FOX is coming back in January with a big mid-season lineup that includes the returns of American Idol and Breaking In as well as new shows like J.J. Abrams’ Alcatraz, an animated Napoleon Dynamite, the Bones spin-off The Finder and Kiefer Sutherland‘s return to TV in Touch.
FOX is basically splitting its mid-season schedule into two halves. One starts in January, while other shows will begin in March.
MONDAY
8pm: House
9pm: Alcatraz/Touch
The new J.J. Abrams series Alcatraz, starring Sam Neill and Lost‘s Jorge Garcia, will get a special two-hour premiere on January 16 at 8pm before moving to its regular time slot at 9pm, bumping House one hour earlier than it current airs. Alcatraz will conclude with a two-hour season finale on March 12, and Kiefer Sutherland will return to FOX starting March 19 in Touch.
TUESDAY
8pm: Glee/New Girl and Breaking In
9pm: New Girl
9:30pm: Raising Hope
The Tuesday night lineup will begin again starting January 17 as is. Glee will take a brief spring hiatus starting on March 6, when the 8pm hour will be filled with repeats of New Girl at 8pm and the second season of the Christian Slater Breaking In at 8:30pm. Breaking In also stars Odette Annable from House, meaning she’ll be on FOX twice a week starting in March.
WEDNESDAY
8pm: American Idol
9pm: Mobbed
Wednesdays are a bit chaotic. New episodes of the Howie Mandel-hosted Mobbed will air at 9pm on January 4 and 11, then return for two more weeks starting February 1. American Idol begins on January 18 with a two-hour premiere. On January 25, a special sneak preview of Kiefer Sutherland‘s Touch will air at 9pm, and starting February 15, Idol will have two-hour episodes.
THURSDAY
8pm: American Idol
9pm: The Finder
The Bones spin-off will begin January 12 while Idol will start January 19.
FRIDAY
8pm: Kitchen Nightmares
9pm: Fringe
Both shows will return January 13.
SUNDAY
7:30pm: The Cleveland Show
8pm: The Simpsons
8:30pm: Napoleon Dynamite/Bob’s Burgers
9pm: Family Guy
9:30pm: American Dad
Animation Domination returns starting January 8. Napoleon Dynamite will premiere January 15 with special episodes at both 8:30pm and 9:30pm. After Napoleon Dynamite ends, Bob’s Burgers will take over 8:30pm on March 11 for its second season. Sunday will also feature a special episode of American Idol on January 22 following the NFC Championship Game.
There’s still no word on when Bones will return following its extended hiatus due to Emily Deschanel‘s pregnancy.
(Image courtesy of FOX)
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
John watches nearly every show on TV, but he specializes in sci-fi/fantasy like The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural and True Blood. However, he can also be found writing about everything from Survivor and Glee to One Tree Hill and Smallville.
