FOX: Will they ever learn?

All of the other networks released detailed press releases about their fall schedules, describing their nightly strategies at length. But FOX didn’t bother, giving only a schedule and descriptions of new shows. That’s probably because they don’t have a strategy and there’s an excellent chance that the schedule we heard today will not be the one we end up getting.

Last year, FOX got a brilliant idea. To fill the schedule until “24” came back, they would use another serial thriller, “Prison Break.” The plan—thanks to some great marketing—worked, but no one at the network gave any thought as to what would happen to “Prison” after “24” came back. When the network said "Prison" would return in May and complete its season during the summer, the fan outcry was so big FOX changed its mind and brought it back in March, teaming it with “24.” It was a great move.

So Thursday, FOX announced that “Prison Break” will premiere early to get the jump on baseball, run until December, then go on hiatus until May, possibly running into the summer. What?! Did they not learn anything? And “Prison” isn’t the only show affected this time.

The good news is that it’s FOX and as I said, they’re prone to changing their minds.

Here’s the breakdown…

Monday
8 PM—Prison Break
9 PM—Vanished
“Vanished” tells the story surrounding the disappearance of a senator’s wife. It stars John Allen Nelson (aka Paul the Wine Guy from “Friends”). According to the schedule, it also vanishes in January so if it’s a hit, FOX will have two shows with nowhere to go. Wonder why they can’t have more confidence in their shows?

Tuesday
8 PM—Standoff
9 PM—House
“Standoff” stars Ron Livingston (“Sex and the City”) and Gina Torres (“Alias”) in a drama about hostage negotiators who happen to be in a relationship.

Wednesday
8 PM—Bones
9 PM—Justice
“Justice” comes from Jerry Bruckheimer (“CSI”) and stars the fabulous Victor Garber (Jack, “Alias”) in a story about lawyers who tackle controversial and newsworthy cases.

Thursday
8 PM—‘Til Death
8:30 PM—Happy Hour
9 PM—The O.C.
“Til Death” marks the return of Brad Garrett (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) to series television. Garrett and Joely Fisher star as a longtime married couple who live next door to newlyweds. “Happy” is a little hard to describe but apparently it combines a straight arrow guy with a modern-day Dean Martin and shows how they enjoy the good life.

Friday
8 PM—Nanny 911
9 PM—Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy

Saturday
8 PM—COPS
9 PM—America’s Most Wanted
11 PM—Madtv
12 AM—Talk Show with Spike Feresten
“Talk” combines traditional elements of a talk show with comedy sketches.

Sunday
7 PM—Comedy Encores (Football Overrun)
8 PM—The Simpsons
8:30 PM—American Dad
9 PM—Family Guy
9:30 PM—The War at Home

After January 2007
Monday
8 PM—Standoff
9 PM—24

Tuesday
8 PM—American Idol
9 PM—House

Wednesday
8 PM—Justice
9 PM—American Idol
9:30 PM—The Loop

Thursday
Same

Friday
8 PM—Bones
9 PM—The Wedding Album
“Album” is a drama that shows weddings through the eyes of the wedding photographer, played by Bruno Campos ("Nip/Tuck").

Saturday
Same

Sunday
7 PM—Comedy Repeats
7:30 PM—King of the Hill
8 PM---The Simpsons
8:30 PM—American Dad
9 PM—Family Guy
9:30 PM—The War at Home

“The Winner,” the first live-action comedy from Seth McFarlane (“Family Guy”), will premiere mid-season. In it, a 43-year-old narrator tells the story of when he started to become a man in 1994, at the age of 32. Also for midseason, Steven Spielberg teams up with reality show guru Mark Burnett (“Survivor”) for “On the Lot,” a reality show looking for the next great filmmaker. On Thursdays and Fridays in September, we’ll get the latest brainchild from Simon Cowell, “Duets,” which pairs established singing stars with celebrities to perform duets. Viewers will vote for their favorites.

Here’s my take on the schedule…

Best Shot at a Hit: Unless it gets hit with an “Everybody Loves Raymond” jinx, I’d say “Til Death.” “Justice” probably has a good shot too, but I’m probably prejudiced by the thought of Victor Garber in a new TV show.

Best Shot at a Miss: Considering I couldn’t even come up with a description of “Happy Hour,” I would definitely say it’s a great shot at a miss. I also wonder if “Vanished” may be one “24” clone too many.

Most Questionable Scheduling Move: Do I even have to say? Why can’t “Prison Break” and “24” just live together happily ever after? And FOX has done it again by taking “Vanished,” another serialized drama, off the schedule in January. But as I said, don’t write any of this in stone.

Best Scheduling Move: ?

Strangest Renewal: Couldn’t FOX have found another poorly written and completely degrading sitcom other than “The War at Home”?

Up next, the CW…