Fox sets '24' season eight premiere date

Fox has unveiled its 2009-10 midseason lineup, confirming the return dates of shows including 24 and American Idol.

Kicking off the new year, Idol returns with a two-night season premiere Tuesday, January 12 and Wednesday, January 13. After an Idol lead-in on the Wednesday, new unscripted series Our Little Genius will debut.

A special extended primetime event is scheduled for Sunday, January 17 and includes a preview of DC Comics-inspired Human Target at 8pm, plus the much-anticipated return of 24, which will premiere between 9pm and 11pm.

House and 24 will then be paired Mondays starting January 25.

The regular Tuesday lineup sees Idol serve as a lead-in to Genius, before Glee takes over starting Tuesday, April 13.

Human Target will air post-Idol on Wednesdays, while Fringe and Bones will keep their Thursday night slots. Past Life, a reincarnation drama whose order has already been reduced by Fox, will take over from Fringe as of February 11. The JJ Abrams series will then return April 1.

The series finale of Dollhouse is scheduled to air Friday, January 22, then Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares will take over the slot the following week.

Sunday, March 14 will see the premiere of action comedy Sons Of Tucson, which will air in a 8.30pm slot, shunting The Cleveland Show to 9.30pm.