CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- FOX has pushed up the long-awaited season premiere of "American Idol" up a day as the show's third season will now kick off on a special night: Monday, January 19 at 8:00/7:00c.

New one-hour episodes will then follow on Tuesday, January 20 and Wednesday, January 21, both at 8:00/7:00c, with the series settling into its regular one-hour competition editions (Tuesdays at 8:00/7:00c) and half-hour results shows (Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c) the following week.

In addition, FOX plans to offer a special sneak preview of the new season during its broadcast of the "2003 Billboard Music Awards" this Wednesday at 8:00/7:00c.

Meanwhile in other FOX news, the network announced today it will encore the first two episodes of "The Simple Life" this Thursday starting at 9:00/8:00c.

FOX has also scheduled an additional all-new episode of "The Simple Life" for Wednesday, December 17 at 8:30/7:30c. The reality series will take the place of the previously announced new episode of "A Minute With Stan Hooper" that night (read the story). The news means "Hooper" will be completely off FOX's schedule for the month of December.

And if you think that's not enough "Life," FOX has slated a two-hour mini-marathon of the series' first four episodes for Tuesday, December 30 beginning at 8:00/7:00c.