J. Lo and company return on 'Idol' Jan. 22

It’s official.

“American Idol” announced Wednesday that Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler will return as judges for the show’s 11th season.

What’s new —  and very interesting —  is that the new season will launch on a Sunday —  specifically Jan. 22, 2012, after Fox’s broadcast of the NFC Championship Game.

By then, we’ll all be celebrating a Giants victory, so the “Idol” people will have to work really hard to get our attention.

Photo: Steve Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson work the judging on "American Idol." (Feb. 27, 2011)