Fox's "Most Wanted" Targets Terrorism

Thu., Oct. 11, 2001 9:30 AM PDT by Mark Armstrong

Watch out terrorists: John Walsh and America's Most Wanted are on the case.

Per President Bush's request, the Fox network is scrambling to air a special edition of its weekly criminal-tracking series--this time directly addressing America's hunt for Osama bin Laden and other global terrorists.

America's Most Wanted: Terrorists--A Special Edition will air Friday night at 9 p.m., after the White House and FBI called network execs Wednesday specifically asking for their help. Fox Television Entertainment Group chairman Sandy Grushow tells Industry trade Daily Variety that he will produce the special episode, all within a slim, 48-hour turnaround time.

"This was something we wish we had more time to put together, but it seemed quite important to the FBI and White House that we do this as soon as possible," Grushow said.

Hosted by Walsh, America's Most Wanted has already dealt with the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. But Friday's installment will focus directly on the new list of 22 most-wanted terrorists released by President Bush this week.

"We list their names, we publicize their pictures, we rob them of their secrecy," President Bush said this week, adding that the list includes terrorism's "leaders, key supporters, planners and strategists. They must be found, they will be stopped."

Included on the list are bin Laden, his two top deputies and several members of his Al Qaeda network who were implicated in previous bombings. Others listed include suspects in the 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847 and the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.

"This special is about getting justice for innocent victims," Walsh said in a statement. "We are proud that the White House has chosen the viewers of America's Most Wanted to join their fight to catch the seemingly uncatchable."

This week's regularly scheduled episode of AMW is being preempted Saturday for baseball playoff coverage. So Fox instead decided to air the special edition Friday, scheduling it in place of its poorly rated new soap, Pasadena.

Fox also is reportedly considering whether to air the special on sister cable stations such as FX, Fox News Channel and Fox Family Channel. But no word yet on whether that will happen.