Dysfunctional family comedy The Moodys returns to Fox April 1 with two episodes. Denis Leary and Elizabeth Perkins star and executive produce. 

The series picks up with Sean Sr. (Leary) contemplating retirement while Sean Jr. (Jay Baruchel) takes over the family HVAC business. Ann (Perkins) has no intention of leaving her new psychology practice, and Sean Jr. continues to brew up schemes to get rich quick. Bridget (Chelsea Frei), in the midst of a divorce, returns home while her new townhouse is being renovated; and Dan (Francois Arnaud) leaves Brooklyn for Chicago to live with his girlfriend Cora (guest star Maria Gabriela de Faria), only to realize the relationship is moving too quickly. 

The Moodys is written and executive produced by Bob Fisher, Rob Greenberg and Tad Quill. Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum, Trent O’Donnell, Phil Lloyd, Jason Burrows, Denis Leary and Elizabeth Perkins are executive producers. The Moodys is based on the Jungle Entertainment Pty Limited and Australian Broadcasting Corporation series A Moody Christmas. It debuted on Fox late in 2019. 

Fox will debut football-related shorts from Denis Leary during its NFL pregame coverage Jan. 9. The two animated shorts are based on the Icebox series Poker Night and inspired by the art series “Dogs Playing Poker.”

Dogs Playing Poker centers on five dog friends: Brownie (Leary), Daphne (Elaine Hendrix), Ditka (Roy Wood, Jr.), Froyo (Bobby Kelly) and Stan (Adam Ferrara) as they banter about football and other timely sports topics.

Leary co-writes, executive produces, and voices the lead character. 

The first short will air in the Rams-Seahawks pregame. The second will air Jan. 17 during playoffs. 

Jim Margolis created the shorts and is co-writer and executive producer. Jack Leary, Rob Greenberg and Howard Gordon also executive produce.

“If only Fox thought of spawning a new animated series from vignettes like this 30+ years ago…imagine the possibilities!” said Michael Thorn, president of entertainment, Fox Entertainment. “By pairing Dogs Playing Poker and Fox NFL, we have a unique opportunity to incubate content from top-tier talent in Denis, Jim, Jack, Rob and Howard, and introduce new characters of what might become the next building block of our iconic animation brand in a smart and strategic way.”

After their linear premiere, longer versions of each short will be available on Fox’s digital platforms. 

“At long last Fox lets America find out what we dogs think about football,” said Leary. “Spoiler alert: we’re very upset there isn’t a single NFL team named after a canine. Cats, horses, birds – even dolphins – all have their own teams.  Not one dog!  Throw us a bone, guys.  Literally and figuratively.”

Dogs Playing Poker is produced by Fox Entertainment and Bento Box Entertainment.  

The “Dogs Playing Poker” art series was painted by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge.

Fox Entertainment has locked down a broadcast development deal with Denis Leary, star of the network’s The Moodys.

Leary will create, develop and produce comedy, drama and animated series for Fox through his new production company, Amoeba. 

Leary may also star in the new series he develops.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Through his warm, waggish and relatable portrayal as the Moody family patriarch, Denis has become a fast friend of Fox.  His creative pedigree speaks for itself; and when the opportunity arose to expand our relationship with him to create new comedies, dramas and animated series for us, we leapt at the chance,” said Michael Thorn, president of entertainment for Fox Entertainment. “As we ramp up our commitment to programming year-round, we’re honored to partner with Denis on this broadcast-exclusive deal, and we’re looking forward to seeing the incredible work that will come of it.”

Fox recently renewed The Moodys for a second season.

Leary has been nominated for five Emmy awards, but never won. He starred in and created Rescue Me for FX, which was part of the Fox family before being sold to The Walt Disney Co.

“Everyone at Amoeba is excited about this partnership and we look forward to creating new, cutting-edge content at Fox,” Leary said.  “As well as using their luxury suites for World Series games and the Super Bowl.”

Charlie Collier, CEO, Fox Entertainment, added, “Welcome Denis. You’re paying face value for all tickets and twice face-value for Boston and New England.”

Fox on Wednesday (Dec. 14) will launch its music-themed series Star, the latest entry in a genre that so far this year has hit several sour notes.

The series, which takes over the prime time timeslot of Fox’s hit music series Empire, will look to strike a chord with viewers who tuned out of several cable-based music shows this year.

After much fanfare and a second season green light, HBO’s Martin Scorsese/Mick Jagger ’70 s executive-produced rock ‘n’ roll drama Vinyl failed to hit with viewers, and was canceled four months after it premiered this past February.

Showtime hoped viewers would dance to the beat of its drama Roadies, which followed the lives of crew members for major performers. But the network canceled the Cameron Crowe-produced show before it opened for a second season.

FX’s Denis Leary-helmed comedy Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll was silenced this past September after two seasons of so-so ratings.

While Empire continues to deliver big ratings for Fox, the task of developing a successful scripted series around the music business is not an exact science, according to Eric Deggans, the media and TV critic for National Public Radio, who is also a musician. While music has broad appeal, Deggans said viewers tend to gravitate to shows that weave music themes into otherwise dramatic, soap opera-esque storylines rather than shows that focus on the nuts and bolts of the music industry itself.

 “I think the way to have a successful show has been shown by Empire and [FX freshman series] Atlanta — you have to figure out ways in which the music is paired with some other attraction so that you get a wide range of viewers,” he said. “When you do feature the music, it has to be strong and authentic.”

Indeed, the Donald Glover-created Atlanta, which focuses on two cousins trying to navigate the ATL’s rap scene, has found an audience. The series’s Sept. 6 premiere drew the network’s second-biggest audience for a series debut, with 3 million viewers. Atlanta has already been renewed for a second season.

CMT is singing the praises of ABC’s cancelled country music-themed Nashville. The cable network will offer an early preview of its season-five premiere on Dec. 15 and  will officially launch the season on Jan. 5.

Star will get its chance to serenade television viewers with the hopes of making beautiful ratings music within a genre that’s delivered mixed results in 2016.

Pictured (from left):Jude Demorest, Ryan Destiny and Brittany O'Grady, the stars of Fox's new series Star, premiering Dec. 14.

FX Networks has ordered a 10-episode second season of Denis Leary comedy series Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll. Leary and stars Elizabeth Gillies, John Corbett, Elaine Hendrix, Robert Kelly and John Ales will return with the show in 2016. 

FX said that, on a Live+7 basis through the first eight episodes, the first season of Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll represents basic cable’s most-watched freshman primetime scripted comedy of 2015 in men ages 18-49 and 25-54, and the third most-watched new primetime scripted comedy series on basic cable among adults 18-49 and total viewers. Following a pattern set by several FX dramas, it also sees a big lift between live plus same day viewing and Live+7 among adults 18-49 (+81%) and total viewers (+83%).

Leary also serves as a writer, composer and a director, as well as an executive producer along with Jim Serpico. The show is produced by FX Productions and Fox 21 Television Studios.

Eric Schrier and Nick Grad, presidents of original programming, FX Networks and FX Productions, announced the renewal. Schrier said, in part, in a release: “We thank Denis and the rest of the cast, along with Jim Serpico and Tom Sellitti, for a terrific first season and look forward to indulging in more Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll in season two.”

Leary in the release said, "The only thing that could make me happier about this announcement is if David Bowie decided to be a guest star during Season Two. In which case, my head would explode. Hopefully on-camera so we get a kickass viral video out of it. Not to mention awesome Live+3s. I look forward to once again creating new episodes of television with John Landgraf's exceptional FX team. And scoring some cool Bastard Executioner swag."

Leary plays “Johnny Rock,” lead singer of a legendary early 90s New York band called The Heathens. The band flamed out early, but Johnny’s daughter Gigi (Gillies) has reunited its members as her new backup band.

FX’s new series Sex & Drugs & Rock &Roll definitely lives up to its name in an entertaining fashion.

The series tells the story of a former 90’s rock star Johnny Rock (Denis Leary) and his former band The Heathens. Johnny had a reputation for being a drug addicted, alcoholic rock legend, and the band for various reasons has broken up numerous times.

Johnny -- who is beginning to come to grips with the realizations of his advancing age and the future of his career -- in a chance encounter meets his 25-year-old daughter Gigi (Elizabeth Gillies) and eventually helps her achieve stardom.

Given a new lease on life, Johnny now hopes to bring the band back together just like old times, as well as to form a bond with the daughter he never knew. Set in modern day New York, the whole band lives together in one apartment and becomes a family, albeit a very dysfunctional one. Yet its music and Gigi’s success that holds them all together.

The cast of Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll is very humorous and eclectic, and the music and lyrics in the series is heartfelt. Other cast members include Elaine Hendrix as Johnny’s girlfriend, John Corbett as Flash, and John Ales as Rehab and Robert Kelly as Bam Bam.

While the content and language is for mature adults, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll will be enjoyable for music lovers and 90’s babies everywhere.