FOX is announcing 2011-2012 mid-season premiere dates for new and returning series, including the return of "American Idol"; the debuts of new dramas "Touch," "Alcatraz" and "The Finder"; and the launch of new animated series "Napoleon Dynamite."

Welcome "American Idol" back when its 11th season begins with a two-night premiere Wednesday, January 18 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Thursday, January 19 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). Featuring host Ryan Seacrest and returning judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, television's No. 1 series continues with a special, extended primetime broadcast Sunday, January 22 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT) following the "NFC Championship Game" (6:00 PM-CC ET live/3:00 PM-CC PT live).



"Touch," the distinctive new drama created by Tim Kring ("Heroes") and starring Kiefer Sutherland ("24") will debut with a special preview Wednesday, January 25 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), immediately following "American Idol" (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The uplifting drama, which makes its series premiere Monday, March 19 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), features Sutherland as a widower and single father haunted by an inability to connect to his mute 11-year-old son. But everything changes when he discovers that his son possesses the gift of staggering genius - the ability to see things that no one else can and the patterns that connect seemingly unrelated events.

J.J. Abrams' ("Super 8," "Star Trek," "Lost") chilling new thriller "Alcatraz" will debut Monday, January 16 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) with a special two-hour premiere event. The series then makes its time period premiere on Monday, January 23 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), following all-new episodes of "House" (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The mysterious drama stars Sarah Jones ("Sons of Anarchy"), Jorge Garcia ("Lost") and Sam Neill ("Jurassic Park") as a unique team investigating the shocking reappearance of Alcatraz's most notorious prisoners, 50 years after they vanished.

"The Finder," the one-hour procedural centering on a remarkable man with an extraordinary ability to help people find the unfindable, joins the schedule Thursday, January 12 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). The debut follows an encore episode of "Bones" (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), in which "The Finder"'s "Walter Sherman" (Geoff Stults, "She's Out of My League," "October Road") and "Leo Knox" (Michael Clarke Duncan, "The Green Mile") were first introduced.

"Napoleon Dynamite," the new animated comedy based on the hit movie, joins the Animation Domination lineup with a double dose of "Dynamite" episodes Sunday, January 15, beginning with the series premiere at 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT, followed by a second all-new episode at 9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT. Featuring the voices of the original cast, "Napoleon Dynamite" follows the continuing adventures of America's most awesomely awkward teenager and his quirky family and friends, as they navigate small-town life in rural Idaho.

Beginning March 6, the Tuesday laughs keep coming with a new block of four half-hour comedies led by encores of "New Girl" (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT), followed by the Season Two return of "Breaking In" (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT), the workplace comedy starring Christian Slater, Bret Harrison and new series regular Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace"). The Tuesday night of comedy continues with all-new episodes of "New Girl" (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT), followed by the all-new misadventures of the Chance family on "Raising Hope" (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT).

"Bob's Burgers" joins the Animation Domination menu when it makes its Season Two opening Sunday, March 11 (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT). This season, Bob (the voice of H. Jon Benjamin) and the family test-drive the food truck industry, dive into the world of synchronized swimming, search for treasure in an abandoned taffy factory and get tied up with a very needy bank robber.

All-new episodes of fan-favorite series and specials return in January. Starting Tuesday, January 17 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), all-new installments of "Glee" lead off a night of FOX comedies, followed by "New Girl" (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and "Raising Hope" (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT). "Mobbed" flashes back to the schedule with all-new episodes airing Wednesdays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), January 4, January 11, February 1 and February 8. "Kitchen Nightmares" begins serving up a full plate of fresh episodes on Friday, January 13 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), followed by new installments of "Fringe" (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).

"Cops" lays down the law with an arresting new episode Saturday, January 7 (8:0"0-8:30 PM ET"/PT) and all-new episodes air back-to-back beginning Saturday, January 14 ("8:00-8:30" and "8:30-9:00 PM ET"/PT). Another "America's Most Wanted Special Edition" airs Saturday, February 11 ("8:00-10:00 PM ET"/PT). On Sunday, January 8, "Animation Domination" rules with all-new episodes of "The Simpsons" ("8:00-8:30 PM ET"/PT), "The Cleveland Show" ("8:30-9:00 PM ET"/PT), "Family Guy" ("9:00-9:30 PM ET"/PT) and "American Dad" ("9:30-10:00 PM ET"/PT).

FOX 2011-2012 MIDSEASON SCHEDULE
(times for all-new episodes are ET/PT except as noted)

Monday

Monday, January 16
8:00-10:00 PM" - "Alcatraz" (series premiere)

Mondays, beginning January 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)

Tuesday

Tuesdays, beginning January 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"

Wednesday

Wednesday, January 4:
8:00-9:00 PM - "Glee" (encore)
9:00-10:00 PM - "Mobbed"

Wednesday, January 11:
8:00-9:00 PM - "Mobbed" (encore)
9:00-10:00 PM - "Mobbed"

Wednesday, January 18:
8:00-10:00 PM - "American Idol" (season premiere, part one)

Wednesday, January 25:
8:00-9:00 PM - "American Idol"
9:00-10:00 PM - "Touch" (special preview)

Wednesdays, beginning February 1:
8:00-9:00 PM - "American Idol"
9:00-10:00 PM - "Mobbed"

Wednesdays, beginning February 15:
8:00-10:00 PM - "American Idol" (two-hour episodes)

Thursday

Thursday, January 12:
8:00-9:00 PM - "Bones" (encore)
9:00-10:00 PM - "The Finder" (series premiere)

Thursdays, beginning January 19:
8:00-9:00 PM American Idol" (season premiere, part two)
"9:00-10:00 PM the Finder"

Friday

Friday, January 6:
8:00 PM  -CC ET FOX Sports Special: "2012 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic" (live)

Fridays, beginning January 13:
8:00-9:00 PM - "Kitchen Nightmares"
9:00-10:00 PM - "Fringe"

Saturday

Saturdays, beginning January 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, February 11:
8:00-10:00 PM - "America's Most Wanted Special Edition"
11:00 PM-Midnight - Encores
Midnight-12:30 AM - Encores

Sunday

Sunday, January 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, January 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, January 22:
6:00 PM - CC ET - FOX Sports Special: "NFC Championship Game" (live)
10:00 PM ET/7:00 PT - "American Idol" (special broadcast; approximate start time)

Sundays, beginning January 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"