'Empire' Premieres January 7 on FOX Following 'American Idol'

Terrence Howard stars as Lucious Lyon in Empire.

FOX has announced winter premiere dates for new drama Empire and the return of American Idol XIV.

American Idol XIV returns with a special, two-night, three-hour premiere event Wednesday, January 7 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT) and Thursday, January 8 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT) on FOX. Featuring host Ryan Seacrest and judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr., the fun starts when the competition launches its search for America's next superstar with auditions from Kansas City, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York and San Francisco.

The epic family battle begins when the powerful new drama Empire debuts, with limited commercial interruption, on Wednesday, January 7 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), following American Idol XIV. From Academy Award nominee Lee Daniels (Lee Daniels' The Butler, Precious), Emmy Award winner Danny Strong (Game Change, Lee Daniels' The Butler) and Academy Award- and Emmy Award-winning producer Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, 24), comes a drama about a family dynasty, set within a world of music, glamour, danger and power. Featuring music by prolific producer Timbaland, the series stars Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard (Crash, Hustle & Flow) and Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson (No Good Deed, Person of Interest).

Genie Francis To Appear on 'Home & Family' Primetime Holiday Special

 Cristina Ferrare and Genie Francis on Home & Family's second annual priemtime holiday special.

The second annual primetime holiday special of Home & Family, the network's Daytime Emmy nominated original series, premieres Monday, November 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel.

Co-hosted by Mark Steines & Cristina Ferrare, Home & Family will share an intimate evening of special guests, music, dance performances, holiday DIYs and of course the spirit of the holidays. Special guests include Lacey Chabert (Party of Five), Candace Cameron-Bure (Full House), Marilu Henner (Taxi) and Genie Frances (General Hospital). The show's family members Shirley Bovshow, Kym Douglas, Paige Hemmis, Matt Iseman, JJ Levenstein, Debbie Matenopoulos, Tanya Memme, Laura Nativo, Jeanette Pavini, Matt Rogers, Sophie Uliano and Kenneth Wingard join in for a "special night for the whole family."

Show highlights include the following:

Hallmark Movie 'Northpole' Premieres Tonight, Stars Tiffani Thiessen, Josh Hopkins, Bailee Madison, Max Charles, Candice Glover, Robert Wagner, Jill St. John

Northpole premieres November 15 on Hallmark Channel. Photo Credit: Copyright
2014 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer: Jan Thijs

Hallmark Channel Original Movie Northpole premieres on Saturday, November 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The film stars Tiffani Thiessen (Beverly Hills, 90210), Josh Hopkins (Cougar Town), Bailee Madison (Trophy Wife) and Max Charles (Mr. Peabody & Sherman). The cast includes six-time Golden Globe and Emmy nominated actor Robert Wagner (Hart to Hart) and Emmy nominee Jill St. John (Diamonds Are Forever) as Santa and Mrs. Claus, with a special musical appearance by American Idol champion, Candice Glover.

Santa (Wagner) and Mrs. Claus’ (St. John) magical home, Northpole, has grown into a vast city powered by the magic of holiday happiness around the world. Yet the city is in trouble, as people everywhere are too busy to enjoy festive time together. One of these stressed-out souls is Chelsea (Thiessen), a single mom who is trying to get noticed at her new reporting job while helping her ten-year-old son Kevin (Charles) adjust to a new school. When
he starts talking about real elves and actual sleigh rides, she worries that his imagination has gotten out of control. With a little added help from Kevin’s charming teacher Ryan (Hopkins), a mysterious elf, Clementine (Madison), and a gospel singer named Josephine (Glover), Chelsea may learn that even chasing down the facts can lead to holiday magic.

Watch a sneak peek of Northpole below: