TVSquad

FOX is the only network who seems to have two seasons every year, doesn't it? You have the fall, when the baseball playoffs and World Series wreak havoc with the network's primetime lineup, then the new year happens and everything starts anew with American Idol and 24; all of a sudden, the "fourth network" becomes a ratings juggernaut.

It's something that FOX Entertainment president Peter Liguori is concerned about, and he addressed it at his TCA session this morning. He almost sounded like a victim, held hostage by the sports' division's suckage of time during the month of October and hamstrung by what it forces him to do. It strikes me as a bit disingenuous, because FOX paid a lot of money for the playoffs, and it was their decision to air so many games. Anyway, Liguori seemed almost happy that the network, who lost the division round and one LCS round, will broadcast less games this fall.

His solution to the split-season problem was pretty straightforward: "We can avoid it by having better shows in the 4th quarter," he said. "And I don't just accept that that's the way it is. Granted, with all that being said, we do have to accept the realization that our two biggest horses (Idol and 24) come to bear in January."

Liguori also addressed concerns that the comments from Simon, Randy, and Paula are more biting and offensive this year as opposed to previous years: "I think it's what part of what makes the show American Idol. The judges have been critical for six years. They know what makes the show tick and it's the continuation of a successful formula."

As for Paula Abdul's recent spate of interview loopiness, Liguori said that she was doing interviews for three hours with over 30 affiliates, and that she also experienced audio problems during those interviews. "I'd be a little slap happy at that point," he said in her defense.

Liguori couldn't talk about the controversial O.J. Simpson special, due to pending litigation. Two different critics tried to approach the subject from different angles, but Liguori wouldn't budge.

He spoke about all the new shows he is premiering this spring, from Drive to The Wedding Bells to The Winner. "To us, spring is the new fall," he said, referring to the time when Idol and 24 are on the air. "We want to premiere shows when circulation is at its peak."

The Thursday block of shows are all in TBD state, but according to Liguori, the shows can come from anything from a comedy block to Hell's Kitchen to new reality programming.

One such show is a new game show called Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?, where contestants will be able to use school-aged kids as lifelines as they're asked questions from textbooks that are fifth-grade-level and below. It's produced by Survivor's Mark Burnett, and, according to Liguori, of all the network executives the reality mogul pitched the show to, only one "won" any money after playing the game. When the gathered critics shouted the inevitable "Who was it," Liguori raised his hand.

Other notes:

• The network is sticking with 'Til Death because Liguori thinks she show needs room to develop. He claimed it does the same share as 30 Rock.
• Liguori thought it was proper to give fans of The O.C. a series finale. "We want the show to end on a creative high note," he said.