Fox announces its summer premieres

By Gary Levin
USA Today

Network TV is trying to keep you tuned in through the lazy summer months.

In its most ambitious early rollout yet, Fox unveiled plans Monday for two new sitcoms, a pair of dramas and two reality series, all to start in June. The lineup is designed to generate traction for new series before they're yanked in October for postseason baseball.

Last summer, Fox scored by previewing hit drama "The O.C." for seven weeks starting in August.

The new shows:

Dramas: "The North Shore" (7 p.m. Mondays, premiering June 14) with an ensemble cast set at a Hawai'i hotel; "The Jury" (8 p.m. Tuesdays, June 8), a courtroom series focused on deliberations from Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson ("Homicide," "Oz").

Comedies: "Quintuplets" (7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, June 16) with Andy Richter as dad to five 15-year-olds; "Method & Red" (8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, June 16) starring Method Man and Redman as rappers who move to a gated community.

Reality fare: "The Simple Life 2" (8 p.m. Wednesdays, June 16), following celebutantes Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie on a motor-home tour; "The Casino" (8 p.m. Mondays, June 14) from producer Mark Burnett ("Survivor," "The Apprentice"), which goes behind the scenes at Las Vegas' Golden Nugget.

Fox rivals are depending mostly on a perennial crop of reality. CBS has fifth seasons of "Big Brother" and "The Amazing Race"; NBC returns "Last Comic Standing," "Who Wants to Marry My Dad" and "For Love or Money" and with a new contest, "The Next Action Star."

NBC also plans to launch part of a fall lineup Aug. 29, right after the Olympics.

On Monday, ABC announced plans for "The Days," a six-week family drama.