Fox dances its way to a new schedule

The biggest surprises on Fox's fall schedule are the shows the network didn't cancel.

Despite less-than-stellar ratings — and that's a huge understatement — "Dollhouse" is returning for a second season. Apparently, the network hopes to avoid repeating its mistake in quickly canceling producer Joss Whedon's "Firefly" in 2002. Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly told reporters in a conference call, "This is a bet on Joss Whedon."

Also returning is the much-maligned (and with good reason) sitcom " 'Til Death."

Network programmers announced last week that "Lie to Me" was off the bubble, despite its share of ratings woes, and will also be back for a second season.

And Salt Lake City will once again be in the Fox spotlight when the sixth season of "So You Think You Can Dance" begins airing this fall on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Auditions for that season are scheduled for July 24 in Utah.

The fifth season of "SYTYCD" will air this summer; the season premiere is on Thursday. It's a bit unusual to air two seasons back-to-back, but the plan is to mirror the second half of the regular season by using "Dance" as the fall stand-in for "American Idol."

Fox's fall schedule features a pair of new prime-time comedies; a new late-night show and the musical/comedy/drama "Glee," which previews Tuesday.

Always planning ahead, Fox announced a midseason schedule that includes two new dramas, a new comedy and the return of "American Idol" and "24."

Fox's new fall comedies are:

The Cleveland Show (Sundays, 7:30 p.m.), is the long- delayed "Family Guy" spinoff. The character of Cleveland moves to his hometown in Virginia where he settles down with his high school sweetheart, her unruly kids and his own 14-year-old son.

Brothers (Fridays, 7 p.m.) features Michael Strahan ("Fox NFL Sunday") as a former football star who returns to his mother's home to get his life back on track. Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, CCH Pounder and Carl Weathers co-star. From the producers of "Arrested Development" and "Two and a Half Men."

The new late-night show is:

The Wanda Sykes Show (Saturdays, 10:30 p.m., debuts Nov. 7) will feature an hour of "outspoken comedic perspective on current events along with topical, high-energy roundtable discussions." The network will also air a half-hour animated repeat Saturdays at 11:30 p.m.