There is always a lot of disappointment, relief and surprise this time of year, and Fox isn't wasting any time.

The network has made room for some new television shows, including another science-fiction entry from "Fringe" co-creator J.J. Abrams, by chopping off the heads of "Chicago Code" and "Human Target."

"Chicago Code" took over for "Lie to Me" as Fox's "House" lead-out on Mondays, but just couldn't hold on to its audience. It premiered with a 5.7 rating/9 share on Feb. 7, but finished with a 3.4 household rating last week, according to Fast National overnights from The Nielsen Co.

In the end, "Chicago Code" did fare better than the now-cancelled "Lie to Me," but only managed to keep 75 percent of "House's" audience. Not bad, but not good enough to continue based on its high production costs.

"Human Target" was not a surprise casualty of this past season. Starring Mark Valley, this procedural loosely based on a comic book series struggled in the ratings in Season 1, but lost more than 30 percent of that audience by Season 2. It aired eight episodes on Wednesday nights, doing just slightly better than "Kitchen Nightmares," which started off the season there.

This will make room for at least three new shows. That includes "Alcatraz," which follows a manhunt for escaped prisoners from the legendary prison's past. Also making the schedule is the "Bones" spinoff "The Finder" and a new Zooey Deschanel series "The New Girl."

Fox is expected to finish in third place once again this season, behind CBS and ABC, thanks primarily to "American Idol." But with "Terra Nova" and some buzz behind "Alcatraz," the network could be looking upward when the 2011-12 season rolls around.

The network will announce its full fall schedule in the coming weeks.