These “high-concept” shows (to use the Hollywood term) can be difficult to execute, partly because writers must walk a fine line between inventive and gimmicky, especially given the broadcast networks’ longer seasons, compared with cable. But they represent a new programming strategy for old-school prime time. Broadcasters are not quite throwing in the ratings towel, but they are trying to worry less about an immediate mass audience and more about finding, at the very least, a group of core fans attracted to a strong comedic point of view — what Jennifer Salke, NBC’s president of entertainment, calls “not a broad and soft, trying-to-please-the-whole-world kind of show.”

“Instead of ending up in the not-so-special middle, do comedy that is specific and sophisticated,” Ms. Salke said in an interview. “That might mean that it’s not for everybody. But a big group of people will love it, and those people will become advocates and help build a broader audience over time.” She added, “Dramas use what-will-happen-next to keep people coming back. More than ever, comedies rely on passionate fans.”

This coming season will bring its share of old-fashioned sitcoms — most notably on CBS, where Kevin James (“Kevin Can Wait”) and Matt LeBlanc (“Man With a Plan”) will both headline new shows with laugh tracks and time-tested bumbling-dad story lines. Most networks, though, have struggled in recent years to find new mass-appeal comedies. NBC — which hopes “The Good Place” will fill a void left by “Parks and Recreation” (which Mr. Schur helped create) — has had a particularly difficult run. For part of the season in 2015, for the first time since the early 1980s, NBC abandoned comedy entirely on Thursdays. And Fox tried and failed to establish three conventional comedies last year.

So, for the new season, Fox is throwing caution to the wind. “Son of Zorn,” set to have a preview on Sept. 11 and its premiere on Sept. 25, mashes together 1980s-style animation and live action: An updated He-Man, voiced by Jason Sudeikis, returns to conservative Orange County, Calif., and tries to reconnect with his ex-wife, played by Cheryl Hines. “Making History,” headed for Fox’s midseason schedule, is a time-travel comedy that finds its cast (and a ham — don’t ask) zapping among the centuries. Both series come from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the duo behind creatively adventurous films like “The Lego Movie.”