Fox is bringing an end to one of its longest-running television traditions by breaking up its all-animation Sunday night line-up for the upcoming fall season. According to Collider, the network has placed the live-action sitcom Animal Control immediately after The Simpsons, marking the end of the “Animation Domination” format for the autumn schedule.
Fox unveiled its 2026 fall schedule on Wednesday ahead of the new television season, which begins during the week of 21 September. While reality and game shows dominate much of the line-up, scripted programming has been scaled back. Comedy remains concentrated on Sunday nights, beginning with The Simpsons at 8 p.m. ET, followed by Animal Control at 8:30 p.m. ET. Animated series Universal Basic Guys and Grimsburg will air afterwards.
The move breaks with Fox’s long-standing tradition of scheduling only animated comedies on Sunday evenings. It also places The Simpsons alongside a live-action series for the first time in years, making the veteran animation appear more separate from the network’s remaining adult cartoons.
The new slot could benefit Animal Control, which enters its fifth season. Although the sitcom has maintained stable viewership, network television continues to face ratings challenges. Airing after one of television’s most recognisable series could help the show attract a larger audience on both broadcast television and streaming platforms.
Streaming has also reshaped The Simpsons in recent years. The complete catalogue is available exclusively on Disney+, and since 2024, at least two episodes from each season have premiered exclusively on the streaming platform. The strategy has shifted much of the audience’s attention away from traditional television while encouraging former viewers to revisit the long-running series.
The schedule also highlights Fox’s reduced investment in scripted comedy. Animal Control will be the network’s only live-action half-hour comedy during the 2026 fall season. Best Medicine airs on Tuesdays as an hour-long dramedy, while Doc occupies the following hour as a medical drama.
The revised line-up also reflects a broader shift in Fox’s programming strategy. The network continues to rely on established franchises while producing fewer episodes of its animated comedies. Popular series including Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers and American Dad are expected to return in the spring, but several animated titles, including The Great North, Duncanville and Bless the Harts, have ended in recent years.
Animal Control, starring Joel McHale as a municipal animal control officer in Seattle, also features Vella Lovell, Michael Rowland, Ravi V. Patel and Grace Palmer. Previous seasons are available on Hulu, while The Simpsons streams on Disney+.
