Marti Noxon

’Simple Life,’ New Dramas Fill FOX’s January Slate

Two new dramas, a handful of returning shows and "American Idol" will hit the airwaves when FOX remakes its schedule yet again in January.

The network’s Saturday and Sunday won’t change from what they are now in January. Every other night of the week, however, will feature at least one change when the calendar turns to 2005.

In addition to the previously announced premieres of "24" and "Idol," FOX will bring "The Bernie Mac Show" back to the network, albeit in a different timeslot — 8 p.m. ET Fridays. A new edition of "The Simple Life" is also set to premiere in January; it will air at 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, leading into the "Idol" results show.

The new dramas are "Jonny Zero," about an ex-con turned private eye, and "Point Pleasant," a supernatural soap with elements of "Twin Peaks," "Salem’s Lot" and maybe a little "Rosemary’s Baby" from former "Buffy" writer Marti Noxon. It will follow "The O.C." on Thursdays starting Jan. 20, after "North Shore" concludes its season. "Jonny Zero" will air at 9 p.m. Fridays starting Jan. 14.

The scheduling of "Point Pleasant" is likely another nail in the coffin of "Tru Calling," which was originally scheduled for Thursdays in the fall, then bumped to "later this season" in favor of "North Shore."

The network also says that the comedy "Life on a Stick," starring Zachary Knighton and Amy Yasbeck, will debut in March. It’s likely to get a Wednesday-night berth.

Following is FOX’s weekday schedule for January; the Saturday and Sunday schedules are unchanged. Changes are noted in bold (all times Eastern):

Monday

8 p.m. "Trading Spouses"
9 p.m. "24" (two-hour premiere Sunday, Jan. 9; time-period premiere Jan. 10)

Tuesday

8 p.m. "American Idol" (premieres Jan. 18)
9 p.m. "House"

Wednesday

8 p.m. "That ’70s Show"
8:30 p.m. "The Simple Life 3: Interns" (premieres Jan. 26)
9 p.m. "American Idol" (premieres Jan. 19; one-hour episodes through February)

Thursday

8 p.m. "The O.C."
9 p.m. "Point Pleasant" (premieres Jan. 20)

Friday

8 p.m. "The Bernie Mac Show" (premieres Jan. 14)
8:30 p.m. "The Bernie Mac Show" (encore episodes)
9 p.m. "Jonny Zero" (premieres Jan. 14)