dutch', in its sophomore year. Both are fully owned by Fox. 'Animal Control' is considered a shoo-in for another renewal, with Fox giving it a football-boosted Sunday launch pad for the current season in December. 'Going Dutch', on the other hand, is probably the only true bubble scripted series at Fox this season, with its fate in limbo.
Animation Domination: The Simpsons, Family Guy, and More
No Fox animated comedies are in dire need of a renewal. 'The Simpsons', 'Family Guy', 'Bob's Burgers', and 'American Dad!' are all in Year 1 of four-season pickups, while 'Grimsburg', 'Krapopolis', and 'Universal Basic Guys' have been renewed through next season.
