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)
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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 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