'Idol' returns Jan. 15

HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- One mid-season show ready to burst back into America's living rooms despite the writers' strike is "American Idol."

The popular show returns Jan. 15, with a two-night, four-hour premiere following the trek to Hollywood by 'Idol' hopefuls that will feed TV viewers starving for something new since the Writers Guild of America went on strike seven weeks ago, E! News reported.

Networks also will be releasing new mid-season programming in January, such as Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" and ABC's "Cashmere Mafia," adding them to already planned mid-season entries such as NBC's "Medium," ABC's "According to Jim" and CBS' "The New Adventures of Old Christine." Reality shows, such as the latest cycle of CBS' "Survivor," also will begin airing.