Fox is planning a Saturday late-night animated comedy block to compete with NBC's "Saturday Night Live."
The network announced Sunday that it will launch a new unit to oversee the development and production of alternative animated shows, to be led by former Adult Swim executive Nick Weidenfeld, an executive producer of "Childrens Hospital" and "The Boondocks."
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Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly said the new animated shows will also air on game consoles, mobile apps, video on-demand, and online. It could air on Internet television stations similar to those emerging on YouTube, Reilly said.
The new comedy block will air Saturdays from 11 p.m.-12:30 a.m. beginning in January 2013.
Reilly spoke at the Television Critics Association winter press tour, where he also announced the end of the Fox animated show "Allen Gregory," which debuted in the fall to disappointing ratings. He said the network planned to continue to create shows, however, with Jonah Hill, the show's creator and lead voice actor.