American Idol Schedule Announced  1/10/07

“AMERICAN IDOL,” THE NO. 1 SHOW OF LAST SEASON, RETURNS JANUARY 16 AND 17 ON FOX

Two-Night, Four-Hour Season Premiere Features Auditions in Minneapolis and Seattle

Top 24 Singers Revealed on Wednesday, February 14

Top 12 Male Singers Perform on Tuesday, February 20 Top 12 Female Singers Perform on Wednesday, February 21 First LIVE Results Show on Thursday, February 22

Top 12 Finalists Perform for the First Time on Tuesday, March 13

AMERICAN IDOL, television’s No. 1 show for the past three seasons, returns with a two-night, four-hour premiere featuring outrageous new auditions and unbelievable talent. The search for the next singing superstar begins Tuesday, Jan. 16 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX with auditions from Minneapolis and Wednesday, Jan. 17 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) with auditions from Seattle.

The search continues in upcoming weeks as AMERICAN IDOL travels to Los Angeles, San Antonio, Birmingham, Memphis and New York City. Episodes featuring the audition cities will air on four consecutive Tuesdays: Jan. 16 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) from Minneapolis, MN; Jan. 23 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) from Memphis, TN; Jan. 30 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) from Birmingham, AL; and Feb. 6 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) from Los Angeles, CA; and three Wednesdays: Jan. 17 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) from Seattle, WA; Jan. 24 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) from New York City, NY; and Jan. 31 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) from San Antonio, TX. For viewers craving still more of this season’s unforgettable auditions, a special “Rest of the Best” show will air Wednesday, Feb. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

The lucky few who get the judges’ approval move on to the Hollywood Round, which will air Tuesday, Feb. 13 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) and Wednesday, Feb. 14 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). On Wednesday, Feb. 14, the Top 24 semifinalists – 12 males and 12 females – will be announced.

Then it will be up to America to decide who moves forward in the competition. The first performance show featuring the Top 12 male singers will air Tuesday, Feb. 20 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).

The following night, Wednesday, Feb. 21 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the Top 12 female singers will perform. A LIVE results show revealing America’s first vote of the season will air Thursday, Feb. 22 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), when the two male and two female contestants with the fewest votes will be sent home.

For the next two weeks, the males will perform on Tuesdays, the females on Wednesdays and the LIVE results show will air on Thursday nights. Thus, the Top 10 male singers will perform on Tuesday, Feb. 27 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and the Top 8 male singers on Tuesday, March 6 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The Top 10 female singers will perform on Wednesday, Feb. 28 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and the Top 8 female singers battle it out on Wednesday, March 7 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). Four contestants, two males and two females, will be eliminated from the competition on the LIVE results shows airing Thursday, March 1 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) and Thursday, March 8 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed). The Top 12 Finalists will be revealed on Thursday, March 8.

The competition heats up as the Top 12 Finalists take the stage for the first time together on Tuesday, March 13 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). One contestant’s journey will end as America’s vote is revealed on Wednesday, March 14 (9:00-9:30 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed).

RECAP (All times ET/PT)

Tuesday, Jan. 16 (8:00-10:00 PM) Season Premiere, Part 1 – Minneapolis Auditions

Wednesday, Jan. 17 (8:00-10:00 PM) Season Premiere, Part 2 – Seattle Auditions

Tuesday, Jan. 23 (8:00-9:00 PM) Memphis Auditions

Wednesday, Jan. 24 (9:00-10:00 PM) New York City Auditions

Tuesday, Jan. 30 (8:00-9:00 PM) Birmingham Auditions

Wednesday, Jan. 31 (9:00-10:00 PM) San Antonio Auditions

Tuesday, Feb. 6 (8:00-9:00 PM) Los Angeles Auditions

Wednesday, Feb. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM) “Rest of the Best” Auditions

Tuesday, Feb. 13 (8:00-9:00 PM) Hollywood Round, Part 1

Wednesday, Feb. 14 (9:00-10:00 PM) Hollywood Round, Part 2 – Top 24 Semifinalists Announced

Tuesday, Feb. 20 (8:00-10:00 PM) Top 12 Male Singers Perform

Wednesday, Feb. 21 (8:00-10:00 PM) Top 12 Female Singers Perform

RECAP, Continued (All times ET/PT)

Thursday, Feb. 22 (8:00-9:00 PM) First Results Show (Live ET/Tape-Delayed PT) – Two Male and Two Female Contestants Voted Off

Tuesday, Feb. 27 (8:00-9:30 PM) Top 10 Male Singers Perform

Wednesday, Feb. 28 (8:00-9:30 PM) Top 10 Female Singers Perform

Thursday, March 1 (8:00-9:00 PM) Results Show (Live ET/Tape-Delayed PT) – Two Male and Two Female Contestants Voted Off

Tuesday, March 6 (8:00-9:00 PM) Top 8 Male Singers Perform

Wednesday, March 7 (8:00-9:00 PM) Top 8 Female Singers Perform

Thursday, March 8 (8:00-9:00 PM) Results Show (Live ET/Tape-Delayed PT) – Two Male and Two Female Contestants Voted Off; Top 12 Finalists Revealed

Tuesday, March 13 (8:00-10:00 PM) Top 12 Finalists Perform

Wednesday, March 14 (9:00-9:30 PM) Results Show (Live ET/Tape-Delayed PT) – One Contestant Voted Off

Twenty-two-time Emmy-nominated AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Television; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.

Visit Americanidol.com for exclusive videos and photos from the audition cities, special behind-the-scenes information and all of your AMERICAN IDOL news. 

- FOX -