Fox Upfront 2012 Mob Doc

FOX Upfront Reveals The Mob Doctor, Fringe and The Mindy Kaling Project in Fall 2012

The Mob Doctor starring Jordana Spiro
Jordana Spiro stars in The Mob Doctor this fall | Fox

Ok, guys. New Season. New Rules. Just when you’ve set your DVR to record all those shows you love, the networks make their upfront presentations and announce new lineups, throwing everything into chaos. They want that all-important 18 to 49 demo to score the big ratings. Let’s take a look at Fox’s fall 2012 line-up, announced this week.

Airing on Monday nights is Bones, as well as a new show called The Mob Doctor, with Jordana Spiro playing a Chicago physician who’s indebted to the mob. Wow. Interesting stuff.

[Jane’s Note: I’m not much for crime procedurals, but this one looks too good to not give it a look. Shades of The Sopranos.]

Tuesday nights we’ve got Raising Hope, New Girl, and new shows Ben & Kate , a single-camera comedy about an uptight single mom whose aimless brother moves in to help raise her daughter, and The Mindy Kaling Project, starring Mindy Kaling (The Office) as a Bridget Jones-type OB/GYN navigating her personal and professional lives surrounded by quirky co-workers:

New Girl was one of the best new shows this season, and I’m glad it still has legs. The characters are developing, and everyone is fair game. I always thought Zooey Deschanel had the makings of a star, and her comedic chops make her even greater.

[Jane’s Note: While I like to give new shows a fair chance, Ben & Kate looks a little dumb. It pains me to say that because I love Melanie Griffith and am hoping good things for her daughter, Dakota Johnson, who stars in this show. I also LOVE Maggie Elizabeth Jones, who starred in We Bought a Zoo and plays her daughter here.]

Wednesday and Thursday nights bring The X-Factor (with new judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato sharing table space with Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid) and American Idol mid-season. I never wanted to watch American Idol even if there was a dog singing the alphabet. It’s always about the judges and how much money they make, and not about the talent anymore. And the results show on Thursday night? Way to stretch five minutes into an hour.

Thursday nights, we’ll also have Glee at 9 p.m. ET. During the first season, Glee was the show to watch, but now it seems like they’re not even trying. The writing has gone stale, and the actors are looking too old to be in high school. [Jane’s Note: We’ll see how Glee fares when some of the students move on to New York.]

Friday nights bring Kiefer Sutherland’s  Touch at 8 p.m., as well as Fringe at 9 p.m. Fringe, which has about three viewers, is getting its final season next year and being put out of its misery.

[Jane’s Note: Andy! Thousands of Fringe Twitter fans will be storming your house with torches! I predict that Fox will find a way to keep this show going, probably in a spin-off of some sort.]

On Sunday nights, look for the Animation Domination block with the same schedule, including The Cleveland Show, The SimpsonsBob’s BurgersFamily Guy and American Dad. Their motto: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Thoughts on the Fox line-up for Fall 2012? 

Comments

8 responses to “FOX Upfront Reveals The Mob Doctor, Fringe and The Mindy Kaling Project in Fall 2012”

  1. Seth dela Cruz Avatar
    Seth dela Cruz

    I am one of the three viewers of Fringe and I agree that, from the first season, which was the best, until the last one, the show lost little by little in quality but something, I don’t know how to explain it, keeps me in front of my TV.

  2. Connie Avatar

    I already know what the spin off is going to be — they threw in one futuristic fringe with the daughter in the future. It was soooo random, and then they went back to their regular storyline. I was like, “Ok, that’s what the spin-off is going to be about…”

    1. Jane Boursaw Avatar

      I’m so far behind that I still have to watch most of this season, so I’ll look for that ep. I bet you’re right.

  3. […] get a feel for what the fall 2012 season is going to look like (read Andy Travers’ notes on the Fox Upfront).While you can’t always predict whether a show will be awesome based on the trailers and […]

  4. Casey Avatar

    I love Jordana Spiro and want nothing but good things for her, but… I’m not sold on The Mob Doctor yet. It looks like something my dad-in-law would be super into, but he also watches Jesse Stone.

    1. Jane Boursaw Avatar

      You don’t think it has a Sopranos vibe to it? I dunno, I guess we’ll find out. The comment about your Jesse Stone-loving FIL liking a show like this made me laugh.

  5. naterichmond7 Avatar
    naterichmond7

    I was really disappointed in The Mob Doctor – not as suspenseful as I would have hopped and it’s really predictable. Fringe, on the other hand, still has my full attention and each episode has me wondering what’s going to happen next.

  6. advisory Avatar

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