‘The X-Files’ and Ryan Murphy’s ‘9-1-1’ get January premieres on FOX

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FOX has figured out what to plug into its Wednesday night while “Empire” and “Star” take their midseason breaks



The return of “The X-Files” and Ryan Murphy’s new drama “9-1-1” will take up residence on the night starting Jan. 3. Both shows will run into early March, when “Empire” and “Star” return.

The network has been releasing short teasers for the return of “The X-Files” — Season 2 of its revival and the 11th overall — but had previously not given any hint where it would air. Wednesday will be a new home for the show, whose original run was on Friday and Sunday nights and whose 2016 return aired on Mondays after a Sunday debut.

The new season will run for 10 episodes, up from six in 2016.

Murphy’s “9-1-1,” which he co-created with long-time producing partner Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear (“Feud,” “American Horror Story”), is being promoted as a pretty straightforward procedural about cops and first responders (though FOX hasn’t yet sent screeners to critics), but it’s one with a top-line cast.

The show stars Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Connie Britton, Oliver Stark, Aisha Hinds, Kenneth Choi and Rockmond Dunbar. Bassett is also an executive producer.

Giving these two shows an early January debut potentially leaves open the post-NFC Championship Game spot on Jan. 21 for FOX to launch another show. The network has drama “The Resident” and comedy “LA to Vegas,” plus a new singing competition called “The Four,” that it could deploy there.