6 new series for Fox in 2008-2009

Signing two fan-favorite producers, Fox this morning announced six new series for the 2008-09 TV season.

There's more aeronautic mystery from money machine J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias), whose show, Fringe, starts with an entire airliner full of corpses. Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) puts Eliza Dushku, Buffy's former frenemy Faith, at the head of Dollhouse. The fantasy is so complex, it's sure to burnish his cult hero status.

Fringe and a new workplace sitcom (in a hip hotel) starring Jerry O'Connell start in late summer, but as usual with the net that airs the World Series, most new series will bow midseason. Dollhouse joins reality show Secret Millionaire in winter, and two cartoons – one from the Family Guy brain trust, the other from Arrested Development creator Mitchell Hurwitz – join the spring schedule.

Most Fox shows, including 24, Prison Break, House, Bones, and The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and the network's quiz, reality and cartoon lineup, will return. But, as previously reported, two relative ratings success, New Amsterdam and Back to You have been canceled.