Disney/ABC unveils midseason schedule, including American Idol premiere date
ABC has released its midseason 2025 primetime lineup, revealing premiere dates for returning favorites and several new series. Among the highlights is the long-running singing competition American Idol, which the network lists as returning in March. The show is identified as Season 23 overall (Season 8 on ABC), and ABC’s published schedule places the two-hour premiere on Sunday, March 9 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. (An earlier mention in promotional materials cited March 8; ABC’s press release specifies March 9.)
According to ABC’s announcement, “The search for a superstar begins when American Idol premieres,” and the upcoming season reunites a familiar panel and host: Carrie Underwood joins Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie on the judges’ panel, with Ryan Seacrest returning as host. Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie have served as judges since ABC relaunched the series in 2018. Katy Perry, who previously sat on the panel, departed to concentrate on her music career; reports indicate that Carrie Underwood accepted a lower salary than some predecessors.
The midseason slate balances scripted drama, returning reality staples and new unscripted entries. ABC is spacing premieres across January, February and March, pairing established franchises with fresh series debuts and limited-run specials. The network’s schedule reflects continued efforts to maximize audience flow during key broadcast windows while accommodating sports events and high-profile reality programming.
Below is ABC’s published midseason primetime schedule with premiere and return dates. All times listed are Eastern/Pacific and reflect ABC’s announcement.
ABC MIDSEASON PRIMETIME SCHEDULE PREMIERE DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS (all times listed are Eastern/Pacific).
THURSDAY, JAN 2
8:00 p.m. – Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (Series Premiere)
9:00 p.m. – Only Murders in the Building (Broadcast Season Two Premiere — two hours)
SUNDAY, JAN 5
7:00 p.m. – AFV (Midseason Return)
8:00 p.m. – The Wonderful World of Disney
TUESDAY, JAN 7
8:00 p.m. – Will Trent (Season Three Premiere)
9:00 p.m. – High Potential (Midseason Return)
10:00 p.m. – The Rookie (Season Seven Premiere)
WEDNESDAY, JAN 8
8:00 p.m. – Shifting Gears (Series Premiere)
8:30 p.m. – Abbott Elementary (Midseason Return)
9:02 p.m. – Celebrity Jeopardy! (Season Three Premiere)
10:02 p.m. – What Would You Do? (Midseason Return)
FRIDAY, JAN 17
8:00 p.m. – Shark Tank (Midseason Return)
SATURDAY, JAN 25
8:00 p.m. – NBA Countdown Presented by Papa Johns
8:30 p.m. – Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors
MONDAY, JAN 27
8:00 p.m. – The Bachelor (Season 29 Premiere — two hours)
10:01 p.m. – The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Broadcast Series Premiere)
THURSDAY, JAN 30
9:00 p.m. – Scamanda (Series Premiere)
10:00 p.m. – Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini (Broadcast Series Premiere)
THURSDAY, MAR 6
8:00 p.m. – 9-1-1 (Midseason Return)
9:00 p.m. – Doctor Odyssey (Midseason Return)
10:00 p.m. – Grey’s Anatomy (Midseason Return)
SUNDAY, MAR 9
8:00 p.m. – American Idol (Season 23 overall / Season 8 on ABC — Premiere — two hours)
10:00 p.m. – The $100,000 Pyramid (Season Eight Premiere)
ABC’s midseason plan packages high-profile reality and competition properties alongside established scripted dramas. The move to a March premiere window for American Idol follows recent seasons that began in mid-February, and the later start may reflect scheduling considerations around football, awards shows and other live events. As broadcast networks continue to adapt to changing viewing habits, ABC’s lineup aims to leverage familiar brands and new entries to maintain audience engagement through the winter and spring television season.