Is ‘The X-Files’ serving as a lead-in for Fox’s new ‘Lucifer’?

How quickly you can hear good news, and then hear it turn into no news at all.

Earlier today, we started to hear some reports suggesting that Fox’s new show “Lucifer” starring Lauren German (“Chicago Fire”) and Tom Ellis (“Rush”) could be premiering on Monday, January 25. The reason that this was fantastic news? It all boils down to the fact that it would have “The X-Files” as a lead-in. This is the show that any Fox series wants to come after, since there is at least a chance that some of those viewers will stick around and help you get off to a good start.

Unfortunately, we cannot say for certain just yet that this is going to be true. After the show’s writers and German herself came on Twitter to say that January 25 was the premiere date, the writers later offered up a correction, saying that the date is not confirmed and that it may not happen, after all. It’s a bummer for fans of the comic, but this is far from verification that you can write this timeslot off.

So how are both of these shows airing on a Monday in the first place, given that this spot belongs to “Gotham” and “Minority Report” this fall? The simple answer is that they will be on hiatus, giving at least “Gotham” a split season that will allow episodes to air in chunks. There is no word yet on what the episode count for “Minority Report” is ultimately going to be.