CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- "The Bernie Mac Show" is heading to Mondays while sophomore comedy "Oliver Beene" is getting the hook as FOX has revealed several changes to its Monday and Sunday lineups.
"Mac" will make the leap to Mondays at 8:00/7:00c beginning next week. The news comes on the heels of last week's announcement that FOX planned to air a new installment of the show in said time slot on March 22 (read the story).
Also on Mondays, "Forever Eden" will depart to Thursdays at 9:00/8:00c one week earlier than expected as the reality series will assume the slot on March 25. The decision marks the second time FOX has changed "Eden's" move date. The series was original set to move on March 18 (read the story), then pushed back to April 1 (read the story) and now to March 25.
In its place on Mondays, FOX plans to run back-to-back repeats of "That '70s Show" in the 9:00/8:00c hour for the next three weeks (March 22, March 29 and April 5). "The Swan," which was previously set to bow on March 29 (read the story), will now assume the Monday, 9:00/8:00c slot on April 12, but not before a special post-"American Idol" premiere on Wednesday, April 7 at 9:00/8:00c (pre-empting "The O.C." that week).
Regular Monday, 8:30/7:30c time period holder "Cracking Up" will stay put in its current slot.
As for Sundays, in place of "Mac" in the 8:30/7:30c time period FOX has set repeats of "The Simpsons" for the foreseeable future. In addition, FOX has opted to pull "Oliver Beene" from its schedule beginning this week. "King of the Hill" will slide to 7:30/6:30c, also starting this week, with repeats of the animated comedy remaining at 7:00/6:00c. "Malcolm in the Middle" and "Arrested Development" will stay put at 9:00/8:00c and 9:30/8:30c respectively.
The decision leaves 10 episodes of "Beene" on the shelf, eight from its second season and two from its freshman season. It's not clear if or when "Beene" will return to FOX's schedule.
To review, here's a breakdown of all the changes:
Sundays, as of March 21
7:00/6:00c - "King of the Hill" (Repeats)
7:30/6:30c - "King of the Hill" (New Time Slot)
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons"
8:30/7:30c - "The Simpsons" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Malcolm in the Middle"
9:30/8:30c - "Arrested Development"
Mondays, as of March 22
8:00/7:00c - "The Bernie Mac Show" (New Time Slot)
8:30/7:30c - "Cracking Up"
9:00/8:00c - "That '70s Show" (Repeats)
9:30/8:30c - "That '70s Show" (Repeats)
Thursdays, as of March 25
8:00/7:00c - "Tru Calling"
9:00/8:00c - "Forever Eden" (New Time Slot)
Wednesday, April 7 only
8:00/7:00c - "That '70s Show"
8:30/7:30c - "American Idol"
9:00/8:00c - "The Swan" (Series Premiere - Special Night)
Mondays, as of April 12
8:00/7:00c - "The Bernie Mac Show"
8:30/7:30c - "Cracking Up"
9:00/8:00c - "The Swan" (Time Slot Premiere)
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