FOX - February 2015 Sweeps Press Release - Various Shows

FOX FIRES UP FEBRUARY WITH ALL-NEW EPISODES, SEASON FINALES AND SPECIAL GUEST STARS


MUST-WATCH HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

“EMPIRE” TURNS UP THE HEAT WITH FOUR ALL-NEW EPISODES, BEGINNING FEB. 4, FEATURING GUEST STARS COURTNEY LOVE, NAOMI CAMPBELL AND DEREK LUKE;

“GOTHAM” UNVEILS THE SECRET ORIGIN OF THE SCARECROW FEB. 2 AND FEB. 9;

THE ROAD TO STARDOM GETS TOUGHER AS “AMERICAN IDOL XIV”

HEADS TO HOLLYWOOD, BEGINNING FEB. 4;

SARAH CHALKE GUEST-STARS ON “BACKSTROM” FEB. 5 AND FEB. 12;

“GLEE” UNCORKS ITS 700TH PERFORMANCE FEB. 6 AND A DOUBLE WEDDING FEB. 20;

“BROOKLYN NINE-NINE” BOOKS EVA LONGORIA AND NICK KROLL FEB. 8;

“BOB’S BURGERS” SERVES UP VALENTINES AND GUEST STAR AZIZ ANSARI FEB. 8; “SLEEPY HOLLOW” RACES TO A SPELLBINDING SEASON FINALE FEB. 23; AND “MASTERCHEF JUNIOR” CROWNS ITS LATEST YOUNG WINNER FEB. 24


This February, FOX brings the heat with all-new episodes of fan-favorite dramas and comedies, as well as season finales and special guest stars.



Below are highlights of FOX programming in February:



MONDAYS

GOTHAM (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT)

The fearsome secret origin of iconic Super-Villain The Scarecrow is revealed on Feb. 2 and Feb. 9, when Gordon (Ben McKenzie) and Bullock (Donal Logue) track down a killer who murders in the name of science. On Feb. 16, Gotham City turns into a three-ring circus when a clown attack traps Gordon and Dr. Thompkins (guest star Morena Baccarin) under the Big Top, and Gordon meets John Grayson (guest star Rob Gorrie), the father of the future Robin. Finally, on Feb. 23, Gordon and Bullock track down the Red Hood Gang, as Selina (Camren Bicondova) plays a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with Ivy (guest star Clare Foley).



SLEEPY HOLLOW (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT)

The second season races toward a spectacular finish beginning Feb. 2, when Ichabod (Tom Mison) and Abbie (Nicole Beharie) discover the true origins of the Salem Witch Trials, and Henry Parish (John Noble) returns. Then, in a clever bit of SLEEPY HOLLOW “twistory,” the pair encounter founding father Thomas Jefferson (guest star Steven Weber) on Feb. 9. Henry’s presence in Sleepy Hollow triggers a series of events that may change the course of history forever on Feb. 16 and on the Season Two Finale Feb. 23.



TUESDAYS

MASTERCHEF JUNIOR (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT)

All-new episodes air throughout the month, as the latest season races toward another spectacular finish. On Feb. 3, judge Gordon Ramsay’s daughter, Matilda, makes a special visit to the MASTERCHEF kitchen. On Feb. 10, the competition heats up as the remaining 6 kids face the toughest challenge yet and take over a Los Angeles restaurant. On Feb. 17, the Top 4 must master two difficult desserts, one of which is crème brûlée. Finally, on a nail-biting Season Finale, airing Feb. 24, judges Ramsay, Graham Elliot and Joe Bastianich announce the Season Three winner.



NEW GIRL (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT)

Jess (Zooey Deschanel) and the guys are back with all-new episodes beginning Feb. 3, when Nick (Jake Johnson) and Schmidt (Max Greenfield) pitch their new business idea to entrepreneur Lori Greiner (“Shark Tank”). On Feb. 10, Valentine’s Day finds Nick planning the most.epic bar.crawl ever, as Jess and Ryan (guest star Julian Morris) face the biggest hurdle in their relationship. Jess and the gang travel to Oregon to attend the wedding of her father (guest star Rob Reiner) and Ashley (guest star Kaitlin Olson) on Feb. 17. And it’s a lockdown in the loft Feb. 24, when Schmidt’s arachnophobia forces the group to embark on a spider hunt.



THE MINDY PROJECT (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT)

It’s a big month on THE MINDY PROJECT, as Danny (Chris Messina) and Mindy’s (Mindy Kaling) relationship will change forever when they both receive surprising news. On Feb. 3, Mindy debates whether she should stay in San Francisco and open a new practice, while Peter (Adam Pally) decides if he’s willing to leave New York City for love. Then, on Feb. 10, Mindy must get through an awkward Castellano family dinner when Danny’s parents (guest stars Rhea Perlman and Dan Hedaya) are reunited. After Danny struggles to tell the office that he and Mindy are moving to California, the gang panics, thinking instead he is dying on the Feb. 17 episode. Finally, on Feb. 24, Danny bets Mindy that he will stop smoking if she will eat healthier.



WEDNESDAYS

AMERICAN IDOL XIV (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT)

The fun continues and the competition gets tougher when AMERICAN IDOL XIV travels west for Hollywood Week. Host Ryan Seacrest and judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. have chosen a new group of hopefuls who, on Feb. 4 and Feb. 11, must prove they have what it takes to be the next singing superstar! Auditions from the entertainment capital culminate with a special showcase and reveal of the Top 24 semi-finalists on Feb. 18. Then, on Feb. 25, America votes for the first time this season!



EMPIRE (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT)

The hottest show on television ignites this month with four all-new episodes guaranteed to have fans screaming “O-M-G!” every Wednesday night. After receiving an ominous “gift,” Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) takes drastic measures when she fears her prison past has come back to haunt her on Feb. 4. Academy Award nominee Courtney Love joins the cast on Feb. 11 as a faded recording star whom Cookie is determined to get back to the top of the charts, as Lucious (Terrence Howard) schemes to pin Bunkie’s murder on someone else. On Feb. 18, Lucious’ shocking secret is revealed and Cookie one-ups Anika (Grace Gealey) yet again. Then, Cookie and Camilla (guest star Naomi Campbell) come face-to-face over Hakeem (Bryshere Gray), and Jamal (Jussie Smollett) steps into the spotlight with news that surprises everyone on Feb. 25.



THURSDAYS

AMERICAN IDOL XIV (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT)

Auditions from San Francisco continue Jan. 29. Then, auditions from the entertainment capital of the world continue on Feb. 5 and Feb. 12, while the special showcase and reveal of the Top 24 semi-finalists continues on Feb. 19.



BACKSTROM (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT)

Four all-new episodes means four all-new cases for Backstrom (Rainn Wilson) and Portland’s Special Crimes Unit to solve. On Jan. 29, arson investigator Samantha Orland (guest star Angelique Cabral) calls upon Backstrom and the Special Crimes Unit (S.C.U.) for help with a case involving a serial arsonist; on Feb. 5, Backstrom's ex-fiance, Amy Gazanian (guest star Sarah Chalke, “Scrubs”), is recruited to head up the Civilian Oversight Committee with the task of investigating questionable conduct within the Police Bureau, pitting Backstrom’s squad against hers; on Feb. 12, Backstrom and his team investigate a hate crime, while Amy (guest star Chalke) forces Backstrom to testify about his actions in a previous case, causing severe anxiety attacks for him; and on Feb. 19, the S.C.U. is assigned its most harrowing case yet, when the team has three days to save a teenage girl who has been abducted by an online predator.



FRIDAYS

WORLD’S FUNNIEST FAILS (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT)

Hosted by Terry Crews, four all-new episodes with the world’s biggest fails crash into Fridays. Featuring guest panelists Josh Wolf, Jamie Lee and Julian McCullough (Jan. 30); Iliza Shlesinger, Greg Proops and Cameron Esposito (Feb. 6); Russell Peters, Jo Koy, Annie Lederman and a special appearance by NEW GIRL’s Lamorne Morris (Feb. 13); and Jamie Lee, Kurt Braunholer and Carmen Esposito (Feb. 20).



GLEE (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT)

On Jan. 30, the new New Directions has its first group performance, and Sue (Jane Lynch) steps up her plans to reunite Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss). Then, GLEE celebrates its 700th performance with the classic Burt Bacharach song, “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” and Mercedes (Amber Riley) returns to Ohio to convince Rachel to pursue her Broadway dreams on Feb. 6. Coach Shannon Beiste (Dot-Marie Jones) returns as “Sheldon,” and Rachel (Lea Michele) and Sam (Chord Overstreet) get closer on Feb. 13. On Feb. 20, you are invited to a special wedding!



SATURDAYS

RED BAND SOCIETY

The coming-of-age drama concludes with three all-new episodes. On Jan. 31 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), someone’s unexpected return reveals a betrayal, while another “red bander” fights for freedom. Then, the group copes with the loss of one of their own. On the special two-hour Season Finale airing Feb. 7 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), love is in the air as Nurse Jackson (Octavia Spencer) and Dr. Naday (guest star Adrian Lester) take things to a new level, while Dash’s (Brian Bradley) love interest could cost him his life; Emma (Ciara Bravo) and Kara (Zoe Levin) start facing their family issues; and a shocking revelation and a new development lead to new hope for some and setbacks for others.



SUNDAYS

MULANEY (7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT)

John (John Mulaney) must contend with his new girlfriend’s teenage daughter on Feb. 8, and in the Season Finale on Feb. 15, the gang crashes Lou’s (Martin Short) pad and throws a party.



THE SIMPSONS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT)

Pharrell Williams makes a guest-voice appearance as Springfield searches for a new town anthem on Feb. 8. Marge (Julie Kavner) begins working as a driver for a transportation app service and Homer (Dan Castellaneta) bankrupts Moe’s Tavern when he watches over the bar one night on Feb. 15.



BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT)

On Feb. 8, Eva Longoria (“Desperate Housewives”) and Nick Kroll (“The League,” “Kroll Show”) guest-star when Jake (Andy Samberg) and the Nine-Nine participate in a Homeland Security terrorist training simulation. Then, on Feb. 15, Jake attempts to infiltrate Holt’s (Andre Braugher) personal life to find out why he’s been so moody.



FAMILY GUY (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT)

Two all-new episodes include Allison Janney (“Mom”) guest-voicing as Quagmire’s (Seth MacFarlane) long-lost mother on Feb. 8, and Peter (MacFarlane) forming a neighborhood detective agency on Feb. 15.



BOB’S BURGERS (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT)

Aziz Ansari (“Parks & Recreation”) guest-voices in a special Valentine’s Day-themed episode airing Feb. 8. Then, on Feb. 15, Molly Shannon (“Saturday Night Live”) guest-voices as Tina (Dan Mintz) and Louise’s (Kristen Schaal) rival.

Source:

FOX