Fox stars thrill, spill, chill

SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 25 (UPI) -- The stars of Fox television shows talked up the fall schedule amid whoops, screams and merry-making at an amusement park in Santa Monica, Calif.

Award-winner Hugh Laurie crashed his bumper car into fellow "House" star Omar Epps. Joely Richardson of "Nip/Tuck" soared above the crowd in the Ferris wheel. Mary Lynn Rajskub bounced out of her "24" role and onto a trampoline.

Former "Everybody Loves Raymond" star Patricia Heaton returns to the small screen as a co-anchor on the new Fox sitcom "Back to You" with Kelsey Grammer. Heaton told USA Today she and her family were considering packing up for Ohio, "but then this came along, and it's the best thing I've read since 'Raymond.'"

Heaton's vehicle will lead into "'Til Death," a comedy with Joely Fisher and another "Raymond" veteran, Brad Garrett.

Sometimes life can imitate art, "24" star Keifer Sutherland said, but people need to distinguish television's fantasy from reality. He noted the spy thriller featured an African-American president and will have a female in its Oval Office next season.

"Television is an incredibly powerful medium," Sutherland said, "and it can be the first step in showing people what is possible."