FOX “eventizing” 2014-15 programming slate, says entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly

At a conference call this morning announcing FOX’s 2014-15 programming schedule, Fox Broadcasting Company chairman of entertainment Kevin Reilly (pictured) said that the network is “eventizing” its entertainment slate. This seems to apply to both closed-ended, actual event series such as Gracepoint (based on the British series Broadchurch), coming this fall, along with midseason’s Wayward Pines, from M. Night Shyamalan, as well as regular series that will be brought out with a bang, like the network’s hyped reality series Utopia, and the much-buzzed-about Batman prequel Gotham.

RELATED: FOX 2014-15 PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

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Reilly restated what he has mentioned earlier about FOX not adhering to the traditional Nielsen definition of “seasons” when it comes to bringing out new programming. “We really want to be a 12-month network,” he said this morning. As examples of this, he mentioned how the new 24: Live Another Day will carry on into June, as will the upcoming series Gang Related. He also pointed out that Gotham was ordered for 16 episodes, even though they were obligated for only 13 with a freshman show like that. Reilly quipped how it is not written in stone that shows can only be ordered for 13 or 22 episodes.

“There’s no set standard order anymore,” Reilly said. “We handcraft them over here at FOX.”

Nonetheless, even though new shows may debut year-round, fall and midseason still carry the weight of FOX’s new programming as we roll into 2014-15. FOX’s Monday nights look to be particularly strong, as last year’s hit Sleepy Hollow returns, with Gotham as a lead in.

Reilly was particularly stoked about Gotham on the conference call, and said his feelings that the show has done justice to its buzz were confirmed in his mind when he saw the pilot last month.

“Anticipation and buildup can exceed delivery [sometimes],” Reilly said, answering a question about whether he had concerns that Gotham might not live up to the hype, as ABC’s Agents of SHIELD hasn’t quite done booming ratings business even though it’s a spinoff of a popular comics franchise. Reilly thinks one difference here is that SHIELD did not have franchise characters, whereas Gotham will feature long-known and loved characters from the Batman universe, from Jim Gordon to a young Bruce Wayne, along with early incarnations of supervillains such as The Riddler and Penguin (along with new characters created out of cloth for the series).

“I’m feeling pretty good about Gotham,” Reilly summed up.

Whether he still feels as good about returning former mega-hit American Idol couldn’t be determined. Reilly did mention that Idol will change format, including being on for less hours (37, as opposed to in the 50s as it has been). Reilly did say there are good indications that the current judges would be back, though they don’t announce such things until the current season ends. They are still determining how Idol will be airing (possibly as a two-hour show on one night, Reilly mentioned), which is why there was no set schedule announced at this time for midseason series Backstrom, Bordertown, Empire, Hieroglyph, The Last Man on Earth, event series Wayward Pines, Weird Loners and the returning Glee, The Following and Idol.

Reilly did talk about how FOX’s breakout hit from last year, Sleepy Hollow, which returns this fall, will benefit from the network’s year-round approach and big investment in programming. He said that the new season is currently in production, and will feature 18 episodes, with almost all 18 airing in a row.

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Kevin Reilly: © 2012 Fox Broadcasting Company. Credit: Jill Greenberg/FOX