FOX Sets Premiere Dates for Touch, Alcatraz & More

LOS ANGELES: FOX’s midseason schedule includes the launch of the new dramas Touch, The Finder and Alcatraz, as well as the freshman animated comedy Napoleon Dynamite.

American Idol returns with season 11, beginning with a two-night premiere on January 18. Host Ryan Seacrest and judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler are back.

The new drama series Touch, created by Tim Kring (Heroes) and starring Kiefer Sutherland (24), will debut with a preview on January 25. It features Sutherland as a widower and single father haunted by an inability to connect to his mute 11-year-old son, who has the ability to see things that no one else can.

The new thriller Alcatraz from J.J. Abrams (Super 8, Star Trek, Lost) will debut on January 16 with a two-hour premiere event. It stars Sarah Jones (Sons of Anarchy), Jorge Garcia (Lost) and Sam Neill (Jurassic Park).

The Finder, a spin-off of the series Bones, will debut January 12 and stars Geoff Stults (She’s Out of My League, October Road) and Michael Clarke Duncan (The Green Mile).

Napoleon Dynamite, an animated comedy based on the hit movie of the same name, will premiere January 15 and features the voices of the original movie cast. The series follows the awkward teenager and his quirky family and friends who live in rural Idaho.

Returning series include New Girl, starring Zooey Deschanel; Breaking In, starring Christian Slater, Bret Harrison and Megan Mullally (Will & Grace); Raising Hope; Bob’s Burgers; and Glee. New episodes of Kitchen Nightmares, Fringe, Cops, The Simpsons, Family Guy and American Dad will also air.