FOX sets Spring 2012 premieres from 'American Idol' to 'Touch' to 'Alcatraz'

"American Idol"

 

Credit: FOX

As always, it will be a busy spring on FOX.

On Thursday (Dec. 1), FOX announced a frantic Spring 2012 slate of premieres that includes two different Monday 9 p.m. dramas ("Alcatraz" and "Touch"), the triumphant returns of "Bob's Burgers" and "Breaking In," the debuts of "The Finder" and "Napoleon Dynamite," plus the usual Wednesday/Thursday "American Idol" domination.

With so many moving pieces, you'll be best-served just looking at the lengthy chart FOX released, but here are a few key highlights:

*** "American Idol" was originally slated to kick off its 11th season after the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 22. Instead, FOX has moved the "Idol" launch up, with a two-hour premiere on Wednesday, January 18 and an hour-long premiere on Thursday, January 19 (leading into the series launch of "The Finder"). "Idol" will still air that special episode post-football on the 22nd, though.

*** As was announced back in May, "Alcatraz" will air on Mondays at 9 p.m. The J.J. Abrams-produced drama will have a two-hour premiere on Monday, January 16 and a two-hour finale on Monday, March 12. On March 19, the new Kiefer Sutherland drama "Touch" will take the 9 p.m. slot after "House," though "Touch" will have already had a sneak preview of its pilot after "American Idol" on January 25.

*** "Napoleon Dynamite" will premiere on Sunday, January 15 and will air in the 8:30 slot after "The Simpsons" until "Bob's Burgers" returns on March 11. FOX will air encores of "Bob's Burgers" at 7:00 on Sundays starting on January 8.

*** "Fringe" will be back on Friday, January 13. Low ratings aside, Friday is the one night that FOX isn't touching.

*** FOX cancelled "Breaking In" and then resurrected "Breaking In" and now FOX has scheduled the second season of "Breaking In" for Tuesdays at 8:30 starting on March 6. FOX is showing its confidence in the Lazarus comedy by scheduling it after repeats of "New Girl."

*** Finally, after fans were up in arms two weeks ago when NBC released a midseason schedule without mentioning "Community" and ABC mentioned a midseason schedule without mentioning "Cougar Town," FOX's midseason schedule specifically mentions that although it doesn't have a premiere date, "Bones" will be back in the spring and that although it will depart for a while, "Glee" will also be back. Ditto with "I Hate My Teenage Daughter," which will continue its winter airings post-"X Factor," but will be back on Wednesdays in the spring when "Idol" performance episodes drop from two hours to 90 minutes.

Here's FOX's 2011-20122 Midseason Premieres Schedule:

MONDAY

Monday, 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              HOUSE

9:00-10:00 PM            TOUCH (Series Premiere)

****************************

TUESDAY

Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 17:

8:00-9:00 PM              GLEE

9:00-9:30 PM              NEW GIRL

9:30-10:00 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 GIRL

9:30-10:00 PM            RAISING HOPE

****************************

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday, 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 IDOL

9:00-10:00 PM            TOUCH (Special Preview)

Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 1:

8:00-9:00 PM              AMERICAN IDOL

9:00-10:00 PM            MOBBED

Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 15:

8:00-10:00 PM            AMERICAN IDOL (Two-Hour Episodes)

***************************

THURSDAY

Thursday, 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

***************************

FRIDAY

Friday, 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 NIGHTMARES

9:00-10:00 PM            FRINGE

***************************

SATURDAY

Saturdays, beginning Jan. 7: 

8:00-8:30 PM              COPS

8:30-9:00 PM              COPS

9:00-10:00 PM            DRAMA ENCORES

11:00 PM-Midnight     ENCORES

Midnight-12:30 AM     ENCORES

Saturday, Feb. 11:

8:00-10:00 PM            AMERICA’S MOST WANTED SPECIAL EDITION

11:00 PM-Midnight     ENCORES

Midnight-12:30 AM     ENCORES

***************************

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 SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM              THE CLEVELAND SHOW

9:00-9:30 PM              FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 PM            AMERICAN DAD

Sunday, Jan. 15:

8:00-8:30 PM              THE SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM              NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (Series Premiere)

9:00-9:30 PM              FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 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)

Sundays, beginning Jan. 29:

7:00-7:30 PM              BOB’S BURGERS (encore)

7:30-8:00 PM              THE CLEVELAND SHOW

8:00-8:30 PM              THE SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM              NAPOLEON DYNAMITE

9:00-9:30 PM              FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 PM            AMERICAN DAD

Sundays, beginning March 11:

7:00-7:30 PM              ANIMATION DOMINATION ENCORES

7:30-8:00 PM              THE CLEVELAND SHOW

8:00-8:30 PM              THE SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM              BOB’S BURGERS (Season Premiere)

9:00-9:30 PM              FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 PM            AMERICAN DAD

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

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A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.