Fox will open its midseason schedule on Jan. 5 and roll out the Stephen Amell reboot of “Baywatch” the next night, as the network unveiled a winter lineup built almost entirely on dramas and unscripted competition. The network announced the dates Wednesday, making it the second of the four major broadcasters to set a midseason slate for the 2026-27 season. Fox brings back its medical dramas first. “Best Medicine” returns at 8 p.m. on Jan. 5 for the second half of its second season, followed by the third-season return of “Doc” at 9.
Wednesday, Jan. 6, carries the biggest promotional weight. “The Masked Singer” starts its 15th season at 8 p.m., and “Baywatch” debuts at 9 as its lead-out. Fox announced the reboot’s date last month. On Jan. 7, “Extracted” opens its third season with a two-hour episode, then moves to its regular Thursday 9 p.m. slot a week later, after “Hell’s Kitchen” returns at 8 for its 25th season.
February brings the remaining scripted shows. “Murder in a Small Town” and “Memory of a Killer” air back to back on Mondays starting Feb. 1, with Kristin Kreuk’s whodunit opening its third season and Patrick Dempsey’s hitman drama starting its second. Peter Gallagher joins the “Murder” cast. The new espionage drama “The Interrogator,” led by Stephen Fry, premieres Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. and leads into “Doc.” “Next Level Chef” opens its sixth season Feb. 18 at 8, ahead of “Extracted.”
The announcement left gaps. Fox listed no comedies and no Sunday programming, and gave no return dates for its animated block, which includes “Family Guy,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “American Dad!” and “Krapopolis.” The network has not said when those series will resume.
The schedule leans on two reliable launch pads for new material. A competition show hands “Baywatch” a built-in audience on its first night, and “Doc” anchors the slot where “The Interrogator” will start, a sign that Fox plans to protect its newest drama with a familiar companion.
