April 5 marked the 20th Anniversary of FOX

[Max]

On April 5, FOX celebrated its 20th Anniversary. Below is the official launch of the FOX network on that date (which was a Sunday) in 1987:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCxWJki6QD4

Before I continue, I must say that the actual date of FOX's launch is debateable, since April 5, 1987 was actually only the very first date that FOX aired primetime programming. In fact, the very first program on FOX was the ill-fated late-night talk show, "The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers," which debuted on October 9, 1986. Note that during the time period between 10/9/86 and 4/4/87, the network was actually referred to as FBC--for the FOX Broadcasting Company--instead of being referred to as FOX. (As a side note, Joan Rivers' late-night talk show is in fact considered one of the biggest flops in television history. One of the major reasons it failed was because Johnny Carson announced that any guest who appeared on Rivers' talk show would never appear on The Tonight Show. The reason why Carson feuded with Rivers--who once was a frequent guest host on his own show--was because he felt betrayed by her; Carson felt betrayed by Rivers not because she chose to compete against him, but rather because she never told him about her plans prior to the official press announcement that launched her show. When Carson died in 2005, Joan Rivers actually revealed that Carson never spoke to her ever again after she "betrayed" him.)

Now, getting back to April 5, 1987, the very first program to air on FOX's primetime lineup was the legendary (and my all-time favorite) sitcom, "Married...with Children." (I'm sure that you probably already would have guessed this if you viewed the link above, since the MWC promo immiediately follows the launch of the FOX network.) The other shows that followed MWC on that night were "The Tracy Ullman Show" (which is most well known for airing brief comic strips of "The Simpsons" during commercial breaks), "Duet" (a sitcom starring AW's Mary Page Keller), and "Mr. President" (a sitcom starring legendary movie actor George C. Scott).

At the very beginning, FOX only aired primetime shows on Sundays. In July 1987, Saturday night primetime programming was introduced. If memory serves me correctly, I believe that Monday nights came next. Believe it or not, however, it was not until 1993 when FOX's aired primetime programming on all seven nights of the week.

Although MWC was the only well known FOX show that was there at the very start, other iconic shows would soon premier as well: "21 Jump Street" debuted on April 12, 1987 (just one week after FOX was launched), while "America's Most Wanted" and "COPS" debuted in February 1988 and March 1989, respectively. However, it was not until 1994 when FOX was considered to be a major network; the event that occurred that year to cause FOX to reach this new status was the network's acquisition to the rights to air NFL Football. (Specifically, FOX bought the rights to air the NFC games, which actually had aired on CBS from 1970 to 1993.)

Even though FOX is a major broadcast newtork, it still is to this day not on par with ABC, CBS, and NBC because FOX (1) does not actually have a news division of its own (even though it of course has a cable news channel), (2) does not air any daytime television programming, and (3) actually airs one less hour of prime-time programming--on every single day of the week--than the Big Three newtorks do. Nevertheless, FOX is a major success story. Many speculate that FOX succeeded--where others like UPN and the WB failed--because of the acute business acumen of owner Rupert Murdoch and because--as the first network to challeng the Big Three--it was able to assemble the strongest then-independent television stations to become network affiliates (whereas UPN, the WB, and CW and My Network TV as well, were forced to use weaker formerly independent stations for its affiliates).

Feel free to add your comments about FOX. In particualr, I am very interested to read about the memories of anybody who remembers first-hand FOX's very early years.

[Mason]

I miss the days when FOX actually had some GOOD shows on.

[Max]

Hogan, I too miss the days when FOX was actually a quality network. Nowadays, the only FOX shows worth watching are America's Most Wanted and COPS.

[Brandeis]

Fox has had some great innovative shows over the years but I must admit to having a jaundiced eye over Rupert Murdoch and it's all news station.

I can appreciate that shows like 24, House, Prison Break, and of course AI, do well enough in the ratings amd with the critics.

[Kylie]

They don't mention shows like The X-Files, 90210, Party of Five, Malcom in the Middle, etc. Those shows really put FOX on the map.

[R!ck]

I grew up on 21 Jump Street, Martin, Married with Children, Tracey Ullman Show, Herman's Head, Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Roc, Aresenio Hall and In Living Color

Down the Shore, Alien Nation, Babes, Werewolf, The Edge were also favorites even though the only lasted one season each. I wish they would put them on DVD.

[Ridge]

I think FOX still has quality shows. There are shows on FOX that are entertaining and worth watching, especially ones that you can't find on other networks. Like Prison Break, which is considered decent, 24 which is one of FOX's major successes outside of American Idol. A show like Standoff is decent and is much better than anything NBC or ABC has dished outside of their hits. Wasn't Boston Public a FOX show (damn it's been so long I forgot), that show was good too. FOX has a different brand of shows but the thing is they are often worth watching or at least giving a shot. More so than NBC IMO.

[Mason]

These are my favorite FOX shows of all time:

Beverly Hills, 90210

Melrose Place

Party of Five (can't believe I almost forgot it!)

Time of Your Life

Get Real

Boston Public

Ally McBeal

The Simpsons (NOT current)

Family Guy

Futurama

Titus

That 70s Show

24

The O.C.

These are the shows, among others, that made FOX what it is today, IMO.

[Bright Eyes]

FOX has had so many of many favourite shows.

Married ... with Children

Melrose Place

Party of Five

90210

The Simpson

The O.C

Paradise Falls

Boston Public

Fururama

Family Guy

Tru Calling

Point Pleasant

Bones

[Kylie]

I like Bones, and The Simpons still kicks ass. But other then that, FOX and I have parted company.

I adored The X-Files and 90210. I still miss 90210 something fierce.

[winterguy125]

I think Fox is still doing pretty good, I love Prison Break, and I really wish more people would watch it, it is a really well put together drama. American Idol is good, and I have enjoyed it for the last six years. Still love the Simpson's though I don't watch it like I once use to.

The Day Married with Children was cancelled broke my heart, that was and still is my favorite prime time show of all time.

[JER Soaps Fan]

I can't believe I had to learn about this HUGE news through a SOAP OPERA MESSAGE BOARD.

Um, what's wrong with this picture?

Fox, you're a netlet. You can't afford to wait until the 75th anniversary to get your party on. Celebrate, dammit!

I'm really disappointed that we're not getting a nice retrospective.

[JackPeyton]

when i think fox there are the first shows to come to mind-

90210

melrose

ally mcbiel

24

party of 5

[BetweenHeaven&Hell]

I love those too -- were you a fan of North Shore and Reunion? They were both short-lived but great shows, especially NS.

[bellcurve]

I wished the FOX Network itself would get a news division just to give the big three competition. It baffles me why they haven't even made the attempt to do that...

FOX News is #1 In Cable, to bring that kind of success over to daytime and the evening could strenghten FOX, because their news appeals to two demographics, Conservatives who like the way FOX reports the news and Liberals who find it absurd.

I doubt we will see a daytime lineup involving soaps on FOX anytime soon, mainly because of the MyNetworkTV failure(which, IMO, was a test to see if FOX/NewsCorp could appeal to soap fans).

FOX totally deserves their success and to say that "Oh, well they acquired the NFL and they only have two hours of programming" is a weak argument. The acquisition of the NFL certainly helped FOX, but alot of the success of the network goes to its early years.

And I will say I never thought I would see the day when something was too "controversial" or "provocative" for a local FOX affiliate to air(esp. since ABC affiliates allowed FOX affiliates in some cities to air NYPD Blue in its early years). The Never-Aired OJ Simpson Special and WHO'S YOUR DADDY were both shows/specials in recent years that FOX affiliates refused to air. Isn't that just funny?!