Surprise: Fox brings back ‘Scream Queens’

In any other year, “Scream Queens” wouldn’t have had a shot at renewal.

But this season, with lower expectations for ratings, Fox struggling, and the network determined to make a point about changing viewership models, “Queens” has been renewed.

The pickup was announced during Fox’s portion of the Television Critics Association winter tour, where Fox TV Group chairmen and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman used “Queens” to illustrate what they called a “new model” for TV viewing.

Just 30 percent of “Queens’” audience watched the show live, Fox data said, with 44 percent seeing it on-demand or via Fox Now or Hulu.

Those numbers were good enough to wrangle a season-two pickup for the anthology, which will move to a new setting.

Other Fox developments:

* No surprise, “Empire” has been renewed for a third season.

* A new “24” is coming, but this one will be set in the future and will not star Kiefer Sutherland.

* “Prison Break’s” revival has officially received an order. No word on how many episodes or when it will air, though. The show’s original stars and producing team are returning.

* This may be the last season for “Bones.” Or it may not. Walden refused to commit either way.

Tags: 24, dramas, empire, fox, new dramas, Prison Break, scream queens