Third season of 'American Idol to premiere January 20 and 21

FOX has announced that its hit American Idol series will make its highly anticipated third-season debut on Tuesday, January 20 and Wednesday, January 21. The series’ special two-part premiere will kick off with a two-hour episode from 8-10 PM ET/PT on Tuesday followed by a special one-hour episode on Wednesday from 8-9 PM ET/PT on FOX.





Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson will return as series judges and continue to lend their professional expertise, personal comments and often unwanted criticism to this season's new crop of aspiring singers.





Following the special premiere broadcasts, American Idol will air in its regular timeslots on Tuesdays at 8-9 PM ET/PT and Wednesdays at 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT on FOX.




The five-time Emmy nominated American Idol is executive produced by Simon Fuller, 19 Television; Nigel Lythgoe, Chief Executive, 19 Television; Ken Warwick of FremantleMedia and Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Chief Operating Officer, Production, FremantleMedia North America Inc.