'Second Chance'
'The Frankenstein Code' begat 'Lookinglass,' which, in turn, begets 'Second Chance.'
Firming up its midseason schedule on Tuesday, Fox has dated the final season of American Idol — as well as series premieres for newcomers Cooper Barrett's Guide to Life, Bordertown and Lucifer.
And, in what's starting to resemble a scene from Chinatown, the network has changed the name of its Frankenstein drama once again. Lookinglass (formerly The Frankenstein Code) is now being called Second Chance... presumably the last title tweak.
The network is wasting no time in the new year to roll out with originals, starting Jan. 3 with a noticeably different Sunday block. Gone is Brooklyn Nine-Nine, shuffled back to Tuesdays, and in it's place is Cooper Barrett. That makes it the lone live action comedy on the night, as long-gestating cartoon Bordertown is moving into the spot occupied by shorter-order The Last Man on Earth.
New Girl makes its return to Tuesdays on Jan. 5, and Fox is banking on the veteran comedy to open the night on a stronger note than it's seen of late. The sitcom moves to 8 p.m. — with Grandfathered shifting to 8:30 p.m., Brooklyn Nine-Nine settling in at (appropriately) 9 p.m. and The Grinder getting a new lead-in at 9:30 p.m. It's a retread of the four-comedy strategy the network first adopted for Tuesdays a few years ago, but the first time it's done so by spreading out more dependable ratings performers.
The two-night premiere of American Idol's final season is slated for Jan. 6 and Jan. 7, occupying both hours of both nights. The show shifts to a one-hour format on Wednesdays the following week, leaving room for Second Chance (formerly Frankenstein Code and Lookinglass, remember?) at 9 p.m., and starts airing on Thursdays exclusively starting March 3.
The X-Files, as previously announced, gets a special bow on Jan. 24 after the NFL, before moving into the 8 p.m. slot on Monday for the rest of its six-episode run. It leads into Lucifer, starting Jan. 25, while Gotham is on hiatus. As far as returns go, Gotham's spring premiere is set for Feb. 29 — while Empire isn't back until Mar. 30. (Rosewood gets an earlier return on Mar. 2)
MasterChef Junior will air on Fridays, partnered with Hell's Kitchen starting Jan. 15, before Sleepy Hollow moves to Fridays starting Feb. 5. (Bones' return is on hold, likely until another hour frees up.) And, elsewhere, special Grease: Live is set to air Sunday, Jan 31, shrewdly scheduled against likely lackluster competition from the NFL Pro Bowl.
Read the full schedule below:
Sunday, Jan. 3:
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS (Winter Return)
8:30-9:00 PM COOPER BARRETT’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE (Series Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY (Winter Return)
9:30-10:00 PM BORDERTOWN (Series Premiere)
Monday, Jan. 4
8:00-10:00 PM SUPERHUMAN (Two-Hour Special)
Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 5:
8:00-8:30 PM NEW GIRL (Season Premiere)
8:30-9:00 PM GRANDFATHERED (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (Time Period Premiere)
9:30-10:00 PM THE GRINDER (Time Period Premiere)
Wednesday, Jan. 6:
8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part One)
Thursdays, beginning Jan. 7:
8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part Two)
Friday, Jan. 8:
8:00-10:00 PM MASTERCHEF JUNIOR (Winter Return/Special Two-Hour Episode)
Sundays, beginning Jan. 10:
7:30-8:00 PM BOB’S BURGERS (Winter Return)
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM COOPER BARRETT’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM BORDERTOWN
Wednesdays, beginning Jan. 13:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM SECOND CHANCE (Series Premiere)
Fridays, beginning Jan. 15:
8:00-9:00 PM MASTERCHEF JUNIOR
9:00-10:00 PM HELL’S KITCHEN (Season Premiere)
Sunday, Jan. 24
10:00-11:00 PM ET/ THE X-FILES (Season Premiere, Part One)
7:00-8:00 PM PT
Mondays, beginning Jan. 25
8:00-9:00 PM THE X-FILES (Season Premiere, Part Two)
9:00-10:00 PM LUCIFER (Series Premiere)
Sunday, Jan. 31
7:00-10:00 ET Live/ GREASE: LIVE
Fridays, beginning Feb. 5
8:00-9:00 PM SLEEPY HOLLOW (Time Period / Spring Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM HELL’S KITCHEN
Mondays, beginning Feb. 29
8:00-9:00 PM GOTHAM (Spring Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM LUCIFER
Wednesdays, beginning March 2
8:00-9:00 PM ROSEWOOD (Spring Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM SECOND CHANCE
Wednesdays, beginning March 30
8:00-9:00 PM ROSEWOOD
9:00-10:00 PM EMPIRE (Spring Premiere)Fox
