FOX is announcing 2011-2012 midseason premiere dates for new and returning series, including the return of AMERICAN IDOL; the debuts of new dramas TOUCH, ALCATRAZ and THE FINDER; and the launch of new animated series NAPOLEON DYNAMITE.
FOX is announcing 2011-2012 midseason premiere dates for new and returning series, including the return of AMERICAN IDOL; the debuts of new dramas TOUCH, ALCATRAZ and THE FINDER; and the launch of new animated series NAPOLEON DYNAMITE.
Welcome AMERICAN IDOL back when its 11th season begins with a two-night premiere Wednesday, Jan. 18 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Thursday, Jan. 19 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). Featuring host Ryan Seacrest and returning judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, television’s No. 1 series continues with a special, extended primetime broadcast Sunday, Jan. 22 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT) following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (6:00 PM-CC ET live/3:00 PM-CC PT live).
TOUCH, the distinctive new drama created by Tim Kring (“Heroes”) and starring Kiefer Sutherland (“24”) will debut with a special preview Wednesday, Jan. 25 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), immediately following AMERICAN IDOL (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The uplifting drama, which makes its series premiere Monday, March 19 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), features Sutherland as a widower and single father haunted by an inability to connect to his mute 11-year-old son. But everything changes when he discovers that his son possesses the gift of staggering genius – the ability to see things that no one else can and the patterns that connect seemingly unrelated events.
J.J. Abrams’ (“Super 8,” “Star Trek,” “Lost”) chilling new thriller ALCATRAZ will debut Monday, Jan. 16 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) with a special two-hour premiere event. The series then makes its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 23 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), following all-new episodes of HOUSE (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The mysterious drama stars Sarah Jones (“Sons of Anarchy”), Jorge Garcia (“Lost”) and Sam Neill (“Jurassic Park”) as a unique team investigating the shocking reappearance of Alcatraz’s most notorious prisoners, 50 years after they vanished.
THE FINDER, the one-hour procedural centering on a remarkable man with an extraordinary ability to help people find the unfindable, joins the schedule Thursday, Jan. 12 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). The debut follows an encore episode of BONES (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), in which THE FINDER’s “Walter Sherman” (Geoff Stults, “She’s Out of My League,” “October Road”) and “Leo Knox” (Michael Clarke Duncan, “The Green Mile”) were first introduced.
NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, the new animated comedy based on the hit movie, joins the ANIMATION DOMINATION lineup with a double dose of DYNAMITE episodes Sunday, Jan. 15, beginning with the series premiere at 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT, followed by a second all-new episode at 9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT. Featuring the voices of the original cast, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE follows the continuing adventures of America’s most awesomely awkward teenager and his quirky family and friends, as they navigate small-town life in rural Idaho.
Beginning March 6, the Tuesday laughs keep coming with a new block of four half-hour comedies led by encores of NEW GIRL (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT), followed by the Season Two return of BREAKING IN (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT), the workplace comedy starring Christian Slater, Bret Harrison and new series regular Megan Mullally (“Will & Grace”). The Tuesday night of comedy continues with all-new episodes of NEW GIRL (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT), followed by the all-new misadventures of the Chance family on RAISING HOPE (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT).
BOB’S BURGERS joins the ANIMATION DOMINATION menu when it makes its Season Two opening Sunday, March 11 (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT). This season, Bob (the voice of H. Jon Benjamin) and the family test-drive the food truck industry, dive into the world of synchronized swimming, search for treasure in an abandoned taffy factory and get tied up with a very needy bank robber.
All-new episodes of fan-favorite series and specials return in January. Starting Tuesday, Jan. 17 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), all-new installments of GLEE lead off a night of FOX comedies, followed by NEW GIRL (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and RAISING HOPE (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT). MOBBED flashes back to the schedule with all-new episodes airing Wednesdays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), Jan. 4, Jan. 11, Feb. 1 and Feb. 8. KITCHEN NIGHTMARES begins serving up a full plate of fresh episodes on Friday, Jan. 13 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), followed by new installments of FRINGE (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).
COPS lays down the law with an arresting new episode Saturday, Jan. 7 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) and all-new episodes air back-to-back beginning Saturday, Jan. 14 (8:00-8:30 and 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT). Another AMERICA’S MOST WANTED SPECIAL EDITION airs Saturday, Feb. 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). On Sunday, Jan. 8, ANIMATION DOMINATION rules with all-new episodes of THE SIMPSONS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT), THE CLEVELAND SHOW (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT), FAMILY GUY (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and AMERICAN DAD (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT).
FOX 2011-2012 MIDSEASON SCHEDULE(Times for All-New episodes are ET/PT except as noted)
MONDAYMonday, Jan. 16:8:00-10:00 PM ALCATRAZ (Series Premiere)
Mondays, beginning Jan. 23:8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE (Time Period Premiere)9:00-10:00 PM ALCATRAZ (Time Period Premiere)
Monday, March 12:8:00-10:00 PM ALCATRAZ (Two-Hour Episode)
Mondays, beginning March 19:8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE9:00-10:00 PM TOUCH (Series Premiere)
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TUESDAYTuesdays, beginning Jan. 17:8:00-9:00 PM GLEE9:00-9:30 PM NEW GIRL9:30-10:00 PM RAISING HOPE
Tuesdays, beginning March 6:8:00-8:30 PM NEW GIRL (encore)8:30-9:00 PM BREAKING IN (Season Premiere)9:00-9:30 PM NEW GIRL9:30-10:00 PM RAISING HOPE
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WEDNESDAYWednesday, Jan. 4:8:00-9:00 PM GLEE (encore)9:00-10:00 PM MOBBED
Wednesday, Jan. 11:8:00-9:00 PM MOBBED (encore)9:00-10:00 PM MOBBED
Wednesday, Jan. 18:8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part One)
Wednesday, Jan. 25:8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL9:00-10:00 PM TOUCH (Special Preview)
Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 1:8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL9:00-10:00 PM MOBBED
Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 15:8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Two-Hour Episodes)
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THURSDAYThursday, Jan. 12:8:00-9:00 PM BONES (encore)9:00-10:00 PM THE FINDER (Series Premiere)
Thursdays, beginning Jan. 19:8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part Two)9:00-10:00 PM THE FINDER
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FRIDAYFriday, Jan. 6:8:00 PM-CC ET FOX SPORTS SPECIAL: 2012 AT&T COTTON BOWL CLASSIC (Live)
Fridays, beginning Jan. 13:8:00-9:00 PM KITCHEN NIGHTMARES9:00-10:00 PM FRINGE
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SATURDAYSaturdays, beginning Jan. 7:8:00-8:30 PM COPS8:30-9:00 PM COPS 9:00-10:00 PM DRAMA ENCORES11:00 PM-Midnight ENCORESMidnight-12:30 AM ENCORES
Saturday, Feb. 11:8:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S MOST WANTED SPECIAL EDITION11:00 PM-Midnight ENCORESMidnight-12:30 AM ENCORES
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SUNDAY Sunday, Jan. 8:7:00-7:30 PM BOB’S BURGERS (encore)7:30-8:00 PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW (encore)8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS8:30-9:00 PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD
Sunday, Jan. 15:8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS8:30-9:00 PM NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (Series Premiere)9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY9:30-10:00 PM NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (Special Time)
Sunday, Jan. 22:6:00 PM-CC ET FOX SPORTS SPECIAL: NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (Live)10:00 PM ET/ AMERICAN IDOL (Special Broadcast; Approximate Start Time) 7:00 PT
Sundays, beginning Jan. 29:7:00-7:30 PM BOB’S BURGERS (encore)7:30-8:00 PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS8:30-9:00 PM NAPOLEON DYNAMITE9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD
Sundays, beginning March 11:7:00-7:30 PM ANIMATION DOMINATION ENCORES7:30-8:00 PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS8:30-9:00 PM BOB’S BURGERS (Season Premiere)9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD
[EDITOR’S NOTE 1: I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER will return with all-new episodes following AMERICAN IDOL in the spring.][EDITOR’S NOTE 2: After its winter finale, GLEE will return with all-new episodes in the spring.][EDITOR’S NOTE 3: BONES will return to the schedule with all-new episodes in the spring.][EDITOR’S NOTE 4: For photos and more information on FOX programming, please visit http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1.]
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
