The Fox singing competition series The X Factor returns for Season 2 in September, with two new judges – pop stars Britney Spears and Demi Lovato – and a new crop of aspiring talent.  Although I don’t typically cover reality shows, Spears is such a fascinating public figure that I’m making an exception.

Via satellite from Miami for boot camp rounds, during the Fox portion of the TCA Summer Press Tour, Britney Spears and Simon Cowell talked about how she decided to become a judge, what she brings to the show, how inspiring it is to nurture new talent, the relationship between the judges’ panel, the pressure of finding a blockbuster artist on the show, and whether this show is as much about the judges as it is the talent.  Check out what they had to say after the jump.

We already know Fox is going to have a big TV presence at Comic-Con this year, including the last appearance of Fringe for their fifth and final season, and now the network has just announced their premiere dates for new and returning series this fall which will start showing up in the middle of September and through October.The heat is on for new shows to get the hype machine going and fans to get excited for the return of their favorites, and here’s how Fox’s premiere schedule looks.

Returning Series:

• · The X Factor Two Night Premiere – September 12th and 13th
• · Glee – September 13th
• · Bones – September 17th
• · New Girl – September 25th
• · Fringe – September 28th
• · Kitchen Nightmares – September 28th
• · The Simpsons, American Dad, Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers – September 30th
• · Raising Hope – October 2nd
• The Cleveland Show – October 7th
• · Touch – October 26th

New Series:

• · The Mob Doctor – September 17th
• · Ben and Kate – September 25th
• · The Mindy Project – September 25th

For the full press release and schedule, including a couple of shuffling dates when certain shows return, hit the jump.

Yesterday we got a look at what NBC will be offering by way of scheduling and new series this fall, and now Fox has announced their upcoming 2012 schedule.  As far as shifts for returning series go, the Kiefer Sutherland drama Touch has been moved to Fridays, while Ryan Murphy’s Glee (which has been on a ratings downslide as of late) has been put in the post-X Factor/American Idol slot on Thursday nights.  Moreover, the network announced that Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate Hudson will be doing guest star arcs on Glee for the show’s upcoming fourth season.

As far as new shows go, The Office star Mindy Kaling’s new show, currently titled The Mindy Project (hopefully a temporary title), and the new ensemble comedy Ben and Kate will join Raising Hope and the hit Zooey Deschanel series New Girl on Tuesdays for an all-comedy night.  I’m a huge fan of New Girl and I’m hoping The Mindy Project will be a nice companion show.  Another high profile new series, Kevin Williamson’s serial killer show The Following starring Kevin Bacon, has been slated to premiere at midseason.  Hit the jump to get a look at the full Fox schedule.

Normally reality competition shows aren’t exactly our cup of tea when given the choice between them and fantastic narrative television like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, really anything on AMC, and more, but when a pop culture giant like The X Factor comes along, we like to keep everyone informed every now and then. That’s why we’re letting viewers know that Fox has renewed the American Idol copycat alternative for a second season so we can keep Simon Cowell in those black baby t-shirts for many years to come. For the full press release and details on the upcoming live broadcasts, hit the jump.

Just recently we got a rundown of premiere dates for The CW’s returning and new series for the 2011-2012, now Fox has unveiled their premiere dates for new and returning series starting in September. Returning series include the musical comedy Glee, the family sitcom Raising Hope, and the long-running animated hit Family Guy. In addition, you’ll find premiere dates for promising new series like Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi drama Terra Nova, Jonah Hill’s new animated comedy Allen Gregory and Zooey Deschanel’s charmingly funny New Girl. For information on all the new series hitting fox, be sure to check out our upfronts article from last month. But for a full rundown of Fox’s premiere dates for these series and more (including The X Factor if that kind of show is your cup of tea) hit the jump.

Fox has stepped up to the plate to announce their TV schedule for 2011-2012 which includes a slew of new comedies and dramas, and one new unscripted series if that sort of things tickles your fancy. Fox’s new series includes Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi adventure series Terra Nova, Zooey Deschanel in New Girl, Jamie Pressly in I Hate My Teenage Daughter, Jonah Hill’s new animated series Allen Gregory, an animated revival of Napoleon Dynamite, J.J. Abrams’ anticipated new series Alcatraz, the series The Finder from the creator of Bones, and Kiefer Sutherland’s return to TV at Fox with Touch. Oh, and if you care, Simon Cowell’s The X Factor is also coming to Fox.

After the jump you can check out Fox’s new schedule along with the official series synopses and first images for all the brand new series hitting the network.

The new season of American Idol doesn’t premiere until January, but interesting things are afoot already behind the scenes. According to Simon Cowell’s brother, the caustic reality judge is looking to leave the show after the upcoming season to focus on adapting his British hit The X Factor for American television. This is not too surprising, as Cowell himself ruminated on leaving the show as early as last April, several months before Paula Abdul announced her departure.

To add intrigue to the matter, 58% of viewers said they would stop watching American Idol if Simon Cowell left the show in a recent survey. This would be a devastating blow to Idol, and would certainly knock it off its pedestal as America’s favorite show. Fox seems unfazed by such talk though, as the channel is near a deal to extend Idol‘s run by three seasons; even if half the viewers jumped ship, Idol would still be among the top rated shows on TV. So look forward to many more years of American Idol, regardless of Cowell’s involvement. In the meantime, catch judges Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi, Randy Jackson, Abdul replacement Ellen DeGeneres, and ubiquitous host Ryan Seacrest while you can when the ninth season of American Idol premieres on Fox on January 12, 2010.