Fox is only a single day into its 2013-2014 TV season and the network is already making changes. The network announced today that it is moving the military sitcom Enlisted and the show will not premiere until January.
Enlisted was originally slated to have a late fall premiere on Nov. 8, following episodes of Bones and Raising Hope. But in a press release today, Fox said that the the comedy will now not premiere until midseason, on Friday, Jan. 10 at 9:30 p.m.
The network said that the move was made “In order to take advantage of our winter sports promotional platform.” Bones will still make the move from Mondays to Fridays on Nov. 8, but it will instead be followed by a full hour of Raising Hope.
Enlisted stars Geoff Stults (The Finder), Chris Lowell (Veronica Mars) and Parker Young (Suburgatory). Stults plays a staff sergeant who made a mistake overseas and is sent back to Fort McGee in Florida, where his brothers (Young and Lowell) are stationed. The two are not the best soldiers, which is why they haven’t been sent overseas. Emmy winner Keith David also stars as Command Sergeant Major Donald Cody, who oversees the fort.
As The Hollywood Reporter notes, Fox is likely hoping to use winter sports events like the World Series to promote the show, created by Kevin Biegel (Cougar Town). It’s a move very similar to NBC, which is hoping that the Winter Olympics in Sochi will boost the second half of its season.
Fox kicked off its season last night with the premiere of X Factor.