Fox Surprises, Moves American Idol

Fox has unveiled its programming plans for midseason, jam-packed with both returning shows and newcomers—along with a few surprises. The lineup includes sitcoms Mixed Signals, Breaking In and the animated Bob’s Burgers; crime drama The Chicago Code; and game show The Million Dollar Money Drop and the return of American Idol and Kitchen Nightmares. New time periods are in place for Human Target, Fringe, American Dad, The Cleveland Show and, in a surprise move, the aforementioned Idol. (Only Saturday, featuring perennial occupants Cops and America’s Most Wanted, will remain unchanged.) The retooled American Idol opens season 10 on Wednesday at 8 p.m. (with a two-hour installment on Jan. 26), followed by the second weekly telecast (and live results show) in the Thursday 8 p.m. hour. Sophomore Human Target shifts to Wednesday at 9 p.m. out of Idol until April 6, when Idol will be pared down to 90 minute and into new sitcom Breaking In at 9:30 p.m. Headlined by Christian Slater, Breaking In is set at a high-tech security firm that takes extreme—and sometimes questionable—measures to sell their protection services. The Thursday edition of American Idol will lead into Bones, which shifts back one hour to 9 p.m. On Monday, medical drama House leads into crime solver The Chicago Code, which follows three sets of law enforcement officers, including uniformed beat cops and a female chief of police. Encore telecasts of Glee leads into new game show Million Dollar Money Drop at 9 p.m. for five weeks on Tuesday beginning on Jan. 4. Effective on Feb. 8 is new episodes of Glee and freshman sitcom Raising Hope from 8-9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, leading into new comedy Mixed Signals at 9:30 p.m. Signals tells the story of three longtime friends (Kris Marshall, Nelson Franklin and Alexandra Breckenridge) and their attempt to balance their relationships and need for freedom. Friday will open with returning nonscripted show Kitchen Nightmares at 8 p.m. beginning on Jan. 21, followed by relocated Fringe at 9 p.m. one week later. Sunday’s three-hour sitcom block will kick off with encore episodes of The Simpsons and relocated American Dad from 7-8 p.m. effective on Feb. 13. Next, of course, is an original installment of The Simpsons at 8 p.m., followed by new animated comedy Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy and a 9:30 p.m. installment of sophomore The Cleveland Show. Bob’s Burgers features a third-generation restaurateur running a hamburger joint, and his interactions with a nervous wife and their three underachieving children. Missing from the lineup is freshman sitcom Running Wilde and sophomore dramedy The Good Guys, which are both presumed canceled. Here is Fox’s midseason schedule (with new shows in caps). All times are EDT. Monday8:00 p.m.: House9:00 p.m.: The CHICAGO CODE (premieres on Feb. 7) Tuesday8:00 p.m.: Glee9:00 p.m.: Raising Hope9:30 p.m.: MIXED SIGNALS (premieres on Feb. 8) *encores of Glee leads into new game show Million Dollar Money Drop in January Wednesday8:00 p.m.: American Idol (two-hour season premiere on Jan. 26)9:00 p.m.: Human Target (new time); BREAKING IN at 9:30 p.m. out of a 90-minute edition of American Idol effective on April 6 Thursday8:00 p.m.: American Idol (new day)9:00 p.m.: Bones (new time) Friday8:00 p.m.: Kitchen Nightmares (season premiere on Jan. 21)9:00 p.m.: Fringe (new day, effective on Jan. 28) Saturday8:00 p.m. Cops (original and repeat)9:00 p.m.: America’s Most Wanted Sunday (effective on Feb. 13)7:00 p.m. The Simpsons (R)7:30 p.m. American Dad (new time)8:00 p.m.: The Simpsons8:30 p.m.: BOB’S BURGERS9:00 p.m.: Family Guy9:30 p.m.: The Cleveland Show (new time)

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Fox Surprises, Moves American Idol

Marc Berman

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