Steven Spielberg's Sci-Fi Series 'Terra Nova' Tops Fox's New Fall Lineup
Fox announced its 2011-2012 season lineup Monday that includes the family adventure series "Terra Nova," as well as four new comedies and Simon Cowell's highly anticipated singing competition "The X Factor."
Premiering in the fall -- from executive producer Steven Spielberg -- will be the Sci-Fi drama "Terra Nova," which follows an ordinary family on an extraordinary journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of an experiment to save the human race. Among the show's stars are Jason O'Mara from the TV series "Life On Mars," and Stephen Lang from 'Avatar.'
Also launching this fall is "The X Factor," in which the sharp-tongued Cowell will reunite with former "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul at the judges' table, along with music producer Antonio "L.A." Reid and Cheryl Cole. The music competition -- the U.S. version of Cowell's highly successful show in the U.K. -- will offer an unprecedented $5 million prize.
Also debuting this fall on Fox are the half-hour comedies "New Girl," starring Zooey Deschanel as an offbeat girl who moves in with three single guys after a bad breakup, and "I Hate My Teenage Daughter," starring Jaime Pressly and Katie Finneran as single moms who see their privileged daughters turning out to be just like the girls who picked on them in high school.
"Allen Gregory" is a new animated comedy -- created by and featuring the voice of Jonah Hill -- that will be joining Fox's Sunday Animation Domination lineup this fall, and the network will also debut in midseason the animated comedy "Napolean Dynamite," based on the hit cult classic movie and featuring the voices of the film's original cast.
Fox also announced two new dramas set to launch in midseason: "Alcatraz" and "The Finder." "Alcatraz" -- executive produced by J.J. Abrams -- stars Sarah Jones from "Sons of Anarchy," Jorge Garcia from "Lost," and Sam Neill from 'Jurassic Park.' The series will focus on America’s most infamous prison and the mysterious return of its most notorious criminals. The "Bones" spinoff "The Finder" is a new procedural drama starring Geoff Stults as an Iraq war vet with an extraordinary ability to help people find the unfindable.
Fox also announced that "24" star Kiefer Sutherland would be returning to the network in "Touch," scheduled to go into pilot production this June. The drama will center on the relationship between a single father and his 11-year-old autistic son. The father's life takes an extraordinary turn when he discovers that his gifted son posses the ability to see things that no one else can.