It's strange that not only is it almost 2010 but it's the end of the decade. The end of a year also means that it's time for the midseason shows to make their appearance. We already know that Chuck and Lost are coming back (January and February, respectively) and now FOX has announced their midseason schedule. After the jump, full details on when we'll see the return of Jack Bauer, Simon Cowell, Gordon Ramsay, reality shows, new shows, and special episodes of your favorites.
- American Idol returns for a two-night season premiere on January 12 and 13.
- 24 will also have a two-night season premiere, on January 17 and 18 (two hours each night).
- Kitchen Nightmares comes back too, on January 29.
- The Simpsons celebrates their 20th anniversary with The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special. In 3-D! On Ice! That airs on January 10 (preceded by a new episode, the 450th of the series).
- The series finale of Dollhouse airs on January 22.
- Two new dramas premiere in early 2010 too: The Human Target debuts on January 17 (with another new episode on the 20th) and Past Life starts on February 11.
- For new comedy, Sons of Tucson debuts on March 14.
- Glee and Fringe fans, take note: both shows are going on a little winter hiatus. Glee's fall finale will air on December 9. It returns on April 13. Fringe's winter finale will be on Feb 4. It returns on April 1.
- If singing and dancing and supernatural investigations aren't your cup of tea, FOX has a lot of football coming up too, including The Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 1. The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (which sounds like something you can get at Taco Bell) airs on January 4, while the FedEx Orange Bowl airs the following night, January 5. On January 17, FOX will have the NFC Divisional Playoff, and on January 24 they'll have the NFC Championship game.
Sorry, no word on when 'Til Death will be back. But it will be. It will be.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-25-2009 @ 11:15AM
JWB said...
I hope they move Fringe to a less competitive time slot. It's current time slot is killing the show. The winter break will be the nail in the coffin.
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11-25-2009 @ 12:54PM
Kragragh said...
I don't think time slots are as big as issue as they used to be with DVRs. Most people seem to watch whenever they want. Of course though, the problem is also that if there's too much in one time period you can't record everything you want, but I think as technology advances, the less influence time slots will have. Look at Mad Men - Sunday nights at 10 and is hugely popular.
11-25-2009 @ 2:26PM
Ryan said...
Random thought. Can Dollhouse go syndicated and air when ever people feel like along with Legend of the Seeker?
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11-29-2009 @ 8:00PM
colcam said...
There really are not enough episodes of Dollhouse to syndicate what has already been made, and to create an ongoing version for syndication means legal issues with the rights owners and first licensee rights, too. Until we go to a subscription television model only large numbers of one demographic will keep a network show on the air, while your other choice, Legend of the Seeker, was designed and created as a syndication sale show, so it can go on and on and on and on.
11-25-2009 @ 3:30PM
Europa said...
Lets hope that April 1 return for Fringe isn't an April's Fool joke by FOX and they've actually canceled the show! The current time slot stinks but looks like they're going to stick with it. The April 1st is a Thursday. :(
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11-29-2009 @ 2:49PM
Carol said...
I believe it takes one-hundred episodes before you can sindicate a show.
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11-29-2009 @ 4:41PM
twelvnrow said...
If that was the case, the original Star Trek, which was on for only 3 seasons and 72 episodes would never have been syndicated.
12-01-2009 @ 4:21PM
-_- said...
Yes 100 shows if the show is still in production.
If the show is canceled any network can rerun for a fee i think.
11-29-2009 @ 3:11PM
RoadTripGirl said...
And where is the return of Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles???????????? What a shame!!!!
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12-01-2009 @ 4:21PM
-_- said...
All the actors have moved on to other things, Summer "Glau?" was going to join Dollhouse now im not sure.
11-29-2009 @ 4:22PM
Joe Mama said...
As any third grade kid can figure out, the decade ends at the end of 2010 not 2009. There are ten years in a decade and the count begins at "1", not "0". January 1st 2001 was the real start of the new millennium, not 2000!
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12-02-2009 @ 9:51AM
tingrin87 said...
depends on who you ask.
i am a programmer.
we count starting at 0.
11-29-2009 @ 4:17PM
Lisa Van Leer said...
Looking forward to the return of "24, American Idol, and Kitchen
Nightmares".....however I have an issue with the first sentence of
the article....2010 is the last year of this decade(which started
2001 not 2000).....decades start with year 1 not year 0.....hope the
writers will get it right next decade.
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11-29-2009 @ 5:32PM
david91326 said...
While it is indeed true that 2001 technically was the start of the millenium and decade, pop culture dictates that 2000 was. While most of the world celebrated, all the stick-up-the-ass, no fun nerds and dweebs stayed home silently fuming. LOL! Gotta love those nerds!
11-29-2009 @ 5:12PM
JasmineP said...
what a lousy schedule. the only show I want to see is "24". Not interested in any of the others.
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11-29-2009 @ 5:57PM
Evelyn said...
As someone who has always believed in reincarnation, the new show "Past Life" sounds intruiging... can't wait to see that one!
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11-29-2009 @ 5:59PM
csi8299 said...
AARRGGHHHH ! American Idol is coming back! Grab me an axe honey, I gotta fix the TV !
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11-29-2009 @ 8:07PM
Dramma\\\'s boys said...
I agree that show is way past its time.
11-29-2009 @ 7:49PM
Looch said...
I for one am through with American Idol. No Paula, no Idol. Ellen is going to wreck the show. All my friends feel the same way.
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11-29-2009 @ 7:33PM
Joel Lafargue said...
One thing in this article needs to be corrected: the decade does NOT end with the end of 2009, as the opening paragraph might lead you to believe.
The decade REALLY comes to end on December 31, 2010.
This is because there was never a "year 0". The first year A.D. was the year 1, the tenth, 10.
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