Empire Can’t Power Up, Ratings Suffer Big Drop

Fox’s “Empire” couldn’t outperform its season three return numbers. The hti series suffered a dip in its week two ratings.

According to reports, this past Wednesday’s broadcast hit a series low in viewers.

Still the highest-rated show of the night (though by thinner margins than usual), Fox’s hip-hop drama was down 14% from last week’s winter break return to hit a series low. For a declining blockbuster like Empire, which has seen more than a few lows in its current third season, to put blame on its lead-in is thin gruel; the fact is the second week of Shots Fired (1.0/4) saw the limited series go down just a tenth from its March 22 debut. (Deadline)

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Last week, “Empire” enjoyed a huge viewership in its season three return.

Empire ruled the night in its return to Fox’s lineup, clocking a 2.8 demo rating, which was up a notch from the 2.7 logged by its fall finale in the 8 PM hour back on December 14, and up 12% compared to its last fall original in its regular timeslot (2.5) last December 7. But Empire tumbled a precipitous 42% from its year-ago spring return, when it registered 4.8 at 9 PM on March 30, 2016, according to Nielsen’s fast-national stats. (Deadline)

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In January, “Empire” received the green light for a fourth season renewal.

Empire was renewed for a fourth season by Fox, the network announced at the 2017 Winter TCA Press Tour on Wednesday. In December, Empire’s fall finale, which aired an hour earlier at 8 p.m. to help launch co-creator Lee Daniels’ new show Star, garnered 7.57 million viewers. The decision to renew the musical drama was surely a no-brainer for Fox, as it’s TV’s no. 1 broadcast drama, a title its held for the last three seasons in the all-important adults 18-49 demo. (E! News)

A few months ago, “Empire” actress Serayah spoke to SOHH about how long she sees their show going.

“I definitely see “Empire” having a great run but ending on a good note. We started off as a pilot for a new show and the success that we all wanted and dreamt of forever, we all got to share that together. I feel like the end will come and be very great and everyone will be very happy with it and understand it. But I don’t see it being a “Law & Order” type of thing where it lasts that, that, that long. It will last just enough for our fans and our cast.” (SOHH)