FOX has released its winter broadcast schedule, revealing premiere dates for the 15th and final season of American Idol along with the winter return of Empire. The network’s lineup includes special events, new series launches and strategic time-slot moves designed to maximize audience engagement across the midseason.
The highly promoted American Idol finale will debut with a two-night, four-hour premiere event. Part one airs Wednesday, January 6 (8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) and part two follows on Thursday, January 7 (8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT). After the premiere week, Idol returns to a one-hour Wednesday slot (8:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) beginning January 13 while FOX introduces the new drama Second Chance at 9:00–10:00 PM that same night. Later in the season, Rosewood will replace Second Chance on March 30.
A season-long celebratory event, AMERICAN IDOL will feature host Ryan Seacrest and judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr., as they discover an IDOL one last time, and pay tribute to the past 14 seasons of amazingly talented contestants and the millions of fans who phoned, tweeted, texted and championed their favorites.
Empire returns to the schedule on March 30. Because Empire’s spring premiere follows Rosewood in the same hour, FOX is prioritizing the new procedural for the earlier slot rather than pairing Empire with its already high-rated series. That scheduling decision reflects the network’s effort to use fresh programming to support new entries.
Notable scheduling moves and highlights:
- Sleepy Hollow shifts to Fridays beginning in the spring — a move that historically challenges a show’s ratings performance in that time period.
- The X-Files reboot premieres January 24. The first part will air at the same time across all time zones following the NFC Championship game.
- Grease Live airs as a special event on Sunday, January 17 (7:00–10:00 PM ET/PT).
Below is FOX’s announced winter schedule with premiere dates, returns and time-period premieres.
Sunday, Jan. 3:
8:00–8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS (Winter Return)
8:30–9:00 PM COOPER BARRETT’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE (Series Premiere)
9:00–9:30 PM FAMILY GUY (Winter Return)
9:30–10:00 PM BORDERTOWN (Series Premiere)
Monday, Jan. 4:
8:00–10:00 PM SUPERHUMAN (Two-Hour Special)
Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 5:
8:00–8:30 PM NEW GIRL (Season Premiere)
8:30–9:00 PM GRANDFATHERED (Time Period Premiere)
9:00–9:30 PM BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (Time Period Premiere)
9:30–10:00 PM THE GRINDER (Time Period Premiere)
Wednesday, Jan. 6:
8:00–10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part One)
Thursdays, beginning Jan. 7:
8:00–10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part Two)
Friday, Jan. 8:
8:00–10:00 PM MASTERCHEF JUNIOR (Winter Return/Special Two-Hour Episode)
Sundays, beginning Jan. 10:
7:30–8:00 PM BOB’S BURGERS (Winter Return)
8:00–8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30–9:00 PM COOPER BARRETT’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE
9:00–9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30–10:00 PM BORDERTOWN
Wednesdays, beginning Jan. 13:
8:00–9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Time Period Premiere)
9:00–10:00 PM SECOND CHANCE (Series Premiere)
Fridays, beginning Jan. 15:
8:00–9:00 PM MASTERCHEF JUNIOR
9:00–10:00 PM HELL’S KITCHEN (Season Premiere)
Sunday, Jan. 24:
10:00–11:00 PM ET THE X-FILES (Season Premiere, Part One)
7:00–8:00 PM PT (simultaneous west-coast timing following the NFC Championship)
Mondays, beginning Jan. 25:
8:00–9:00 PM THE X-FILES (Season Premiere, Part Two)
9:00–10:00 PM LUCIFER (Series Premiere)
Sunday, Jan. 31:
7:00–10:00 PM ET GREASE: LIVE (Live Event)
PT tape-delayed
Fridays, beginning Feb. 5:
8:00–9:00 PM SLEEPY HOLLOW (Time Period / Spring Premiere)
9:00–10:00 PM HELL’S KITCHEN
Mondays, beginning Feb. 29:
8:00–9:00 PM GOTHAM: RISE OF THE VILLAINS (Spring Premiere)
9:00–10:00 PM LUCIFER
Wednesdays, beginning March 2:
8:00–9:00 PM ROSEWOOD (Spring Premiere)
9:00–10:00 PM SECOND CHANCE
Wednesdays, beginning March 30:
8:00–9:00 PM ROSEWOOD
9:00–10:00 PM EMPIRE (Spring Premiere)