'Family Guy' Won't Be on Fall TV Schedule for First Time in 19 Years

When the next TV season rolls around later this year, animated mainstay Family Guy won't be on the schedule, at least not at first.

Fox announced its fall tv lineup today, and Family Guy is notably missing from its famed Sunday animation block. Instead, Fox will air the new series Universal Basic Guys, with The Simpsons, Krapopolis, and Bob’s Burgers filling out the night. It's the first time Family Guy hasn't been part of Fox's fall schedule since the network first rescued it from cancellation 19 years ago.

But while the show isn't airing this fall, it hasn't been canceled. Instead, Family Guy's season will air as a mid-season replacement. The show is currently in its 23rd season.

“It’s still a crucial part of our [schedule],” Thorn said of Family Guy. “We’ll give it a great relaunch for that part of our lineup, and we know that when it comes back on Sundays, it will resonate with our audience the way it always has." said Fox network president Michael Thorn, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

As Thorn explained, most of Family Guy's viewership comes from Hulu and on-demand services, where weekly new episodes are likely to help its overall numbers. “We will give it a long run with no repeats," Thorn said according to Deadline.

An exact premiere date for Family Guy's next season has not been announced, but expect it sometime next year.