Animation Domination
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
 Official logo | |
| Network | Fox |
|---|---|
| Launched | Original run: May 1, 2005[1] Second run: September 29, 2019 |
| Closed | Original run: September 21, 2014 |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Official website | www |
Animation Domination (also called AniDom, Fox AD, and AD) is an American animated programming block that has aired in two iterations on the Fox broadcast network, featuring a lineup solely made up of prime-time animated sitcoms and adult animation carried as a majority of, or the whole of, the network's Sunday evening schedule (outside of sports pre-emptions and early hour programming burn offs).[2] It originally ran from May 1, 2005, until September 21, 2014, before returning on September 29, 2019.[3]
History
[edit]Original run
[edit]Animation Domination debuted on Fox on May 1, 2005, in time for the last sweeps period of the 2004–05 television season. The first program to originate on the block was American Dad!, although its pilot aired as a Super Bowl lead-out program on February 6, 2005. Rounding out the Animation Domination lineup alongside American Dad! were The Simpsons (the longest-running cartoon on Fox and the network's first primetime animated series, which predated the lineup by 16 years), King of the Hill (which predated the lineup by eight years) and Family Guy (which predated the lineup by six years, and was revived as a series three years after its 2002 cancellation as a result of newfound popularity through reruns on Fox lineup and sales of the first, second, and third-season episodes on DVD).[4][5]
Until spring 2010, when Animation Domination only reprised of animated series, live-action programming would commonly occur within the block, including shows like Malcolm in the Middle and The War at Home. King of the Hill later ended on September 13, 2009, on Fox, and was replaced by the Family Guy spin-off The Cleveland Show for the 2009–10 television season, with the former's time slot of 8:30 PM.[6] Four episodes of the series remained, but Fox opted not to air them, later being burn-offed in syndication from May 3–6, 2010. Fox would later premiere Bob's Burgers on January 9, 2011.
From the fall of 2014 to the summer of 2017, the Animation Domination block was replaced by the Sunday Funday block, with the addition of live-action comedies Brooklyn Nine-Nine (which moved to Sunday night for its second season), freshman series Mulaney (which was canceled in early 2015), and the Will Forte sitcom, The Last Man on Earth. This marked the first time that the network has regularly aired live-action comedies on Sundays (outside of burn-offs of failed weeknight series) since 2005. From fall of 2017 to the summer of 2019, the Sunday night lineup was simply referred to as Fox Sunday Night, also with the addition of live-action comedies.
Return
[edit]The block returned on September 29, 2019, with previous AD series The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, Family Guy and the new series Bless the Harts. Duncanville debuted on February 16, 2020.
James Arnold Taylor currently serves as the announcer of the block.[7]
In April 2020, Fox Entertainment announced their partnership with Caffeine to produce the AniDom Beyond Show, a recap show hosted by Andy Richter.[8] The show aired its finale on May 18, 2020, and it is unknown whether it will return in the future.
The Great North debuted on January 3, 2021.[9]
On May 31, 2021, Animation Domination temporarily expanded into Mondays with Duncanville and the new series HouseBroken.
Two new animated series – Krapopolis and Grimsburg – were originally set to premiere in the 2022–23 season,[10] but were pushed back to the 2023–24 season.[11][12] They were each renewed for a second in October 2022.[13][14]
On January 18, 2022, Fox announced they would be eyeing a two-hour Monday block in May 2023, in 2024 it temporarily moved Family Guy to Wednesdays, and in 2025 it was announced that it had temporarily moved its three-hour Sunday lineup into two-hour lineup to Thursdays (while reairs of primetime programming normally airs on Thursdays during summer were moved to Sundays).[15]
Bless the Harts ended after two seasons on June 20, 2021. A year later, on June 30, 2022, Fox cancelled Duncanville after three seasons[16] and the series concluded on October 18, 2022, with its final six episodes on Hulu.[17]
The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob's Burgers were each renewed for two more seasons through 2025 on January 26, 2023.[18]
On March 1, 2023, Krapopolis was renewed for a third season ahead of its premiere on September 24.[19][20] Grimsburg premiered on January 7, 2024.[21] HouseBroken was canceled on May 10, 2024, after two seasons.[22] On May 13, 2024, Universal Basic Guys was renewed for a second season ahead of its debut on September 8.[23][24] On July 25, 2024, Krapopolis was renewed for a fourth season, ahead of the show's second-season premiere.[25]
On February 16, 2025, the whole lineup was delayed by two hours due to rain delays during the 2025 Daytona 500 and The Great North aired a repeat of its fifth-season premiere.
On March 21, 2025, it was announced that plans were being made to return American Dad!, which moved to TBS in 2014, back to Fox's Animation Domination lineup, where it would air alongside The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob's Burgers.[26] On April 2, 2025, The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob's Burgers were each renewed for four seasons and American Dad! was confirmed to be returning to Fox, also for four seasons.[27]
On May 10, 2025, Fox renewed Grimsburg, Krapopolis and Universal Basic Guys.[28]
On September 23, 2025, Aimee Steinberger, a director on The Great North, posted on Bluesky that the show had been cancelled after five seasons.[29] On October 3, 2025, Fox made the cancellation of The Great North official.[30]
Programming
[edit]Current programming
[edit]| Title | Premiere date | Time slot | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Simpsons[a] | May 1, 2005 | Sundays at 8:00PM | Previously aired as part of Fox Sunday Night / Sunday Funday |
| Family Guy[b] | N/A | ||
| American Dad![c] | Aired on TBS from 2014 to 2025; returning to Fox in the 2025–2026 season[27] | ||
| Bob's Burgers | January 9, 2011 | Sundays at 9:30PM | Previously aired as part of Fox Sunday Night / Sunday Funday |
| Krapopolis | September 24, 2023 | Sundays at 9:00PM | Season 3 premiered on September 28 |
| Grimsburg | January 7, 2024 | N/A | |
| Universal Basic Guys | September 8, 2024 | Sundays at 8:30PM | Season 2 premiered on September 28 |
Former programming
[edit]| Title | Premiere date | End date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| King of the Hill | May 1, 2005[a] | September 13, 2009 | Ended; revived at Hulu |
| Sit Down, Shut Up | April 19, 2009 | May 10, 2009 | Cancelled; last nine episodes were released on Saturdays at midnight from later until November 21, 2009.[31] |
| The Cleveland Show | September 27, 2009 | May 19, 2013 | Cancelled |
| Allen Gregory | October 30, 2011 | December 18, 2011 | |
| Napoleon Dynamite | January 15, 2012 | March 4, 2012 | |
| Axe Cop | July 21, 2013 | Special preview / aired on ADHD | |
| High School USA! | |||
| Bless the Harts | September 29, 2019 | June 20, 2021 | Cancelled |
| Duncanville | February 16, 2020 | June 26, 2022 | Cancelled; last six episodes were released on Hulu on October 18, 2022.[32] |
| The Great North | January 3, 2021 | September 14, 2025 | Cancelled |
| HouseBroken | May 31, 2021 | August 6, 2023 | |
- ^ Debuted on January 12, 1997
Previous lineups
[edit]2004/05
[edit]| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | King of the Hill | Regular programming | The Simpsons | Family Guy | American Dad! | |
| Late spring | Regular programming | King of the Hill (R) | ||||
| Summer | The Simpsons (R) | Regular programming | ||||
| Mid-summer | The Simpsons (R) | |||||
2005/06
[edit]| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | The Simpsons (R) | King of the Hill | The Simpsons | Regular programming | Family Guy | American Dad! |
| Winter | Regular programming | |||||
| Summer | American Dad! (R) | Regular programming |
2006/07
[edit]| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | The Simpsons (R) | Regular programming | The Simpsons | American Dad! | Family Guy | Regular programming |
| Late fall | American Dad! (R) | The Simpsons (R) | ||||
| Winter | Regular programming | King of the Hill | American Dad! | |||
| Spring | King of the Hill (R) | King of the Hill | The Simpsons (R) | |||
| Summer | Regular programming | American Dad! (R) | Family Guy (R) | |||
2007/08
[edit]| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | King of the Hill (R) | The Simpsons (R) | The Simpsons | King of the Hill | Family Guy | American Dad! |
| Winter | Regular programming | |||||
| Spring | King of the Hill (R) | American Dad! (R) | ||||
| Mid-spring | The Simpsons (R) | |||||
| Late spring | Regular programming | |||||
2008/09
[edit]| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | King of the Hill (R) | The Simpsons | King of the Hill | Family Guy | American Dad! | |
| Winter | Regular programming | |||||
| Spring | American Dad! (R) | King of the Hill (R) | ||||
| Late spring | King of the Hill (R) | American Dad! (R) | ||||
| Summer | Regular programming | The Simpsons (R) | ||||
| Mid-summer | The Simpsons (R) | American Dad! (R) | ||||
2009/10
[edit]- Sunday
| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Regular programming | The Simpsons | The Cleveland Show | Family Guy | American Dad! | |
| Spring | Regular programming | The Simpsons (R) | ||||
| Summer | American Dad! (R) | Family Guy (R) | ||||
| Mid-summer | American Dad! (R) | The Simpsons (R) | ||||
- Saturday
| Season | 11:00 p.m | 11:30 p.m. | 12:00 a.m. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Regular programming | Sit Down, Shut Up | |
2010/11
[edit]| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | The Simpsons (R) | The Simpsons | The Cleveland Show | Family Guy | American Dad! | |
| Winter | The Simpsons (R) | American Dad! | Bob's Burgers | The Cleveland Show | ||
| Spring | American Dad! (R) | Bob's Burgers (R) | The Cleveland Show (R) | American Dad! (R) | ||
2011/12
[edit]| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | The Cleveland Show (R) | The Cleveland Show | The Simpsons | Allen Gregory | Family Guy | American Dad! |
| Winter | Bob's Burgers (R) | Napoleon Dynamite | ||||
| Spring | The Simpsons (R) | Bob's Burgers | ||||
| Late spring | American Dad! (R) | |||||
| Summer | The Simpsons (R) | |||||
2012/13
[edit]| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Bob's Burgers (R) | The Cleveland Show | The Simpsons | Bob's Burgers | Family Guy | American Dad! |
| Summer | The Cleveland Show (R) | The Simpsons (R) | ||||
| Mid-summer | American Dad! (R) | Family Guy (R) | ||||
2013/14
[edit]| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Bob's Burgers (R) | American Dad! (R) | The Simpsons | Bob's Burgers | Family Guy | American Dad! |
| Winter | Bob's Burgers | American Dad! | Family Guy | Regular programming | ||
| Spring | Regular programming | |||||
| Summer | American Dad! (R) | Bob's Burgers (R) | The Simpsons (R) | Family Guy (R) | American Dad! (R) | |
2019/20
[edit]| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | The Simpsons (R) | Bob's Burgers (R) | The Simpsons | Bless the Harts | Bob's Burgers | Family Guy |
| Winter | Duncanville | |||||
| Summer | Regular programming | Duncanville (R) | Bless the Harts (R) |
2020/21
[edit]- Sunday
| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | The Simpsons (R) | Bob's Burgers (R) | The Simpsons | Bless the Harts | Bob's Burgers | Family Guy |
| Winter | Regular programming | Bless the Harts | The Great North | |||
| Spring | The Simpsons (R) | |||||
| Summer | Duncanville (R) | HouseBroken (R) | ||||
| Late summer | Regular programming | |||||
- Monday
| Season | 8:00 p.m | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Regular programming | HouseBroken | Duncanville | |
2021/22
[edit]| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | The Simpsons (R) | Bob's Burgers (R) | The Simpsons | The Great North | Bob's Burgers | Family Guy |
| Winter | Regular programming | |||||
| Spring | Duncanville | |||||
| Late spring | Regular programming | Bob's Burgers (R) | Duncanville | |||
| Summer | The Great North (R) | Bob's Burgers (R) | ||||
2022/23
[edit]| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | The Simpsons (R) | Bob's Burgers (R) | The Simpsons | The Great North | Bob's Burgers | Family Guy |
| Winter | Regular programming | |||||
| Spring | HouseBroken | |||||
| Summer | Family Guy (R) | HouseBroken | ||||
| Mid-summer | Bob's Burgers (R) | Family Guy (R) | ||||
2023/24
[edit]- Sunday
| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | The Simpsons (R) | Bob's Burgers (R) | The Simpsons | Krapopolis | Bob's Burgers | Family Guy |
| Winter | Regular programming | The Great North | Grimsburg | |||
| Summer | Krapopolis (R) | |||||
- Wednesday
| Season | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | Regular programming | Family Guy | ||
2024/25
[edit]- Sunday
| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Bob's Burgers (R) | Krapopolis (R) | The Simpsons | Universal Basic Guys | Bob's Burgers | Krapopolis |
| Winter | Regular programming | Family Guy | Grimsburg | The Great North | ||
| Spring | The Simpsons | Family Guy | Krapopolis | The Great North | ||
- Thursday
| Season | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Late spring | Bob's Burgers | Grimsburg | Family Guy | The Great North |
| Summer | The Great North | Regular programming | ||
Current lineup
[edit]- Sunday
| Season | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Krapopolis (R) | The Simpsons (R) | The Simpsons | Universal Basic Guys | Krapopolis | Bob's Burgers |
- Notes
- The 7 p.m. hour is being preempted for the network's coverage of the NFL and The OT on selected Sundays starting on September 7, 2025.
- The lineup was preempted by the first game in the American League Championship Series on October 12, 2025.
- The Simpsons and Universal Basic Guys will switch time slots on November 9, 2025.
Animation Domination High-Def
[edit]On January 8, 2013, Fox announced that it would launch an adult animation spin-off to its Sunday evening block called Animation Domination High-Def (ADHD).[33] It originally broadcast on Saturday evenings for 90 minutes from 11:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. local time in most markets. It was later reduced to 11:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on September 7, 2013, with the 12:00 a.m. half-hour being given back to its owned-and-operated stations and affiliates to carry other programming. Some of its affiliates delayed the block by 30 minutes to an hour to run late evening newscasts (sports overruns occasionally caused further delays).
The last edition of ADHD on Fox aired on March 5, 2016, with the new Lonely Island sketch comedy series Party Over Here to premiere in the slot on March 12.
See also
[edit]- List of programs broadcast by Fox
- Animation on Fox
- Fox Sunday Night – the Fox Sunday lineup from 2014 to 2019
- 20th Television Animation
- Bento Box Entertainment
- Animation Throwdown: The Quest for Cards
- Warped Kart Racers
- Night of the Hurricane – the first (and, as of 2011, only) Animation Domination crossover event
References
[edit]Informational notes
- ^ "Animation Domination". tviv.org.
- ^ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 35. ISBN 978-1538103739.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (June 24, 2019). "Fox Fall Premiere Dates: Empire's Final Season, XL Masked Singer and More".
- ^ Nancy Basile. "New Episodes on FOX's Animation Domination". About.com Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ^ Nancy Basile. "New Episodes on FOX's Animation Domination". About.com Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2008-04-25. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ^ "King of the Hill Serves Up Texas-Size Series Finale Sunday, September 13, on Fox". TheFultonCritic.com. August 10, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ https://fanxsaltlake.com/guest/james-arnold-taylor/
- ^ "Fox Entertainment & Caffeine to partner on live Sunday night Animation Domination branded series 'The AniDom Beyond Show' hosted by Andy Richter". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ "FOXFLASH | Week of Jan 3 - 10 2021". www.foxflash.com.
- ^ "FOX Entertainment Bolsters 2022–23 Program Slate Across Network and Streaming with New Comedies, Dramas, Unscripted Series and Made-for-Platform Movies" (Press release). Fox. May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022 – via The Futon Critic.
- ^ White, Peter (March 1, 2023). "Dan Harmon's 'Krapopolis' Renewed For Season 3 At Fox Ahead Of Premiere As Animated Series Moves To 2023/24 Season". Deadline.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 15, 2023). "Fox Unveils 2023-24 Programming Slate, Does Not Announce Fall Schedule For Second Straight Year". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ White, Peter (October 7, 2022). "Dan Harmon's Krapopolis Handed Early Season 2 Renewal At Fox". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (October 17, 2022). "Fox Renews Animated Comedy Grimsburg Starring Jon Hamm For Season 2 Ahead of Series Premiere (Exclusive)". Variety.
- ^ White, Peter (January 18, 2022). "Fox Animation Push Continues As Network Eyes Further Series Orders & Builds Towards Two-Hour Monday Night Block In May 2023". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Schwartz, John (July 2022). "Fox announces Duncanville cancellation". Bubbleblabber. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ Scully, Mike [@scullymike] (September 6, 2022). "Six new eps of #Duncanville starring Amy Poehler exclusively on @Hulu Tuesday, October 18th! How did we enjoy being on Fox? Well...t" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Petski, Denise; Andreeva, Nellie (January 26, 2023). "The Simpsons, Family Guy & Bob's Burgers Renewed For Two Additional Seasons Through 2024–25". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ "Fox Entertainment Triples Down on "Krapopolis" with Season Three Renewal of All-New Dan Harmon Animated Comedy" (Press release). Fox. March 1, 2023 – via The Futon Critic.
- ^ "Breaking News - FOX to Debut Animated Comedy "Krapopolis" on Sunday, Sept. 24 | TheFutonCritic.com". www.thefutoncritic.com.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (October 14, 2023). "Fox Reveals Premiere Date for New Jon Hamm-Led Animated Series 'Grimsburg' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (May 10, 2024). "'Housebroken' Canceled at Fox". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (May 13, 2024). "'Universal Basic Guys' Scores Early Season 2 Renewal; Fox Drops Teaser". Deadline.
- ^ Porter, Rick (July 16, 2024). "Fox Will Use NFL to Launch New Series 'Universal Basic Guys,' 'Rescue: Hi-Surf'". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (July 25, 2024). "'Krapopolis' Renewed For Season 4, Fox and Dan Harmon Announce at Comic-Con (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 21, 2025). "'American Dad!' Poised To Return To Fox For Season 20 & Beyond". Deadline.
- ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (April 2, 2025). "Fox Picks Up FOUR Seasons of The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob's Burgers & Returning American Dad! In Mega Deal With Disney TV Studios". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on April 2, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ^ White, Peter (2025-05-10). "'Grimsburg', 'Krapopolis' & 'Universal Basic Guys' Renewed At Fox". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
- ^ Bunch, Rebecca (September 29, 2025). "The Great North Canceled After Five Seasons".
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 3, 2025). "'The Great North' Canceled By Fox After Five Seasons". Deadline.
- ^ Battaglio, Stephen (2009-05-17). "Is my favorite show cancelled?". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
- ^ Whote, Steve (September 8, 2022). "'Fox Plots Animated Drama Push With 'His Majesty's Dragon' As Renewal Talks Continue Over 'The Simpsons', 'Family Guy' & 'Bob's Burgers'".
- ^ "FOX FLASH – FOX PRIMETIME". foxflash.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013.
External links
[edit]
Animation Domination
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
History
Launch and Original Run (2005–2014)
Animation Domination debuted on the Fox network on May 1, 2005, as a late-season addition designed to capitalize on the sweeps period and strengthen the Sunday night lineup. The inaugural broadcast featured The Simpsons at 8:00 p.m., followed by the revival premiere of Family Guy at 9:00 p.m., and the series premiere of Seth MacFarlane's American Dad! at 9:30 p.m. This strategic grouping of established and new adult-oriented animated sitcoms aimed to attract a demographic of young adults seeking irreverent humor, positioning the block as a counterpoint to family-friendly weekend programming on other networks. The premiere delivered strong initial ratings, with Family Guy drawing a 5.7 household rating in the key adults 18-49 demographic and 11.9 million total viewers, American Dad! achieving 9.5 million viewers, and The Simpsons reaching 11.1 million.[9] Following its successful launch, the block expanded in the fall of 2005 to incorporate Family Guy as a core component, building on the show's unexpected revival driven by robust DVD sales and syndicated rerun performance after its 2002 cancellation. This addition created a cohesive lineup of animated series featuring sharp satire and boundary-pushing comedy, including The Simpsons at 8:00 p.m., Family Guy at 9:00 p.m., and American Dad! at 9:30 p.m., with King of the Hill anchoring earlier slots. The revival not only boosted immediate viewership—Family Guy's summer reruns had already demonstrated sustained popularity—but also helped end a broader comedy drought on network television during the mid-2000s. Key scheduling adjustments in subsequent years, such as optimizing episode order to improve thematic flow between shows like The Simpsons and American Dad!, further refined the block's appeal and viewer retention.[10][11] By the late 2000s, Animation Domination had solidified its status as a ratings powerhouse, routinely topping the adults 18-49 demographic on Sundays and establishing Fox as the leading broadcast outlet for adult animation. The block's peak performance during this period, with episodes often exceeding 10 million viewers, underscored its cultural significance in mainstreaming edgy, character-driven animated storytelling for mature audiences. It became synonymous with innovative adult humor, influencing the genre by blending pop culture references, social commentary, and serialized elements in a primetime format previously dominated by live-action fare.[12] The block's growth culminated in 2009 with the introduction of The Cleveland Show, a Family Guy spin-off centered on character Cleveland Brown, which premiered on September 27 and expanded the lineup to a full four half-hours from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. This addition, slotted immediately after The Simpsons, marked a deliberate effort to diversify the roster while maintaining the block's irreverent tone, resulting in a schedule of The Simpsons (8:00 p.m.), The Cleveland Show (8:30 p.m.), Family Guy (9:00 p.m.), and American Dad! (9:30 p.m.). The expansion highlighted the block's evolution into a robust two-hour franchise, fostering deeper investment in interconnected animated universes. An early 2010s extension, Animation Domination High-Def, briefly experimented with late-night shorts as a complementary format.[13]Hiatus and Discontinuation (2014–2019)
In 2014, the Animation Domination block faced significant upheaval following the departure of American Dad! from Fox's Sunday night lineup. The series, a cornerstone of the block since its 2005 launch, concluded its tenth season on the network in May 2014 and transitioned to TBS for season eleven, premiering in October 2014, as Fox opted not to renew it beyond the 2013–14 television season.[14] This exit, coupled with the earlier 2013 cancellation of The Cleveland Show due to low ratings, reduced the block's core animated offerings and prompted a reevaluation of Fox's programming strategy. Fox executives, led by entertainment president Kevin Reilly, responded by overhauling the Sunday primetime schedule to incorporate live-action comedies, effectively dissolving the all-animation format. In May 2014, the network announced plans to pair animated staples like The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Bob's Burgers with live-action series such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine and New Girl, rebranding the block as Sunday Funday starting in the fall.[15] This shift reflected a broader pivot toward diversified comedy blocks, with Fox prioritizing live-action sitcoms and sports programming to counter sagging ratings and appeal to wider demographics, including experiments like the short-lived Last Man Standing revival in later years.[16] Reilly's approach aimed to inject freshness into Sundays but was criticized for diluting the network's animation legacy, contributing to his departure from Fox later that year amid overall scheduling struggles.[17] The remaining animated series—The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Bob's Burgers—continued airing on Sundays but lost the cohesive Animation Domination branding, integrating into the mixed-genre Sunday Funday and later Fox Sunday Night blocks through 2019. This fragmentation meant episodes aired independently without promotional synergy, potentially impacting viewership cohesion as the shows navigated shorter blocks amid live-action interruptions.[15] Critics and fans expressed concern over the hiatus, viewing it as symptomatic of broadcast TV's waning dominance in adult animation, with online discussions and articles decrying the move away from a dedicated animated showcase.[17] The period from 2014 to 2019 highlighted broader industry challenges, as streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu surged, attracting creators and audiences with original animated content such as BoJack Horseman, which debuted on Netflix in 2014 and exemplified the post-broadcast era's shift toward serialized, on-demand storytelling unbound by network constraints.[18] This migration eroded traditional broadcast models, drawing talent and investment away from blocks like Fox's and contributing to the temporary void in unified animation programming.[19]Revival and Expansion (2019–present)
The Animation Domination block was revived in 2019 amid network changes following the Disney acquisition of 21st Century Fox, returning to Sunday nights on September 29, 2019, featuring new seasons of established series including The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, and Family Guy, alongside the debut of Bless the Harts.[1] This relaunch aimed to restore the network's signature animated comedy lineup after a five-year hiatus, capitalizing on the genre's resilience. The revived block quickly expanded with new additions to bolster its roster. The Great North premiered on January 3, 2021, slotting into the Sunday lineup at 8:30 p.m. ET, while Duncanville—which had debuted on Mondays in February 2020—continued airing alongside the premiere of HouseBroken on May 31, 2021, marking a temporary extension of Animation Domination to Monday nights.[20] These inclusions refreshed the brand with fresh voices in adult animation, helping to maintain viewer engagement as the block adapted to post-pandemic scheduling. Key milestones followed, including the addition of Krapopolis on September 24, 2023, which joined Sundays at 8:30 p.m. ET after an initial NFL-lead-in episode.[21] In 2025, Animation Domination achieved a significant milestone with Fox's April announcement of a historic four-season renewal for core series The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob's Burgers, and American Dad!, extending through the 2028-29 television season.[6] In November 2025, Fox announced that American Dad! will return to the Animation Domination block with its season 20 premiere on February 22, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. ET, marking its first Fox airing since 2014.[22] Complementing this, Universal Basic Guys premiered on September 8, 2024, airing Sundays at 8:30 p.m. ET and extending its first season into early 2025, further diversifying the lineup with its satirical take on automation and economic shifts.[23] Scheduling evolved in 2025 to optimize viewership, with the block shifting to Thursday nights starting May 29 for the summer, featuring all-new episodes of Bob's Burgers and The Great North, before returning to Sundays in the fall. Krapopolis season 3 debuted on September 28, 2025, at 9:00 p.m. ET, anchoring the refreshed Sunday slate alongside renewed staples.[24] Expansion efforts have included enhanced international syndication through Disney platforms and next-day streaming cross-promotions on Hulu, where full episodes and an "Animayhem" hub make the content accessible globally and boost domestic retention.[25] Family Guy also rejoined the Sunday block in February 2025 after a brief midseason move to Wednesdays in 2024, reuniting it with its long-standing Animation Domination partners.[26]Programming
Current Lineup
The current lineup of Animation Domination features a mix of established animated staples and newer additions, airing new episodes on Sunday evenings starting at 8:00 PM ET/PT as of November 2025.[27] This block anchors Fox's primetime programming with satirical and comedic content targeted at adult audiences. The fall 2025 schedule will transition midseason, with Family Guy (Season 24) and American Dad! (Season 20 joining in February 2026.[22] The Simpsons (1989–present), the long-running flagship series, airs at 8:00 PM ET and has been renewed for four additional seasons through the 2028–2029 television season, extending its run to Season 40.[3] Created by Matt Groening, the show follows the misadventures of the Simpson family in the fictional town of Springfield, blending humor with cultural commentary; by November 2025, it has surpassed 760 episodes and continues to utilize fully digital animation processes introduced in earlier seasons for enhanced production efficiency.[6] Universal Basic Guys (2024–present), a sci-fi parody created by brothers Adam and Craig Malamut, airs at 8:30 PM ET as an ongoing series with Season 2 airing through November 2025.[27] The show depicts two unemployed brothers exploiting a universal basic income program in a dystopian future, blending workplace satire with speculative elements; renewed for a third season in May 2025, its production emphasizes quick-turnaround animation to align with timely social commentary.[28] Krapopolis (2023–present), Dan Harmon's mythological comedy, occupies the 9:00 PM ET slot with its third season premiering on September 28, 2025, and renewed through additional seasons amid strong performance.[29][27] Set in ancient Greece, the series follows a human king, his half-horse wife, and their divine family navigating city-building and family dynamics; production for Season 3 incorporates Harmon's signature absurdism, with episodes streaming on Hulu the day after broadcast.[30] Bob's Burgers (2011–present), a family-oriented sitcom created by Loren Bouchard, serves as an anchor in the block at 9:30 PM ET and has been renewed through Seasons 16–19, running until at least the 2028–2029 season.[3][27] Focusing on the Belcher family's daily life operating a burger restaurant, the show emphasizes character-driven humor and musical elements; Season 16 premiered in fall 2025, with production highlighting hand-drawn animation blended with digital compositing for vibrant visuals.[31]Former Lineup
The Former Lineup of Animation Domination encompasses several animated series that contributed to the block's programming during its original run from 2005 to 2014 and its revival starting in 2020, but which have since concluded their tenures on Fox due to factors such as declining viewership, network scheduling decisions, or shifts toward streaming platforms. King of the Hill (1997–2010)Originally premiering in 1997, King of the Hill became a cornerstone of Animation Domination upon the block's launch in 2005, airing as its lead program through its 13th and final season. The series, created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, ended in 2010 after 259 episodes, with creator Mike Judge citing a desire to conclude on a high note rather than risk decline, while shifting focus to film projects like Extract. Fox's decision was also influenced by the need to reallocate slots in the lineup for newer series, amid ratings that, though stable, had softened compared to peaks and lagged behind blockmates like Family Guy. The final episodes aired in syndication in early 2010, marking the end of its network run.[32][33] American Dad! (2005–2014)
Seth MacFarlane's American Dad! debuted as part of Animation Domination in 2005 and anchored the block for 10 seasons on Fox, delivering 170 episodes of satirical comedy centered on CIA agent Stan Smith. The series departed Fox at the end of its 10th season in 2014, not due to outright cancellation but because the network opted not to renew it for additional broadcast seasons, allowing Turner Broadcasting to acquire rights for cable airing on TBS starting in late 2014. This move reflected Fox's strategic adjustments to prioritize other animated properties amid evolving syndication deals, though specific cost-cutting was not officially cited; the show continued successfully on TBS until 2025.[34][14] The Cleveland Show (2009–2013)
Launched in 2009 as a Family Guy spin-off created by Seth MacFarlane, Richard Appel, and Mike Henry, The Cleveland Show occupied a key slot in Animation Domination for four seasons, airing 88 episodes focused on Cleveland Brown's relocation to California. It was canceled in May 2013 after its ratings steadily declined from an initial 7.2 million viewers per episode to around 4 million by season four, underperforming relative to other block staples and failing to sustain the spin-off's promise despite crossovers with Family Guy. Fox announced the end alongside non-renewal rumors, citing the drop as a primary factor in reallocating airtime.[35][36] Allen Gregory (2011)
Jonah Hill's Allen Gregory, a one-season experiment in Animation Domination, premiered in October 2011 and aired seven episodes before cancellation in January 2012. The series, centered on a precocious adopted child, drew immediate backlash for its uneven humor and poor critical reception, compounded by low viewership averaging under 5 million. Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly confirmed the axing, noting it did not align with the block's successful formula despite Hill's involvement. Napoleon Dynamite (2012)
The animated adaptation of the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite joined Animation Domination in January 2012, reuniting the original cast for stories of adolescent awkwardness in Idaho, but lasted only six episodes. Canceled in May 2012 despite solid initial ratings around 3.5 million, the series struggled with tonal inconsistencies and failure to recapture the movie's cult appeal, leading Fox to pull it mid-season in favor of established hits.[37] In the post-2020 revival era, several series briefly bolstered the block before concluding: Duncanville (2020–2022), created by Amy Poehler and others, aired three seasons (33 episodes) as a coming-of-age tale but was canceled in June 2022 after viewership hovered below 1 million due to unfavorable spring/summer scheduling. HouseBroken (2021–2023), a therapy-group comedy voiced by animal ensemble, ran two seasons (28 episodes) before cancellation in May 2024, hampered by low ratings averaging 0.5 million and inability to build a dedicated audience. The Great North (2021–2025), a Fox-produced Alaska-set family sitcom from the Molyneux sisters, spanned five seasons (93 episodes) in Animation Domination but ended in October 2025 after cancellation, attributed to stagnant viewership under 2 million, rising production costs post-Disney acquisition, and network emphasis on core anchors like The Simpsons. These departures highlight broader industry trends, including migrations to Hulu for residual streaming and Fox's prioritization of high-performing legacy shows amid cord-cutting pressures.[38][39][40][41]