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Looks like Fox’s famous Animation Domination lineup is about to get a little more universal.
Universal Basic Guys—the latest addition to the network’s Sunday night cartoon fare—has been gifted with an early Season 2 renewal ahead of its fall debut. That’s a big vote of confidence in the series, which hails from sibling creators Adam and Craig Malamut and focuses on two newly unemployed brothers who put their new $3,000-a-month basic income paycheck to use by exploring what life has to offer outside of the rat race.
Because Universal Basic Guys is the new kid on the Animation Domination block, one legacy series has to take a seat on the proverbial bench until midseason. And that series is Seth MacFarlane’s Sunday institution Family Guy—a decision that caught some by surprise. But Michael Thorn, president of Fox Television Network, said the decision to give the Griffin family a breather was basic, really.
“Our goal is to keep the strength of our longtime-running legacy series while launching our new Fox-owned animated series,” Thorn remarked in a conference call at the start of TV upfront week, pointing to Dan Harmon’s Krapopolis as an example of how that strategy paid off for Fox last season. “We’re going to be launching Universal Basic Guys this year, which we want to give a very specific, impactful launch.
“At the same time, our long-running series like Family Guy are still of crucial importance to use and our audience,” Thorn continued. “So bringing it back midseason with a full order is absolutely our plan. We’ll give it a great relaunch along with our lineup for that part of the season. We know when it comes back on Sunday, it will resonate with our audience just like it always has.”
Joining Universal Basic Guys on Fox’s fall schedule are a pair of new dramas, with the John Wells-produced Rescue: HI-Surf diving into Monday night waters in the wake of returning favorite 9-1-1: Lonestar. Set along the dangerously picturesque North Shore of Oahu, the series features an ensemble that includes Robbie Magasiva, Arielle Kebbel and Adam Demos as heavy-water lifeguards who won’t let those in danger out of their sight.
