ABC Announces Mid-Season Premiere Dates for American Idol, DWTS Takes a Break

ABC will launch its second season of the iconic American Idol on Sunday March 3 (8:00-10:01 p.m. EST). When American Idol premieres, “AFV” original episodes will return to 7:00-8:00 p.m. EST, and new editions of Shark Tank will air 10:01-11:00 p.m. EST.

March 3 is a week earlier than last season’s March 11 premiere. So maybe an extra week of live shows?  However, it doesn’t appear to be a two night premiere (Sunday and Monday) like last year.  Currently judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Mentor Bobby Bones are taking part in the series famed Hollywood Week. 

Additionally, note the absence of Dancing with the Stars from the schedule. A source from ET reports that the show will return in the fall. DWTS has struggled in the ratings recently. The fall 2018 cycle of the series had trouble garnering even a 1.0 in the key demo. A kids version of DWTS that aired on Sundays also struggled.  The ratings problems seemed to begin last spring when ABC aired an abbreviated DWTS: Athletes edition. Maybe because it was so narrowly focused, or perhaps because the series premiered late spring and only aired 4 weeks, the ratings dropped precipitously from the prior spring.

Check out all of ABC’s premiere dates for new and returning shows below (all times listed are ET):

FRIDAY, JAN. 4
8:00-8:30 p.m.             “Fresh Off the Boat”
8:30-9:00 p.m.             “Speechless”
9:00-11:00 p.m.           “20/20” (NEW TIME/TWO HOURS)

SUNDAY, JAN. 6
7:00-9:00 p.m.             “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (TWO HOURS)
9:00-11:00 p.m.           “Shark Tank” (NEW TIME/TWO HOURS)

TUESDAY, JAN. 8
8:00-8:30 p.m.             “The Conners”
8:30-9:00 p.m.             “The Kids Are Alright”
9:00-9:30 p.m.             “black-ish”
9:30-10:00 p.m.           “Splitting Up Together”
10:00-11:00 p.m.         “The Rookie”

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9
8:00-8:30 p.m.             “The Goldbergs”
8:30-9:00 p.m.             “Schooled” (SERIES PREMIERE)
9:00-9:30 p.m.             “Modern Family”
9:30-10:00 p.m.           “Single Parents”
10:00-11:00 p.m.         “Match Game” (SEASON PREMIERE)

THURSDAY, JAN. 17
8:00-9:01 p.m.             “Grey’s Anatomy”
9:01-10:00 p.m.           “A Million Little Things” (NEW DAY AND TIME)
10:00-11:00 p.m.         “How to Get Away with Murder”

TUESDAY, FEB. 5
8:00-8:30 p.m.             “American Housewife” (NEW DAY AND TIME)

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27
10:00-11:00 p.m.         “Whiskey Cavalier” (SERIES PREMIERE)

SUNDAY, MARCH 3
7:00-8:00 p.m.             “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (ONE HOUR)
8:00-10:01 p.m.           “American Idol” (SEASON PREMIERE)
10:01-11:00 p.m.         “Shark Tank” (NEW TIME/ONE HOUR)

THURSDAY, MARCH 7
9:01-10:00 p.m.           “Station 19”
10:00-11:00 p.m.         “For The People” (SEASON PREMIERE)

MONDAY, MARCH 18
10:00-11:00 p.m.         “The Fix” (SERIES PREMIERE)

MONDAY, JUNE 17
10:00-11:00 p.m.         “Grand Hotel” (SERIES PREMIERE)