Fox announced its 2012 midseason schedule with premiere dates set for returning favorites 'American Idol' and 'House,' as well as the network's new scripted lineup, including 'The Finder,' 'Alcatraz' and 'Touch.'

The anticipated 'Bones' spin-off, 'The Finder,' will kick off the network's new scripted lineup on Thurs., Jan. 12.

Meanwhile, J.J. Abrams' new mystery drama 'Alcatraz' -- the high-concept series that halted production in November in order to re-shoot a few scenes in the first seven episodes -- will premiere Mon., Jan. 16.

Kiefer Sutherland's new series, 'Touch,' is getting an 'American Idol' lead-in for a series premiere preview on Wed., Jan. 25, before heading to Sutherland's old '24' slot on Monday nights in March for its official premiere.

'American Idol' Season 11 is almost upon us!

The Fox singing competition returns in January and if the preview below is any indication, it will be filled with our favorite 'Idol' standbys: frustrated contestants, Steven Tyler's antics, tears and declarations that these 20somethings will be "stars."

Tyler will be joined at the judges table by both Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez, despite lengthy contract talks for the latter. Ryan Seacrest returns as host.

Check out the video after the jump. One of those people could be the crowned the next 'American Idol' ...

With the Season 11 premiere only a few weeks away, 'American Idol' boss Nigel Lythgoe has released a new promo video (watch it after the jump) and talked about his plans for the show.

After all the upheaval surrounding Season 10 after the departure of Simon Cowell and the most of the judging panel, Lythgoe says he's done changing the show around. He told the AP "I think we made a lot of tweaks last year. I'm not sure that we want to make too many more tweaks this year."

Lythgoe acknowledged that the biggest change he made to the show in Season 10, which was to stop making contestants sing in styles other than their own, had been a game-changer. It produced the first country winner since 2005, and made it possible for contestants like Casey Abrams to go further in the competition than they might have done otherwise.

Jennifer Lopez is returning to 'American Idol,' executive producer Nigel Lythgoe announced Wednesday morning on 'Idol' host Ryan Seacrest's radio show.

"I am delighted to say that all three judges, along with the brilliant host of 'American Idol,' [are] back for the next season," Lythgoe said in an interview on 'On Air with Ryan Seacrest.'

Lopez's 'Idol' future was up in the air for much of the summer. In an interview with BBC, Lopez said she was unsure whether or not she would return to the Fox reality competition series.

It seems as though the game of cat and mouse that Jennifer Lopez has been playing with 'American Idol' execs all summer may soon be at an end.

According to 'The Wall Street Journal,' Lopez is close to signing a deal that will bring her back to the 'American Idol' judging panel for at least one more season.

When Lopez's original one-year contract -- estimated at $12 million -- expired back in May she said she was "on the fence" about committing to the series for another season, and she's been pitching her own TV talent show to networks.

'Idol' execs, in return, then let it be known that they were lining up possible replacements should they be unable to lure her back.