Fox announces Fall 2009 schedule

Joss Whedon won't have to relive his "Firefly" experience at Fox. The network has renewed his new series, "Dollhouse," for next fall. The network announced its fall 2009 schedule today, bringing back several shows and launching some new titles.

As Whedon's rabid fan base knows, Fox scuttled his "Firefly" years ago before it completed one season. Some expected "Dollhouse" would meet the same fate. Not so, as Fox officials said today they are banking on Whedon and his fans by renewing the show.

The most talked about new series--and completely deserving of it--is Ryan Murphy's "Glee," which gets a special sneak peek at 9 p.m. Tuesday after "American Idol." Also new to the network is the animated "The Cleveland Show," a Family Guy" spin-off, and "Brothers," a comedy about a former NFL player who returns home to his family--and his mother's house--to get his life back on track.

Somehow, "'Til Death" survived, but gone are "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," "Sit Down, Shut Up" and "Do Not Disturb."

Read on for the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 schedules, as well as Fox's descriptions of its new series.

MONDAY
7 p.m. "House"
8 p.m. "Lie To Me"

TUESDAY
7 p.m. "So You Think You Can Dance" performance show

WEDNESDAY
7 p.m. "So You Think You Can Dance" results show
8 p.m. "Glee"

THURSDAY
7 p.m. "Bones"
8 p.m. "Fringe"

FRIDAY
7 p.m. "Brothers"
7:30 p.m. "'Til Death"
8 p.m. "Dollhouse"

SATURDAY
7 p.m. "Cops"
7:30 p.m. "Cops"
8 p.m. "America's Most Wanted"
10 p.m. "The Wanda Sykes Show" (working title)
11 p.m. Animation Domination Encores

SUNDAY
6 p.m. "The OT" (NFL post-game)
7 p.m. "The Simpsons"
7:30 p.m. "The Cleveland Show"
8 p.m. "Family Guy"
8:30 p.m. "American Dad"

Here is the Midseason 2010 schedule:

MONDAY 7 p.m. "House" 8 p.m. "24"

TUESDAY 7 p.m. "American Idol" performance show 8 p.m. "Past Life"

WEDNESDAY 7 p.m. "American Idol" results show 8 p.m. "Human Target" (January) / "Glee" (spring)

THURSDAY 7 p.m. "Bones" 8 p.m. "Fringe"

FRIDAY
7 p.m. "Brothers"
7:30 p.m. "'Til Death"
8 p.m. "Dollhouse"

SATURDAY
7 p.m. "Cops"
7:30 p.m. "Cops"
8 p.m. "America's Most Wanted"
10 p.m. "The Wanda Sykes Show" (working title)
11 p.m. Animation Domination Encores

SUNDAY
6 p.m. Animation Domination Encores
6:30 p.m. "American Dad"
7 p.m. "The Simpsons"
7:30 p.m. "Sons of Tucson"
8 p.m. "Family Guy"
8:30 p.m. "The Cleveland Show"

NEW FALL SHOWS

"Glee" The distinctive new comedy from Ryan Murphy ("Nip/Tuck") stars Jane Lynch ("The 40 Year Old Virgin") and newcomers Matthew Morrison (Broadway's "Hairspray"), Lea Michele ("Spring Awakening") and Cory Monteith ("Kyle XY") and will enter its freshman year this fall. Combining biting humor with a soundtrack of hit music from past to present, the inventive series follows an optimistic high school teacher who--against all odds--attempts to restore McKinley High's fading Glee Club to its former glory, while helping a group of underdogs realize their true star potential.

"The Cleveland Show" From the producers of FAMILY GUY, comes THE CLEVELAND SHOW. The new Sunday night animated comedy follows everyone's favorite soft-spoken FAMILY GUY neighbor, CLEVELAND BROWN (Mike Henry), who moves with his son back to his hometown in Virginia and settles down with his high school sweetheart and her unruly kids.

"Brothers" Starring Michael Strahan ("FOX NFL Sunday") and Daryl "Chill" Mitchell ("Ed," "Veronica's Closet"), is a new half-hour comedy about a former big-city NFL hot shot who returns home to his family - and his mother's house - to get his life back on track.

"The Wanda Sykes Show" (working title) Late night will never be the same when Emmy Award winner Wanda Sykes returns to FOX to host THE WANDA SYKES SHOW (working title). The irreverent Saturday late-night series will feature Sykes' outspoken comedic perspective on current events along with topical, high-energy roundtable discussions.

MIDSEASON

"Human Target"
The new event drama premieres with a special preview Sunday, Jan. 17 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) following the NFC Divisional Playoff game. HUMAN TARGET is a full-throttle, action-packed thrill ride from executive producers McG ("Terminator Salvation") and Simon West ("Con Air," "Tomb Raider"). Based on the popular DC Comics graphic novel and starring Mark Valley (FRINGE), Chi McBride ("Pushing Daisies") and Academy Award nominee Jackie Earle Haley ("Watchmen"), the series follows CHRISTOPHER CHANCE (Valley), a unique private contractor who will stop at nothing - even if it means becoming a human target - to keep his clients alive.

"Past Life"
The other drama for midseason is a fast-paced emotional thriller inspired by the book "The Reincarnationist." The series stars Kelli Giddish ("All My Children") as a gifted psychologist and Nicholas Bishop ("Home and Away") as a former NYPD detective who work together to explore and unravel mysteries that must be solved in both the past and the present.

"Sons Of Tucson"
One new comedy is scheduled to premiere in midseason. From three-time Emmy Award winner Todd Holland ("Malcolm in the Middle"), the non-traditional family comedy SONS OF TUCSON stars Tyler Labine ("Reaper") as a charming but wayward schemer hired by three young brothers whose father is in prison.