FOX announces fall primetime TV lineup: 'Empire' gets fall premiere; 'X-Files' coming in 2016

FOX has announced its fall 2015 primetime TV schedule, with a few new shows on the roster and a lot of returning shows staying put -- plus "Empire" fans won't have to wait for midseason. The breakout musical hit is coming back in the fall, airing in its usual timeslot of Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Sleepyheads, however, have to reset their DVRs. "Sleepy Hollow" is moving to Thursdays at 9 p.m., airing after "Bones." The post- "Gotham" spot on Mondays now belongs to new thriller "Minority Report."

Tuesday also has a brand-new look to it, with "New Girl" being held for a midseason premiere, after which it will air uninterrupted episodes until its Season 5 finale. Taking over Tuesday nights are three new shows -- John Stamos' comedy "Grandfathered," Rob Lowe comedy "The Grinder" and Ryan Murphy's comedy-horror series "Scream Queens."

RELATED FOX's night-by-night schedulele

"New Girl" isn't the only show being held for midseason. "The X-Files" revival and "Grease Live!" are also all premiering in January -- Jan. 24 for "X Files," in a special two-hour premiere, and Jan. 31 for "Grease." "American Idol" will also premiere its 15th -- and final -- season in January 2016.

"The X-Files" revival will provide a launching pad for new drama "Lucifer," starring Tom Ellis as the devil himself. After its "X-Files" launch, "Lucifer" will move into the post-"Gotham" slot. "The Frankenstein Code," "The Guide to Surviving Life" and "Border Town" are also being held for midseason.

RELATED: All the information on FOX's new shows

"Building on the phenomenal momentum created by 'Gotham,' 'The Last Man on Earth' and, of course, 'Empire,' we're infusing next season's schedule with new ambitious dramas, smart comedies, aspirational unscripted series and big live events and specials -- all from the best creators in the business," say chairmen and CEOs of Fox Television Group Dana Walden and Gary Newman in a release.

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FOX had something of a rough year in 2014-15, but hope springs eternal at the upfronts. The network has a fresh crop of new shows for 2015-16, and who knows? Maybe there's a new  "Empire" or  "Last Man on Earth" in the bunch.

 

Before the new season comes around, get the skinny on all of FOX's new series here.

FOX's Fall Shows

 

'Grandfathered'
Comedy 



A longtime bachelor's life is upended when he discovers he's a father -- and a grandfather.

Cast: John Stamos as Jimmy, Josh Peck as Gerald, Paget Brewster as Sara, Christina Milian as Vanessa, Kelly Jenrette as Annelise, Ravi Patel as Ken

Producers: Danny Chun, John Stamos and Dan Fogelman ("Galavant")

'The Grinder'

Comedy 



Rob Lowe stars as beloved TV lawyer Dean Sanderson (a.k.a. "The Grinder"), with Fred Savage starring as his brother, Stewart. When his long-running hit series comes to an end, he finds himself at a crossroads in life and decides to move back to his small home town thinking he has the experience to take over his family's law firm.

 

Cast: Rob Lowe as Dean, Fred Savage as Stewart, Mary Elizabeth Ellis as Debbie, William Devane as Dean Sr. and Hana Hayes as Lizzie

 

Producers: Jarrad Paul ("Monk"), Andrew Mogel ("Allen Gregory"), Nicholas Stoller ("Undeclared"), Jake Kasdan ("Fresh Off the Boat," "New Girl") and Rob Lowe.

 

'Minority Report'

Drama



Ten years after the end of Pre-crime in DC, one of the three Pre-cogs struggles to lead a "normal" human life, but remains haunted by visions of the future, when he meets a detective who just may help him find a purpose to his gift.

 

Cast:  Meagan Good as Vega, Stark Sands as Dash/Arthur, Wilmer Valderrama as Will Blake, Daniel London as Wally, Laura Regan as Agatha, Li Jun Li as Akeela and Zhane Hall as Rico

 

Producers: Max Borenstein ("Godzilla"), Steven Spielberg ("Extant," "Under The Dome"), Kevin Falls ("Franklin & Bash"), Justin Falvey ("The Americans"), Darryl Frank ("The Americans") and Mark Mylod ("Game of Thrones")

 

'Rosewood'
Drama



This investigative series centers around the brilliant Dr. Beaumont Rosewood, Jr. (Morris Chestnut), the top private pathologist in all of Miami. As owner of one of the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art independent labs in the country, he finds the secrets in bodies that others usually miss. Despite being constantly surrounded by death Rosewood is obsessed with life and savors every moment. His eternal optimism will frustrate the cynical female detective he often works with, but she can't argue with the results that his unique perspective provides.

Cast: Morris Chestnut as Beaumont Rosewood, Jr., Jaina Lee Ortiz as Det. Villa, Gabrielle Dennis as Pippy, Anna Konkle as TMI, Maggie Elizabeth Jones as Bella

Producers: Todd Harthan ("Psych"), Wyck Godfrey ("Revenge"), Marty Bowen ("Revenge") and Richard Shepard ("Girls").

 

'Scream Queens'

Anthology

 

Ryan Murphy's horror-comedy anthology series will center on a college campus -- specifically the sorority Kappa House -- where a series of murders takes place. Right after it's decreed that Kappa House must be open to all students, "all hell" breaks loose as "a devil-clad killer begins wreaking havoc, claiming one victim, one episode at a time." In classic whodunit fashion, everyone has a motive for murder.

 

Cast: Emma Roberts as Chanel Oberlin, Jamie Lee Curtis as Dean Munsch, Lea Michele as Hester, Abigail Breslin as Chanel #5, Nasim Pedrad as Gigi, Oliver Hudson as Wes, Skyler Samuels as Grace, Keke Palmer as Zayday, Billie Lourd as Chanel #3, Diego Boneta as Pete, Glen Powell as Chad, Lucien Laviscount as Earl, Niecy Nash as Denise, Nick Jonas as Boone, Ariana Grande as Chanel #2

 

Producers: Ryan Murphy ("Glee," "American Horror Story"), Brad Falchuk ("Glee," "American Horror Story") and Ian Brennan ("Glee").

FOX's Midseason Shows


'Bordertown'
Animated comedy



 

From "Family Guy"s' Mark Hentemann comes the satirical comedy about two families, the Buckwalds and the Gonzalezes, living in a Southwest desert town near Mexico's border. The comedy "explores family, politics and everything in between with a cross-cultural wink" as the two families "soon become bound by romance, conflict and, perhaps most importantly, friendship."

 

Cast: Hank Azaria as Bud Buckwald, Nicholas Gonzalez as Ernesto Gonzalez and J.C Gonzalez, Alex Borstein as Janice and Becky Buckwald, Missi Pyle as Gert Buckwald, Judah Friedlander as Sanford Buckwald, Stephanie Escajeda as Maria Gonzalez, Efren Ramirez as Ruiz Gonzalez

 

Producers: Mark Hentemann, Seth MacFarlane, Alex Carter and Dan Vebber.

'The Frankenstein Code'

Drama



Jimmy Pritchard, a morally corrupt retired cop, is given a second chance at life when he is brought back from the dead. Now younger and stronger, Pritchard will have to choose between his old temptations and his new sense of purpose.

Cast: Rob Kazinsky as Jimmy Pritchard, Dilshad Vadsaria as Mary, Adhir Kalyan as Otto, Tim DeKay as Duval Pritchard and Ciara Bravo as Gracie Pritchard

Producers: Rand Ravich ("Life"), Howard Gordon ("Homeland") and Michael Cuesta ("Elementary").

 

'The Guide to Surviving Life'
Comedy 
It celebrates the mistakes and misadventures we all make during the years after college, before settling down.

Cast: Jack Cutmore-Scott as Cooper, Meaghan Rath as Kelly, James Earl as Barry, Charlie Saxton as Neal, Justin Bartha as Josh and Maureen Sebastian as Leslie

Producers: Jay Lacopo, Gail Berman ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Angel"), Bill Callahan ("Scrubs") and James Griffiths ("Episodes").

 

'Lucifer' 

Drama 



Bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, Lucifer resigns his throne and abandons his kingdom for the gorgeous, shimmering insanity of Los Angeles, where he gets his kicks helping the LAPD punish criminals.  Based on the characters from DC Entertainment's Vertigo imprint.

 

Cast: Tom Ellis as Lucifer, Lauren German as Det. Chloe Dancer, Rachael Harris as Kim Martin, DB Woodside as Amenadiel, Lesley-Ann Brandt as Maze, Nicholas Gonzalez as Dan, and Scarlett Estevez as Trixie

 

Producers: Tom Kapinos, Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman and Ildy Modrovich

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