FOX Sets 'Idol' Schedule Through the Top 12

Zap2It.com | December 21, 2007

'American Idol'

Discuss this story now

Season 7's Top 12 won't perform until March 11

FOX has set out a detailed schedule for the upcoming seventh season of "American Idol," letting even fair-weather fans know when they should start tuning in.

Absolute "Idol" completists know that TV's No. 1 show in most key measures returns with a two-night, four-hour event on Tuesday, Jan. 15 and Wednesday, Jan. 16.

The early audition episodes, culled from cattle-calls in San Diego, Dallas, Omaha, Atlanta, Charleston, Miami and Philadelphia, will continue through one-hour episodes on Jan. 22, 23, 29 and 30, as well as Feb. 5 and 6.

That's eight episodes or 10 hours of auditions. Good times

Some viewers, though, aren't partial to the geek show aspect of the "Idol" auditions, preferring to wait until at least some of the cream has risen to the top. Those pickier viewers should know that Tuesday, Feb. 12 will be the first episode of the Hollywood Round, beginning with a two-hour episode. A second one-hour Hollywood episode will air the following night, culminating in the reveal of the Top 24.

For even pickier "Idol" fans, then, the Top 12 males and Top 12 females will perform in two-hour episodes on Tuesday, Feb. 19 and Wednesday, Feb. 20, followed by the season's first round of fan voting, leading to the elimination two men and two women on Feb. 21.

Tuesday will continue to be male night, as the Top 10 males sing on Feb. 26 (8:00-9:30 p.m. ET) and the Top 8 do battle on March 4 (8-9 p.m.). And the women will claim Wednesdays, with the Top 10 going on Feb. 27 (8:00-9:30 p.m. ET) and March 5 (9-10 p.m.). Eliminations will be Thursdays at 8 p.m., culminating in the reveal of the season's Top 12 on March 6.

That means, for those of you who don't like to start tuning in until the Top 12 is set, that the first performances by the Top 12 will air over two-hours on Tuesday, March 11. The season's first single elimination will be the follow night.

Are you able to contain your enthusiasm and excitement for that long?