Dollhouse

We’re now one week away from the broadcast network "upfronts" - when they present their new fall shows to advertisers and media - a do-over of sorts that gives everyone involved a false sense of hope. On Friday, we took a look at NBC’s pilots and prognosis. Here’s Fox:

Network overview: Only Fox and CBS did well this season, developing new hits and riding a Nielsens-rating wave. Fox turned "Fringe" and "Lie to Me" into hits. The network will be looking to capitalize on its newfound ability to churn out CBS-like dramas, but it desperately needs some comedy hits, an ongoing weakness at the network.

Returning series: "24," "The Simpsons," "House," "Lie to Me," "Family Guy," "American Dad," "Fringe," "Glee" (premieres May 19 for one episode only, then returns next season) and "Til Death," even though the latter series seems to be (joyfully) forgotten. Obviously, "American Idol" and a bin full of reality shows will return, but this is only about scripted shows.

Canceled series: "Do Not Disturb," "Prison Break" and "King of the Hill" are ending their runs.

Shows still "on the bubble" and yet to be renewed: "Bones," "Dollhouse," "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," "Sit Down, Shut Up." Fox is taking a good look at the seven comedy and five drama pilots it has in development before making what looks to be the two most difficult decisions here - "Bones" and "Dollhouse." The first has been a steady if unspectacular performer and the latter was a disappointment that showed signs of life late in the run. The question for Fox is whether it can find a sci-fi styled match for "Dollhouse" or not. Everything else looks dead.

Pilots in play for the 2009-10 season: Dramas include "Eva Adams," about a womanizing jerk who is "transformed" into a woman and then suffers all the jerkish behavior he once doled out, and "Human Target," based on the DC Comics story about a guy who assumes the identities of his clients who are in trouble (and by that we mean someone is trying to hurt them badly). Mark Valley, Jackie Earle Haley and Chi McBride star; it’s considered a red-hot contender to get picked up. "Maggie Hill," featuring Alfre Woodard, is about a brilliant female surgeon who develops schizophrenia. "Masterwork" is a thriller about tracking down and recovering works of art and artifacts. (Think "National Treasure.") The final drama is "The Reincarnationist" - yep - about a team of investigators who solve your current woes by figuring out what you did in a past life.

Of the dramas, look for "Human Target" and "Maggie Hill" to get the green light - but like any upfront, there’s plenty of intangibles in play.

The Fox comedy pilots include "AbFab," the long-awaited remake of "Absolutely Fabulous" from England. This version has the backing of original creator and star Jennifer Saunders as well as Mitch Hurwitz (creator of "Arrested Development" and a very busy man this pilot season). "Brothers" is about a retired football player who returns home to connect with his family, particularly his younger brother who is in a wheelchair. Former football player Michael Strahan, Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, CCH Pounder and Carl Weathers make up the cast. It’s executive-produced by Hurwitz.

Anybody up for a halfway house devoted to psychologically damaged Philly cops? That’s the premise of "Cop House," another comedy contender. "Sons Of Tucson" revolves around three rich brothers who hire a con man to act as their dad while their real dad serves time in jail on a white-collar crime. "The Station" is like "The Office" except it’s about covert CIA agents in South America. Hmmmm. "Two Dollar Beer" is about an extended family in Detroit pummeled by the economy but refusing to leave behind their roots. And "Walorsky," about an ex-cop turned security guard (is there something in the air about rent-a-cops?) whose slacker ways patrolling the mall are tested by a new partner. Like "The Station," this is considered a late pilot - it won’t be filmed until June - so neither are candidates for the fall but could be picked up for midseason.

Although this time of year spawns a lot of rumors about certain pilots having more juice than others, that’s mostly a back-channel game of spin conducted by agents trying to get their clients a full-time job. Nobody except the network suits really knows which pilots will get picked up - and which current series will be canceled, for that matter - and those decisions sometimes come down to the very last minute.

But "AbFab" and "Brothers" certainly have to be considered solid candidates for pickup.

Final spin: With limited availability on the schedule, there could be one or two surprises in the cancellation department (including the potential survival of "Dollhouse"). Based on the success of "Fringe" and "Lie to Me," there’s no pressing need to green-light a lot of dramas (maybe two). Fox has already given a two-season commitment to a "Family Guy" spin-off series, "The Cleveland Show," but it wouldn’t be surprising to see a handful of sitcoms getting picked up and put on the bench.