Timeslot Sinkers: Fox Sunday, 8:30

Scene from the Family Guy & Simpsons crossover





Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2014-15)





Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life (2016)

Son of Zorn (2016-17)

Son of Zorn easily had the strongest chance to succeed. Unlike anything that came before or after it, Zorn was offered the opportunity to air its first episode directly after football. As a result, the animated warrior pulled in a hefty The Simpsons at times, its ratings were seemingly solid enough for a renewal. Unfortunately for fans, its penultimate broadcast ruined the possibility of the Jason Sudeikis series returning for season two. Opposite the Grammy Awards, Zorn plummeted to a paltry Son of Zorn after just thirteen episodes. Even if it wasn't a total misfire, it fell far too much given how ripe its situation was.



Out of every new show Fox has unveiled in this slot,easily had the strongest chance to succeed. Unlike anything that came before or after it,was offered the opportunity to air its first episode directly after football. As a result, the animated warrior pulled in a hefty 2.4 Nielsen rating for its debut. While the half-animated sitcom never got back to those lofty heights, it remained a decent performer airing after America's favorite yellow family. From September to January, the comedy produced numbers in the 1.2-1.8 range when an NFL overrun elevated the night and Nielsens in the 0.9-1.1 range when it did not have that luxury. Although it barely retained half ofat times, its ratings were seemingly solid enough for a renewal. Unfortunately for fans, its penultimate broadcast ruined the possibility of the Jason Sudeikis series returning for season two. Opposite the Grammy Awards,plummeted to a paltry 0.6 , 33% below its previous low point. Although it inched up for its finale the following week, Fox still decided to pull the plug onafter just thirteen episodes. Even if it wasn't a total misfire, it fell far too much given how ripe its situation was.

Making History (2017)

Making History was doomed to fail. The time-travel comedy starring Adam Pally, Leighton Meester, and Yassir Lester arrived in March with minimal promotion and no chance of receiving aid from an NFL overrun. Given those bleak circumstances, the History lost only two-tenths from The Simpsons (1.1) and bested the finale of Zorn (0.7) that aired two weeks prior. Sadly, things only went downhill from there as episode two (0.7) experienced a 22% ratings decline. From then on, it posted two more 0.7s and five-straight 0.6s while The Simpsons fluctuated between a 0.9 and 1.0 rating. A little over two months after it first aired, Fox laid the sitcom to rest before it even managed to reach a double-digit episode count. The cards were stacked against Making History from day one and Fox never gave it enough support for it to excel. One can only wonder how it would have performed if the series had nabbed the fall slot instead of Zorn. Even before airing a single episode,was doomed to fail. The time-travel comedy starring Adam Pally, Leighton Meester, and Yassir Lester arrived in March with minimal promotion and no chance of receiving aid from an NFL overrun. Given those bleak circumstances, the 0.9 rating it managed for its premiere was relatively respectable.lost only two-tenths from(1.1) and bested the finale of(0.7) that aired two weeks prior. Sadly, things only went downhill from there as episode two (0.7) experienced a 22% ratings decline. From then on, it posted two more 0.7s and five-straight 0.6s whilefluctuated between a 0.9 and 1.0 rating. A little over two months after it first aired, Fox laid the sitcom to rest before it even managed to reach a double-digit episode count. The cards were stacked againstfrom day one and Fox never gave it enough support for it to excel. One can only wonder how it would have performed if the series had nabbed the fall slot instead of













Ghosted (2017-18)

Back to Brooklyn (2018)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (during its fifth season) by bringing it back to the timeslot where it thrived during 2014 and 2015. Even though the police comedy had been pulling underwhelming ratings on Tuesday nights in fall 2017, the series came back to life during its first 2018 showing in March. The The Simpsons that first evening back. For the following two months, Brooklyn either matched its Simpsons lead-in or fell only a tenth or two below it. In spite of its remarkable resurgence, the network still decided to cancel the comedy after five seasons. Although it was picked up by NBC for subsequent seasons, Fox's decision to end it remains a mind-boggling one given that its numbers trumped what it was doing for the back-half of its fourth year. Nearly three years after it last aired regularly on Sunday, Fox enlisted the help of veteran sitcom(during its fifth season) by bringing it back to the timeslot where it thrived during 2014 and 2015. Even though the police comedy had been pulling underwhelming ratings on Tuesday nights in fall 2017, the series came back to life during its first 2018 showing in March. The 0.9 it generated served as a season high, outperformingthat first evening back. For the following two months,either matched itslead-in or fell only a tenth or two below it. In spite of its remarkable resurgence, the network still decided to cancel the comedy after five seasons. Although it was picked up by NBC for subsequent seasons, Fox's decision to end it remains a mind-boggling one given that its numbers trumped what it was doing for the back-half of its fourth year.











Back to Bob's Burgers (2018-19)



Severely undervalued Bob's Burgers made a triumphant return to the 8:30 slot in the fall of 2018. After being tossed around the schedule for years, the animated sitcom acquired its former timeslot for the entirety of the 2018-2019 television season, something that had not happened since its second season. To the surprise of no one, the Emmy-winning comedy did an outstanding job capitalizing on the upgrade. From February to May 2019, Bob's usually matched the ratings of The Simpsons and even eclipsed Homer, Bart, and Lisa on





Severely undervaluedmade a triumphant return to the 8:30 slot in the fall of 2018. After being tossed around the schedule for years, the animated sitcom acquired its former timeslot for the entirety of the 2018-2019 television season, something that had not happened since its second season. To the surprise of no one, the Emmy-winning comedy did an outstanding job capitalizing on the upgrade. From February to May 2019,usually matched the ratings ofand even eclipsed Homer, Bart, and Lisa on multiple occasions . Likely impressed by its trajectory, Fox gave it the more coveted 9:00pm slot the following year and scheduled a new program at 8:30.





Bless the Harts (2019-20)

Where Next, FOX?

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