Midseason 2011-2012 TV Schedule: Your Everything Guide

The dawn of 2012 means it's time for TV to get back to work! But with schedules shifting all over the place to make room for new midseason series, it's difficult to keep track of when and where your favorite shows will air. That's why we're here. We've sorted through the mess of jumbled network press releases, cryptic announcements, and word-of-mouth to assemble this beast of a midseason schedule. You're welcome.

(Note: This should be used as a general guide. Schedules are subject to change, and they probably will.)


SAT/SUN MON TUES WED THU FRI



SATURDAY


8PM - 9PM

FOX

Cops

Season 25 premieres 1/7 at 8pm



SUNDAY


7PM - 8PM

NBC

Dateline NBC

Returns 1/8 at 7pm


8PM - 9PM

ABC

Once Upon a Time

Season 1 returns 1/8 at 8pm


CBS

Undercover Boss

MIDSEASON ADDITION! Season 3 premieres 1/15 at 8pm; starting 2/17, the show moves to Fridays
Instead of sitting back and taking money baths, CEOs of big corporations don disguises and work the jobs in their own company that they wouldn't wish on their worst Fortune 500 enemy.


FOX

The Simpsons

Season 23 returns with new episodes 1/8 at 8pm

The Cleveland Show

Season 3 returns with new episodes 1/8 at 8:30pm, then moves to its regular timeslot of 7:30pm beginning on 1/15

Napoleon Dynamite

NEW SERIES! Premieres 1/15 at 8:30pm
Napoleon Dynamite and his wacky friends do all sorts of goofy things in Idaho in this animated ode to the hit indie movie. Jon Heder will reprise his role as Napoleon and provide the voice for the TV show.


NBC

Harry's Law

NEW TIME! Season 2 returns with new episodes 3/4 at 8pm


DISCOVERY

Frozen Planet

NEW SERIES! Premieres in the U.S. 3/18 at 8pm


HBO

Luck

NEW SERIES! Premieres 1/29 at 8pm
This horse-racing drama from David Milch and Michael Mann examines degenerate gamblers, corruption, and high-stakes business at a racetrack. It also features some of the most amazing horse-racing shots you'll ever see, unless you're a jockey. (HBO aired a preview of the pilot in December.)


9PM - 10PM

ABC

Desperate Housewives

Season 8 returns with new episodes 1/8 at 9pm


CBS

The Good Wife

Season 3 returns with new episodes 1/15 at 9pm


FOX

Family Guy

Season 10 returns with new episodes 1/8 at 9pm

American Dad

Season 7 returns with new episodes 1/8 at 9:30pm

Bob's Burgers

MIDSEASON ADDITION! Season 2 premieres 3/11 at 9:30pm
We're big fans of this 'toon about a family that runs a burger joint. H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, and Kristen Schaal provide voices.


NBC

Celebrity Apprentice

MIDSEASON ADDITION! Premieres 2/12 at 9pm
The next group of participating entre-lebrities includes Debbie Gibson, Clay Aiken, Tia Carrere, Lou Ferrigno, Arsenio Hall, George Takei, Cheryl Tiegs, and Penn Gillette.


AMC

The Walking Dead

Season 2 returns 2/12 at 9pm


PBS

Downton Abbey

Season 2 premieres 1/8 at 9pm


SHOWTIME

Shameless

MIDSEASON ADDITION! Season 2 premieres 1/8 at 9pm


10PM - 11PM

ABC

GCB

NEW SERIES! Premieres 3/4 at 10pm
If you're looking for a saucy new page-turner but you're too lazy to actually turn pages, this drama from the new home of catty television features Texas-sized "oohs," "ahhs," and "where did she get those pumps?" Plus Kristin Chenoweth!


CBS

CSI: Miami

Season 10 returns 1/8 at 10pm


AMC

Comic Men

NEW SERIES! Premieres 2/12 at 10pm
This docudrama, formerly known as Secret Stash, follows the goings-on at Kevin Smith's New Jersey comic-book store.


HBO

Angry Boys

NEW SERIES! Premieres 1/1 at 10pm
The latest from Summer Heights High creator Chris Lilley.


Eastbound & Down

MIDSEASON ADDITION! Season 3 premieres 2/19 at 10pm

Life's Too Short

NEW SERIES! Premieres 2/19 at 10:30pm


SHOWTIME

House of Lies

NEW SERIES! Premieres 1/8 at 10pm


Californication

MIDSEASON ADDITION! Season 5 premieres 1/8 at 10:30pm


SAT/SUN MON TUES WED THU FRI


What will YOU be watching this midseason? Share your personal viewing schedule in the comments!


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  • FlorBlyth

    I know Awkward & Suits were light summer shows, but, does that mean we have to wait another 5 months to watch 'em again??? Can anyone tell me if these are schedule to return any sooner? Thnx

  • kpk001

    Update:
    MTV The Challenge: Battle Of The Exes(S22) | Ep. 1 | Love Is A Battlefield aired 1/25/12.

    Was going to add Shark Tank also but small dick tony (couldn't resist) already added it. Gotta chill Tony; this may not be perfect but it's the best midseason '12 guide I've seen.

  • TiniTinyTony

    The season premiere of Shark Tank was 1/20, not 2/3 like reported above. Thankfully the episode is on hulu so check it out there if you missed it like me because of TV.com's error.

  • LindaWardstr

    Mondays:
    Hawaii Five-0
    Being Human
    Alcatraz

    Wednesdays:
    Face Off

    Thursdays:
    Bones
    Person of Interest
    Vampire Diaries
    Project Runway

    Fridays:
    Supernatural
    A Gifted Man
    Fringe
    Spartacus: Vengance
    Grimm

    Sundays
    The Walking Dead
    Once Upon a Time
    Californication

  • Emophiliac

    Sunday: Amazing Race
    Monday: Alcatraz (if it doesn't stink)
    Tuesday: White Collar
    Wednesday: Survivor
    Thursday: Big Bang Theory

    So, 4.5 hrs each week - I can live with that.

  • LeePierce

    Mondays
    HIMYM
    Castle
    Alcatraz

    Tuesdays
    Raising Hope
    New Girl

    Wednesdays
    Modern Family
    South Park

    Thursdays
    30 Rock
    Parks and Rec
    the Office
    Up All Night
    Community(once NBC moves the Firm to Wednesdays once "Happy Hour" flops)
    the Big Bang Theory

    Fridays
    Fringe
    Chuck
    Supernatural
    Grimm

    Sundays
    Game of Thrones
    Walking Dead
    the Simpsons
    Family Guy(if I fall asleep)

  • Muderboy

    I'm still lamenting the loss of Human Target, one of the classiest and fun shows to come along in forever. Why didn't you watch it, people, it was so great. I watched my final episode last night and we'll not see its equal in a long, long time...

  • wwjd_

    Yay! My shows are coming back! Supernatural, Justified, Blue Bloods, CSI, and Being Human!

  • SokkaAppa

    seems like i am waiting forever for bob's burgers!!

  • Sw33tEscape

    Once Upon A Time, Luck, The Good Wife, Shameless, Lost Girl (Canadian Show on it's second season but about to premiered on Syfy as an "original series"), House of Lies, Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, The Lying Game, Being Human (the Syfy one not the British one), Switched At Birth, Glee, 90210, Jane By Design, Parenthood, Southland, Suburgatory, Modern Family, Revenge, The Vampire Diaries, Grey's Anatomy, The Secret Circle, Bones, Archer, Unsupervised, Nikita, Sparatacus.
    Yes my DVR works over time.

  • Prup-aka-JBentn

    And, finishing up wit Friday, weird. 4 shows at 9-- all broadcast -- worth checking out, and nothing interesting the rest of the night. Since I don't watch shows on-line, I still don't know about GRIMM and I stopped watching FRINGE midway through Season 1 -- maybe a big mistake. But CSI:NY is reliable usually good, rarely dull, with a "Silver Age" feel (American detectove and mystery books mostly from 1930-60) unique on current television.

    And SUPERNATURAL shows that the highest quality can pop up anywhere, even in a sometimes silly fantasy show. But the solid care for the mythology created (compare the inanities of FLASH FORWARD and TERRA NOVA), the acting, the subtexts of family ("God as deadbeat dad" was one theme of season 5), and the simple care put is with the other three -- though if Bobby is really dead along with Castiel, it might be hard to hold it together -- one reason for the 'last season' rumors?moreless

  • TrueTvWatcher

    Once Upon A Time, The Cleveland Show, Desperate Housewives The Walking Dead, Being Human, The River, New Girl, Ringer, Justified, Tosh.0, Are You There Chelsea?, Revenge, The Vampire Diaries, The Secret Circle, Rob, The Firm, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Shark Tank, Fringe, Grimm, Supernatural, and definitely Spartacus: Vengeance!

  • Prup-aka-JBentn

    Thursdays aren't so good. PERSON OF INTEREST is another one my wife watches and I hate. THE FINDER might be good, if it doesn't depend too much on BONES -- which I might get caught up on one of these years, migh have been one I unfairly ignored, like the opening years of NCIS.

    THE MENTALIST is between very good and near great -- the acting is the reason for the higher rating, the occasionally pure old pulp magazine plots are why I hold back.

    Might check out THE FIRM, but with not high expectations.

  • Prup-aka-JBentn

    Three shows that revived themselves and one true great. A dood night, with CRIMINAL MINDS and SVU (both definitions of 'uneven') havng a new breath of life. If they just avoided their personal 'formulas' more. But still never unenjoyable. CSI is back among the 'near-greats' with Danson, a truly first-rate character, quirky but solid under the quirkiness. If we weren't losing Marg...

    And ROYAL PAINS is just unique and incredible, the only show capable of challenging NCIS for the top spot. The whole 'cinematogrphic feel' that started from the first episode, solid acting from everybody, and likable, complex, non-cliched characters. Major work, thank goodness for DVRs.

  • Prup-aka-JBentn

    Tuesday pins to NCIS, not merely the best show currently on, but easily among the top 5 ever. It understands that tv is about character first of all, and has created the best ensemble since ST:TNG, but with much realer and tougher writing.

    Since the spin-off is awful, 9:00 is RINGER for my wife, free time for me.

    10:: has BODY OF PROOF -- a major show that didn't find its audience, but I hope still will before the axe comes down and UNFORGETTABLE, which is just at the borderline of 'watchable.' Dull cast backing Montgomery, and the 'remembering bit' is getting tired, but can't quite give up on it.

    WHITE COLLAR will be a must as well, also in the 'near-great' category but at the bottom, just above 'very good.'

  • GrannyM_fan

    Your 9-10 Fri picture needs updating. Stella (Melina Kanakaredes) hasn't been on CSI:NY for a couple years!

    Hate the Bones hiatus thing! Why can't Fox launch their new show without disrupting Bones? arg!

    I would list what I'll be watching but with my Roku apps I can watch pretty much everything. Makes Thursdays much less stressful since I like Bones, Person Of Interest, Grey's Anatomy & Vampire Diaries which are all on at the same time! Other nights don't have so many conflicts of interest for me. I got to catch up of Grey's & Vampire Diaries thanks to my Roku, now I'm up to date on all of them and I can watch them all every week. I just watch one on Thurs night and watch the rest over the next couple days! Makes me a happy Granny!moreless

  • Prup-aka-JBentn

    Now for Monday: I can't watch HOUSE any longer, but my wife will.

    ALCATRAZ and TOUCH seem worth checking out. No high hopes for either, but might get lucky. Meanwhile HART OF DIXIE isn;t 'must-see' but is definitely worth watching and keeps getting better.

    CASTLE remains at the top of the 'near great' category (other years would have been 'best on the air, but there's a lof f great stuff on.) with THE CLOSER and RIZZOLI (and MEMPHIS BEAT would have made this list if it survived.)

  • Prup-aka-JBentn

    Okay, 'one day at a time. Saturdays, well, Sports for my wife -- baseball for me, she likes them all -- and catching up on old movies downloaded from TCM

    Sunday: HARRY'S LAW (Maybe they'll get back to the first season's grittiness instead of just running yet another Kelley quirky legal show.)

    GOOD WIFE (One of the 'Big Four' that are not just great shows for now, but near the top of an all-time list compiled by someone who actually watched Gleason on the Dumont network. The others? NCIS, ROYAL PAINS and SUPERNATURAL -- each of whixh understand what tv is capable of and use that knowledge.)

    GCB -- Gotta check out a show based on a book with the original title "Good Christian Bitches"


  • mike3343

    Sunday
    leverage couple episode left
    undercover boss
    fairly legal

    Mondays
    wwe raw
    hart of dixie (must see tv)
    house
    2 broke girls (must see tv)
    hawaii five-0

    Tuesdays
    NCIS
    unforgettable (must see tv)
    body of proof

    Wednesday
    royal pains

    Thursdays
    bone
    person of interest (must see tv)
    grey's anatomy
    the finder 1/12 new
    missing 03/15 new

    Fridays
    CSI NY
    chuck
    a gifted man

  • wrecker2005

    Looking forward to

    The Walking Dead
    Spartacus
    Supernatural

  • Amazon_Hollow

    - Mondays: Pretty Little Liars, The Lying Game, 2 Broke Girls and Two and a Half Men
    - Tuesdays: Last Man Standing, Justified and Ringer
    - Wednesdays: N/A
    - Thursdays: The Vampire Diaries, The Secret Circle, The Big Bang Theory and Up All Night
    - Fridays: Nikita, Fringe, Star Wars: The Clone Wars

  • prettyedy

    First, I'm so glad Fringe is back.

    New stuff I'll be watching:
    Are You There, Chelsea
    Smash
    Alcatraz
    House of Lies
    Luck

    I'll give Napoleon Dynamite a try.

    I'm looking forward to:
    The Walking Dead
    Justified
    Portlandia
    30 Rock
    Project Runway (Mondo was robbed)

    And many more...

    I promise I'll watch Chuck's finale.

    I promise I will NOT be watching ROB.

  • telvisnostic

    I'm going to use iShivi's format.

    Sundays:
    Once Upon a Time
    Desperate Housewives
    Pan Am

    Mondays:
    Pretty Little Liars

    Wednesdays:
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

    Thursdays:
    The Vampire Diaries (if I remember)
    The Secret Circle (if I remember)

    Fridays:
    Supernatural (if I remember)
    Grimm (if I remember)

  • iShivi

    Sundays:
    Once Upon a Time
    Desperate Housewives
    Pan Am (DVR)

    Mondays:
    Pretty Little Liars
    The Lying Game
    Hart of Dixie (DVR)
    SMASH

    Tuesdays:
    Switched at Birth
    Last Man Standing
    Glee
    The River
    New Girl
    Ringer

    Wednesdays:
    Suburgatory
    Modern Family
    Revenge
    American Idol (MAYBE)

    Thursdays:
    The Vampire Diaries (must-see TV)
    The Secret Circle (must-see TV)
    Person of Interest

    Fridays:
    Nikita
    A Gifted Man
    Supernatural
    Grimm


  • costello7

    Wow. The season just went from bad to worse. Looking forward to Alcatraz and Castle's return. Still favor Supernatural over Fringe. Other than that, guess I'll go read a book.

  • TheBam711

    Mondays:
    Pretty Little Liars
    How I Met Your Mother
    Alcatraz
    Touch
    Smash

    Tuesdays:
    Glee
    Switched at Birth
    Ringer
    New Girl
    Raising Hope
    Parenthood
    Southland
    Justified
    White Collar
    The River (wasn't going to check this out...heard good stuff about it)

    Wednesday:
    Modern Family
    Happy Endings
    Revenge
    Cougar Town (If it comes back)

    Thursday:
    Community (If it comes back)
    Parks & Recreation
    The Big Bang Theory
    The Vampire Diaries
    Up All Night
    Person of Interest
    Archer
    Unsupervised

    Friday:
    Chuck
    Nikita
    Fringe
    Grimm

    Saturday:
    Doctor Who (Just caught up to this show...think it airs on Saturdays?)

    Sunday:
    The Walking Dead
    Hell On Wheels
    Once Upon a Time
    Shameless
    Treme
    Californication
    House of Lies
    Luck
    Mad Men
    Game of Thrones
    Harry's Law

    Other: Awake, Apt 23.

  • JT_Kirk

    Harsh midseason. Only Fox can schedule 2 shows for the same timeslot, poor Bob's Burgers (a show I waited 2 hours in line to see the Comic-Con panel of, only to not make it in the door).

    Anyway, very little to get excited about for this midseason, and some of these "shows" are the laziest junk ever. Howie Mandel's show making flashmobs, a 2-years-out-of-date trend, and it's on Fox? Hi, welcome to CANCELED.

  • MarieKila

    As someone already said it ... What about "Awake" ?

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  • DavidRouben

    californication (guilty pleasure for sure) and comic men looks good, but that's mainly because i'm a huge kevin smith fan (rewatched clerks for the 12th time!). and fear not community fans, because you can still see alison brie once mad men returns

  • kpk001

    Nitpick: Californication airs at 10:30p not 10:00p

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  • ChristyannaOh

    Does anyone know when Homeland's coming back?

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  • cutieflutie1216

    Please stop bringing shows back for JUST ONE EPISODE and then going on hiatus again (such as Pretty Little Liars last fall and Bones this month)!

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  • hikacute

    where's Community????!!!!

  • AndreaGilderhus

    I am pretty invested in the shows I watch now and I watch a lot of shows.

    Sunday: Once Upon A Time
    Monday: HIMYM, 2BG, Mike and Molly, Hawaii Five-0, Pretty Little Liars
    Tuesday: NCIS and NCIS LA

  • elthandiel

    Hey, TV.com staff. Did you forget about Bones? Or did you leave it out because it has a late return? I didn't see anything past March in this list, so I'm thinking that if it returns in April or sometime thereafter, you probably consider it returning for the summer schedule. Just throwing out thoughts here. It would be fantastic if you could let us know.

    Also, same thing for Awake? I'm really looking forward to that show.

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    • Staff
      jtrolio

      @elthandiel A little bit of both! I've added a Bones entry to Thursday that will hopefully help clarify, but basically the show is coming back for a single new episode next Thursday, 1/12. It's called "The Crack in the Code" and it's being billed as the midseason finale. (The episode also serves as the lead-in to Bones spin-off The Finder, which premieres that same night.) After that, Bones goes away and American Idol results episodes take its place. So far, Fox has only announced that Bones "will return with all-new episodes in the spring"--we don't have an exact date yet.

      As for Awake, @DraicKin5 is correct: Though we're all dying to see it, NBC has yet to actually schedule the show. Stupid NBC.

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      • elthandiel

        Thank you very much for the Bones info J, I really appreciate it; definitely helps clarify.

        As for Awake, I'd hope we get a premiere date sometime soon, but the lack of info could be a good thing. I mean, maybe NBC is trying to make sure they get it right.(?) I'm really invested in the hope that Awake will be great.

    • DraicKin5

      NBC didn't give any date for Awake !

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