FOX picks four new shows, renews 'Lie to Me' and 'Human Target'

FOX will give comedy a chance next season, picking up a pair of live-action shows along with two dramas. It's also renewed two on-the-bubble dramas, "Human Target" and "Lie to Me."

The four newbies at FOX are comedies "Keep Hope Alive" and "Traffic Light" and a pair of dramas, "Ride-Along" and a project formerly known as "Midland" (it will now likely be called "Lone Star"). They're the first series orders for the network this spring.

The fact that both "Lie to Me" and "Human Target" earned new seasons is a mild surprise; speculation had been that one would likely be back for 2010-11 at the expense of the other. Both series will also be getting new showrunners; "Human Target" will be taken over by "Chuck" writer-producer Matt Miller, while "Lie to Me" will be run by a yet-unnamed replacement for Shawn Ryan, who created "Ride-Along" and is also executive producing an FX series called "Terriers."

"Keep Hope Alive" and "Traffic Light" will try to end a recent losing streak for live-action comedies at FOX. The network's two live-action comedies from this season, "Brothers" and "Sons of Tucson," are on their way out; in 2008, the lone non-animated new comedy was "Do Not Disturb." You get the idea.

"Keep Hope Alive" comes from "My Name Is Earl" creator Greg Garcia and stars Lucas Neff as a guy who suddenly takes custody of a baby and raises her with the help of his family. Garrett Dillahunt ("Deadwood," "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"), Shannon Marie Woodward ("The Riches") and Martha Plimpton also star.

"Traffic Light" is about a group of friends at varying stages of relationships -- stop, go, and caution, hence the title. It stars Alexandra Breckenridge ("Life Unexpected"), David Denman ("The Office") and Nelson Franklin ("The Office," "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World").

"Ride-Along" is a Chicago-set cop show (the pilot also filmed there) that follows a veteran officer (Jason Clarke) and the city's new police chief (Jennifer Beals). "Lone Star"/"Midland" is about a con man (Jimmy Wolk) leading a double life in Texas; it also stars Adrianne Palicki ("Friday Night Lights"), David Keith and Jon Voight.

FOX will announce its full 2010-11 schedule on Monday (May 17).

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Photo credit: "Ride-Along"/FOX