"New Girl" season 5 has been made official for a quite a while now but it is only today that fans of the comedy learn when it returns after the network delayed it to 2016. As it turns out, the premiere isn't too far out in the New Year, with the show back with new episodes starting Jan. 5.
There will be a change in timeslot though. The hit comedy series will take up the network's Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. FOX's announcement also came with a lot of schedule shakeups affecting a number of its shows.
When "New Girl" season 5 premieres, lead star Zooey Deschanel will be absent for the initial episodes. The actress welcomed her baby with Jacob Pechenik and is currently on maternity leave. Taking over for her while she is away is Megan Fox.
There isn't a way to write in Deschanel's pregnancy in the plot so in the first four episodes of the season, the series will indicate that her character Jess is on sequestered jury duty. Filling the temporary void is Fox, who will play the role of Reagan, a medical sales rep who will stay in Jess' room.
The "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" star's character is billed to "[shake] things up" as she comes to town for something business-related.
Crossmap says that not too many fans aren't as excited as the boys will be when Fox arrives but should Fox be a great fill-in while Deschanel is out, only time will tell.
Meanwhile, "New Girl" season 5 will also introduce Schmidt's father. Peter Gallagher will portray the role but it will only last for a single episode. Crossmap, however, believes that fans will see the "The OC" star more than once in the series.
