Empire season 3
| Empire (Season 3) | |
|---|---|
| Season 3 | |
 | |
| Starring | |
| Release | |
| Original network | Fox |
| Original release | September 21, 2016 – present |
| Season chronology | |
The third season of the American television drama series Empire premiered on September 21, 2016, in the United States on Fox.[1] The third season was ordered on January 15, 2016.[2]The show is produced by 21st Century Fox, in association with Imagine Entertainment, Lee Daniels Entertainment, Danny Strong Productions and Little Chicken Inc. The showrunners for this season are Ilene Chaiken, Danny Strong and Lee Daniels. The season will air on Wednesday at 9:00 pm, the same slot as the previous seasons.
Premise
The show centers around a hip hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment, and the drama among the members of the founders' family as they fight for control of the company.
Cast and characters
Main cast
- Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon
- Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon
- Bryshere Y. Gray as Hakeem Lyon
- Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon
- Trai Byers as Andre Lyon
- Grace Byers as Anika Calhoun
- Gabourey Sidibe as Becky Williams
- Ta'Rhonda Jones as Porsha Taylor
- Serayah McNeill as Tiana Brown
- Morocco Omari as Tariq Cousins
- Xzibit as Shyne Johnson
- Bre-Z as Freda Gatz
Special Guest cast
- Kaitlin Doubleday as Rhonda Lyon
Recurring cast
- Leslie Uggams as Leah Walker
- Tasha Smith as Carol Holloway
- Vivica A. Fox as Candace Holloway
- Sierra A. McClain as Nessa
- Ajiona Alexus as Young Cookie
- Jeremy Carver as Young Lucious
Future Guest cast
- French Montana as Vaughn[3]
- Birdman as himself[3]
- Mariah Carey as Kitty
- Phylicia Rashad as Diana Dubois
- Ezri Walker as Zeah
- R as Herself
- Taye Diggs as Angelo Dubois
- Romeo Miller as Gram
- Juan Antonio as Phillip
Production
Empire was renewed for a third season on January 15, 2016.[2] It was later announced that the season will premiere on September 21, 2016.[1] Fox released a promotional poster on July 14, 2016, for the season, showcasing both Lucious Lyon and Cookie Lyon.[4]
Casting
It was announced by TVLine on June 18, 2016, that Xzibit who plays Shyne Johnson, Lucious’ drug-dealing adversary, was upgraded to a series regular for the third season.[5] On July 8, 2016, Entertainment Weekly announced that rapper French Montana will appear in the third season premiere, playing music mogul Vaughn, a member of Lucious Lyon’s powerful inner circle. Birdman will also appear on the show, but he will be playing himself.[3] The Hollywood Reporter announced on July 13, 2016, that Sierra McClain will join the show in a recurring role. She will be playing Nessa, Shine's (new series regular Xzibit) loyal protege whom Lucious is eager to sign.[6] In August 2016, it was announced Mariah Carey would appear as Kitty, a superstar who collabs with Jamal.[7] That same month, Phylicia Rashad joined the cast.[8]
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 1 | "Light in Darkness" | Sanaa Hamri | Malcolm Spellman & Joshua Allen | September 21, 2016 | 3AXP01 | 10.87[9] |
| 32 | 2 | "Sin That Amends"[10] | Unknown | Unknown | September 28, 2016[11] | 3AXP02 | N/A |
| 33 | 3 | "What Remains Is Bestial"[12] | Unknown | Unknown | October 5, 2016[11] | 3AXP03 | N/A |
Reception
Live + SD ratings
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Episode | Air date | Time slot (EST) | Rating/Share (18–49) | Viewers (m) | 18–49 Rank | Viewership rank | Drama rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 1 | "Light in Darkness" | September 21, 2016 | Wednesdays 9:00 p.m. |
4.2/13[9] | 10.87[9] | — | — | — |
| 32 | 2 | "Sin That Amends" | September 28, 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 33 | 3 | "What Remains Is Bestial" | October 5, 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 34 | 4 | "Cupid Kills" | October 12, 2016 | — | — | — | — | — |
Live + 7 Day (DVR) ratings
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Episode | Air date | Time slot (EST) | 18–49 rating increase |
Viewers (millions) increase |
Total 18-49 | Total viewers (millions) |
Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 1 | "Light in Darkness" | September 21, 2016 | Wednesdays 9:00 p.m. |
— | — | — | — | |
| 32 | 2 | "Sin That Amends" | September 28, 2016 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 33 | 3 | "What Remains Is Bestial" | October 5, 2016 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 34 | 4 | "Cupid Kills" | October 12, 2016 | — | — | — | — |
References
- ^ a b Ausiello, Michael (June 16, 2016). "Fox Fall Premiere Plan: Return Dates for Empire, Scream Queens and More". TVLine. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ a b Ausiello, Michael (January 15, 2016). "Empire Renewed for Season 3 at Fox". TVLine. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ a b c Stack, Tim (July 8, 2016). "Empire: Who is French Montana playing in season 3? — exclusive". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ Stack, Tim (July 14, 2016). "Empire exclusive: See the sexy new poster for season 3". Entertaintment Weekly. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (June 18, 2016). "Empire: Xzibit Snags Series-Regular Promotion Ahead of Season 3". TVLine. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ Stanhope, Kate (July 13, 2016). "'Empire' Taps Actress and Singer Sierra McClain for Recurring Role (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (August 8, 2016). "Mariah Carey Books Empire Season 3 Guest Stint — But There's a Twist". TV Line. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
- ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (August 29, 2016). "'Cosby Show' Star Phylicia Rashad Joins 'Empire' Season 3". Variety. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ^ a b c Porter, Rick (September 22, 2016). "Wednesday final ratings: 'Empire' adjusts up, 'Designated Survivor' adjusts down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
- ^ "(EMP-302) "Sin That Amends"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
- ^ a b "Shows A-Z - empire on fox". The Futon Critic. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
- ^ "(EMP-303) "What Remains is Bestial"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved September 15, 2016.