Fox Announces Winter Premiere Dates For ‘The Following, ‘American Idol’, And ‘Touch’

Fox has announced their winter schedule including the premiere date for The Following and return dates for American Idol and Touch!

Host Ryan Seacrest and new judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban, along with returning judge Randy Jackson, will be on hand for the 12th season of American Idol beginning with the exciting two-night premiere Wednesday, Jan. 16 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Thursday, Jan. 17 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).

The Following, a psychological thriller created by Kevin Williamson (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “Scream” franchise) and starring Golden Globe Award-winning actor Kevin Bacon (“X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Frost/Nixon”) and James Purefoy (“Rome”), launches Monday, Jan. 21 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). The intense, spellbinding drama follows Ryan Hardy (Bacon), an ex-FBI agent called out of retirement to track down Joe Carroll (Purefoy), a devious and diabolical serial killer, and the mastermind behind an ever-growing web of killers. This was one of our favorite pilots of the new season so be sure to check it out!

Season 2 of Touch, starring Emmy Award winner Kiefer Sutherland (“24”), kicks into gear Friday, Feb. 1 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). As the action shifts dramatically from New York to Los Angeles, single father Martin Bohm (Sutherland) and his gifted son, Jake (David Mazouz), find themselves at the center of a global conspiracy involving a mother in search of her missing teenage daughter, a mathematical genius and a religious zealot assassinating others with abilities like Jake’s. Joining the cast this season are Maria Bello (“ER”), Lukas Haas (“24”), Said Taghmaoui (“G.I. Joe: The Rise of The Cobra”) and newcomer Saxon Sharbino.

Fox Winter Series Premiere Dates

Wednesday, Jan. 16:
8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part One)

Thursday, Jan. 17:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part Two)

Monday, Jan. 21:
9:00-10:00 PM THE FOLLOWING (Series Premiere)

Friday, Feb. 1:
9:00-10:00 PM TOUCH (Season Premiere)

For those of you anxious for The Goodwin Games (we sure are!), Fox still hasn’t released a premiere date for it. But as soon as it’s released we will have it posted!