Fox Pauses Live-Action Comedies to Explore Better Business Options
Fox is set to feature only one live-action comedy series in the upcoming season, Animal Control, which stars Joel McHale. This shift follows the cancellation of its sophomore series, Going Dutch.
In recent weeks, a number of half-hour projects, including Mammoth, Thunderjacks, King Gary, and a show featuring Andrea Savage, had been in development. However, Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade and Fox Television Network President Michael Thorn have decided to pause greenlighting live-action comedies until they can establish a sustainable business model for a linear network.
In previous years, Fox set a budget range of $3 million to $4 million per episode for drama series as part of its transition to an independent broadcast network after Disney acquired its assets, including studio 20th Television.
Sources indicate that Fox is currently considering a price point of $1.6 million per episode for live-action comedies. However, the network has yet to finalize its budget, as discussions about an appropriate financial framework continue. This may involve multiple tiers and models similar to those in place for dramas.
While the $3 million to $4 million range remains preferable for successful shows like Doc, Best Medicine, and the upcoming The Interrogator, Fox also utilizes a lower-cost international co-production model for series such as Murder In a Small Town, which costs under $1 million an episode. Additionally, there are premium drama options like Memory of a Killer and Baywatch, which exceed $4 million per episode. Fox collaborates with production partners to determine the best approach for each show without compromising creativity.
As Fox executives contemplate viable business models, Animal Control, the network’s sole live-action comedy owned by Fox, will be joining the Sunday animation block for its fifth season.
“We believe in the genre; you’ll see more from us in the future, but right now, our first priority is cementing Animal Control’s status as a hit show while we look at our next move in the live-action space,” Thorn commented.
Wade supported this sentiment, saying, “We’re confident that we will be seeing more comedy on the network in the future, and I think this just gives us an opportunity to pause and, as Michael says, really dig into that business model and work out how we can make it effective in the long term.”
New live-action comedy series orders are anticipated as early as June.
In the meantime, Fox is expanding its comedic offerings beyond traditional scripted formats. Upcoming projects include comedic dramas such as Best Medicine, starring Josh Charles, as well as comedic game shows like Nation’s Dumbest. The network incorporates comedians as hosts for various game shows, including McHale in The 1% Club, Ken Jeong in 99 To Beat, Jay Pharoah in The Quiz with Balls, and Jane Lynch in Celebrity Weakest Link.
