Prime-time preview

This week in New York, broadcast network executives began unveiling their fall season schedules to advertisers. It’s the biggest event of the year in the television business -- known as the “upfronts” -- when advertisers are urged to buy prime-time commercial spots before the beginning of the new season.

Fox is still thinking young

For seven of the last eight years, Fox has attracted the largest number of 18-to-34-year-old viewers, and the network tried to reinforce its appeal to that group in its selection of new shows for the fall. The network announced the selection of three new dramas and two comedies for the fall lineup, as well as some reality competitions and midseason series.

WHAT’S NEW

Title; Description

“Standoff” (formerly called “Primary”); Hostage negotiators find themselves attracted to each other

“Vanished”; A political conspiracy surrounds the disappearance of a senator’s wife

“Justice” (formerly called “American Crime”); Jerry Bruckheimer drama about attorneys who handle high-profile cases

“Happy Hour”; Comedy about two buddies with very different outlooks on love

“‘Til Death”; Comedy with Brad Garrett about two couples at different stages in their marriages

“The Winner”; Midseason comedy about a successful man who looks back at his neurotic, extended adolescence

“The Wedding Album”; Midseason anthology series about a photographer and his partner and the weddings they work

“Duets”; A four-week unscripted series pairs recording artists with non-musical celebrities

“On the Lot”; Aspiring filmmakers vie to win a studio deal. From Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett

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WHAT’S GONE

“Arrested Development,” “Bernie Mac,” “Free Ride,” “Head Cases,” “Killer Instinct,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Reunion,” “Stacked,” “That ‘70s Show.”

The CW’s rookie season

The CW network, which pulled together a fall lineup primarily from the current UPN and WB schedules, announced the fewest new shows of all the networks. Hoping to breach Fox’s stronghold on the coveted 18- to 34-year-old viewer demographic, the network picked up just one drama, one comedy and one midseason alternative.

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WHAT’S NEW

Title; Description

“Runaway”; A family goes on the lam after its patriarch is convicted of murder. Stars Donnie Wahlberg.

“The Game”; Comedy about NFL wives/girlfriends

“Hidden Palms” (formerly called “Palm Springs”); Prime-time soap opera for midseason with Sharon Lawrence

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WHAT’S GONE

From UPN: “Cut,” “Eve,” “Half & Half,” “Love, Inc.” “One on One.”

From the WB: “The Bedford Diaries,” “Charmed,” “Everwood,” “Modern Men,” “Pepper Dennis,” “Related,” “Twins,” “What I Like About You,” “Living With Fran.”

For more information on the new shows go to latimes.com/upfronts.

Los Angeles Times