• by Wayne Friedman , November 19, 2010

Fox is taking the biggest TV show and finally putting it in on the biggest ad-revenue night in all of television: Thursdays. Going into its 10th season and looking to jump-start "American Idol" ratings, Fox -- along with a massive change in judges -- will alter this usual Tuesday-Wednesday night routine for the big singer contest program.

"Idol" will now do its performances on Wednesday night and its results show on Thursdays. The new  "Idol" lineup starts Jan. 19.

For years, TV program analysts have considered "Idol" on what is assumed the highest-profile night for the TV networks -- Thursday. That's when movie studios, car manufacturers and other high-paying TV advertisers have bought big schedules.

Fox is also making some midseason changes, as well as bringing on a few new shows. The network has had a somewhat difficult fall rating period after winning the same period in 2009 for the first time among key 18-49 viewers. It also had a major disappointment this season with a high-profile drama, "Lone Star," making a quick exit.

"The Chicago Code," a new cop series from "Glee" creator Shawn Ryan, starts in February on Mondays at 9 p.m. -- with a "House" lead-in. Also in February will be new half-hour comedy "Mixed Signals" at 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, which follows "Raising Hope" and "Glee" at 8 p.m. (Before that, "Million Dollar Money Drop," an hour-long reality effort, will return for a month on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. starting in January, following "Glee.")

As usual, one of the most prized and closely followed time slot positions for Fox's new or returning shows is what follows "Idol" in Fox's big midseason push. "Human Target" will be the beneficiary on Wednesdays at 9 p.m., starting in January. After its run, new series "Breaking In" will get the second half of the "Idol" season in the 9 p.m. time slot starting in April.

That leaves Thursday, where "Idol" will start off at 8 p.m., to be followed by veteran Fox crime drama "Bones" at 9 p.m. For a couple of seasons now, "Bones" had been a solid and improving performer in the 8 p.m. time slot on Thursdays. Struggling Thursday-night performer -- but critics' favorite -- "Fringe" moves to Fridays at 9 p.m. Here are the rest of Fox's changes:

Fox 2010-2011 Midseason Schedule (All times EST/PST except as noted)

MONDAY

Monday, Jan. 10:

8:00-10:00 p.m. "Lie to Me" (Two-Hour Episode)

8:00-9:00 p.m. "House" (All-New Episodes)

9:00-10:00 p.m. "Lie to Me" (All-New Episodes)

Mondays, beginning Feb. 7

8:00-9:00 p.m. "House" (All-New Episodes)

9:00-10:00 p.m. "The Chicago Code" (Series Premiere)

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TUESDAY

Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 4:

8:00-9:00 p.m. "Glee" (Encore Episodes)

9:00-10:00 p.m. "Million Dollar Money Drop" (All-New Episodes)

Tuesdays, beginning Feb. 8:

8:00-9:00 p.m. "Glee" (All-New Episodes)

9:00-9:30 p.m. "Raising Hope" (All-New Episodes)

9:30-10:00 p.m. "Mixed Signals" (Series Premiere)

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WEDNESDAY

Wednesday, Jan. 5 and 12:

8:00-10:00 p.m. "Human Target" (All-New, Two-Hour Episodes)

Wednesday, Jan. 19:

8:00-10:00 p.m. "American Idol" (Two-Hour Season Premiere, Part One)

Wednesdays, beginning Jan. 26:

8:00-9:00 p.m. "American Idol"

9:00-10:00 p.m. "Human Target" (All-New Episodes)

Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 16:

8:00-10:00 p.m. "American Idol" (Two-Hour Episodes)

Wednesdays, beginning April 6:

8:00-9:30 p.m. "American Idol" (90-Minute Episodes)

9:30-10:00 p.m. "Breaking In" (Series Premiere)

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THURSDAY

Thursdays, beginning Jan. 6:

8:00-9:00 p.m. "Million Dollar Money Drop" (All-New Episodes)

9:00-10:00 p.m. "Bones" (Encore Episodes)

Thursdays, beginning Jan. 20:

8:00-9:00 p.m. "American Idol" (Season Premiere, Part Two)

9:00-10:00 p.m. "Bones" (Time Period Premiere)

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FRIDAY

Friday, Jan. 7:

8:00 p.m.-CC EST AT&T Cotton Bowl (Live)

Friday, Jan. 21:

8:00-9:00 p.m. "Kitchen Nightmares"" (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 p.m. "Kitchen Nightmares"" (Encore)

Fridays, beginning Jan. 28:

8:00-9:00 p.m. "Kitchen Nightmares"" (All-New Episodes)

9:00-10:00 p.m. "Fringe" (Time Period Premiere)

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SATURDAY

Saturday, Jan. 15:

8:00 p.m.-CC EST NFC Division Playoffs (Live)

Saturdays, beginning Jan. 22 (no change to lineup):

8:00-8:30 p.m. "Cops" (All-New Episodes)

8:30-9:00 p.m. "Cops" (Encore Episodes)

9:00-10:00 p.m. "America's Most Wanted" (All-New Episodes)

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SUNDAY

Sunday, Jan. 9:

8:00-8:30 p.m. "The Simpsons" (All-New Episode)

8:30-9:00 p.m. "Bob's Burgers" (Series Premiere)

9:00-9:30 p.m. "Family Guy" (All-New Episode)

9:30-10:00 p.m. "The Cleveland Show" (Time Period Premiere/All-New Episode)

Sunday, Jan. 16 and 23:

7:00-7:30 p.m. "The Simpsons" (Encore Episodes)

7:30-8:00 p.m. "American Dad" (Time Period Premiere)

8:00-8:30 p.m. "The Simpsons" (All-New Episodes)

8:30-9:00 p.m. "Bob's Burgers" (All-New Episodes)

9:00-9:30 p.m. "Family Guy" (All-New Episodes)

9:30-10:00 p.m. "The Clevland Show" (All-New Episodes)

Sunday, Jan. 30:

7:00 p.m.-CC EST NFC Pro Bowl (Live)

Sunday, Feb. 6:

6:00 p.m.-CC EST Super Bowl XLV (Live)

10:30 p.m. EST/7:30 PST "Glee" (All-New Special Episode; Approximate Start Time)

Sundays, beginning Feb. 13 (no change to lineup):

7:00-7:30 p.m. "The Simpsons"

7:30-8:00 p.m. "American Dad"

8:00-8:30 p.m. "The Simpsons"

8:30-9:00 p.m. "Bob's Burgers"

9:00-9:30 p.m. "Family Guy"

9:30-10:00 p.m. "The Cleveland Show"