Having struggled to break into the cable market since its start in February 2000, the much-touted network for women has put together a prime-time lineup of offbeat shows, many of which have their premieres this week.

Thursday nights from 8 to 9 during the winter will be an area of experimentation for Fox with two offbeat shows.

Cable, and particularly premium cable, is the place to go for offbeat or rarefied shows.

Joe Corcoran says a Miami company is "close," talks are being held for companies in Boston and Los Angeles, and he's mulling over yet another offbeat show.

The British critics went wild for this offbeat show; New York is the final stop of a four-city American tour.

With offbeat, hard-edged shows like "The Simpsons" and "Married With Children," Fox has posted increasingly strong ratings and growing profits.

And the success of "America's Funniest Home Videos" on ABC is proof that offbeat shows featuring real people can be ratings winners.

The offbeat show turned into an unlikely hit.

This offbeat show can veer suddenly into netherworlds like alcoholism and violence.

In appointing Ms. Berman, Fox was clearly seeking to revive the network's formula of luring mainstream audiences with offbeat shows.