The TV Column

Fox raises stakes with wildly successful Empire

EMPIRE: The epic family battle begins when the sexy and powerful new drama EMPIRE debuts, with limited commercial interruption, following AMERICAN IDOL XIV on Wednesday, Jan. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Pictured L-R: Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. ©2014 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Michael Lavine/FOX
EMPIRE: The epic family battle begins when the sexy and powerful new drama EMPIRE debuts, with limited commercial interruption, following AMERICAN IDOL XIV on Wednesday, Jan. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Pictured L-R: Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. ©2014 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Michael Lavine/FOX

If you're a TV mogul, nothing warms the cockles of your heart more than a series like Empire. This rare gem is what you live for. It's what justifies your Lamborghini, trophy wife, Armani suits and Malibu beach home.

Empire's midseason tryout debuted Jan. 7 on Fox and the series held its two-hour season finale last week. The series was an instant success and increased its ratings week-to-week from 14 million viewers (across all platforms) to more than 20 million (final figures aren't in) for last week's wrap.

Granted, Season 1 had only 12 episodes, but USA Today reports no series has ever increased its ratings each week since Nielsen began measuring viewers in its current format in 1991.

In other words, every previous hit show either dropped off in its second week, or had an off week somewhere during the season. Not Empire.

Did anybody see this coming? The show, co-created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, just seems on paper like another soap opera. It revolves around a hip-hop music empire and a feuding, frequently dysfunctional family. Nothing new there.

So, Empire showrunner Ilene Chaiken (creator of The L Word) was asked by Vulture.com to reflect on the series' success. Is it because of the support from the black audience (more than 60 percent of viewers) or because it's fun television in an age when most TV dramas are grim and gloomy?

"My theory is that all of those things are true," Chaiken said. "When a show succeeds -- any television show -- there's just this fantastic alchemy that occurs. Everything starts with a script and a concept. It's gotta be that good, and this one was.

"There's just this thing that happens when an ensemble gels. It happened on Empire in such a big way. Led by Terrence Howard and Taraji Henson -- two extraordinary actors who are at the peak of their powers as actors -- a cast coalesced around them, and rose to the bar that they had set. And it just happened."

Yep. Sometimes the magic -- "this thing" -- just happens. Now you know.

But the way we measure success is evolving. It's not just about how many viewers watch anymore, it's about how the show is faring on social media. We used to call this "buzz." Now the buzz is instantaneous.

For example, Empire is the season's No. 1 drama among the young adults coveted by advertisers and has surpassed The Walking Dead and Scandal on Twitter. The show, as the kids say, is trending.

According to Nielsen Social, Empire averages an impressive 451,270 tweets per episode. One especially juicy episode topped 750,000 tweets.

Fans will now have to wait until fall for more. The series was renewed for a 22-episode second season after only two episodes. Fox's next big challenge is to find a companion show for Empire. TV schedules are built around paired programming.

Community. In case you missed the word on its resurrection, Community may have been canceled by NBC, but it was rescued for a sixth season by Yahoo Screen. The newbie online video-streaming service is free and ad-driven.

Season 6 still features Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Dani Pudi, Alison Brie, Ken Jeong and Jim Rash. Gone are Yvette Nicole Brown, who played Shirley, along with recurring players John Oliver and Jonathan Banks.

Brown has moved on to The Odd Couple (for as long as that lasts). Oliver has a show on HBO, and Banks can be found playing Mike Ehrmantraut on Better Call Saul on AMC.

New regulars are Keith David and Paget Brewster.

Find Community, and other Yahoo offerings, at screen.yahoo.com.

Note: Hulu still has streaming rights to the first five seasons of Community.

On a break. Before it implodes, E!'s snarky Fashion Police is going on hiatus so it can get its stuff together.

The series has been drifting badly since zinger maven and co-host Joan Rivers died in September. Bailing out recently have been co-hosts Kelly Osbourne and Kathy Griffin.

Fashion Police will return in September with co-hosts Giuliana Rancic, Brad Goreski and executive producer Melissa Rivers.

Biting news. I hope you're sitting down. This is huge. Really huge.

David Hasselhoff has been signed to play Gilbert Sheperd, the father of Fin (Ian Ziering), in the wildly anticipated Syfy original movie Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No. The movie is set for 8 p.m. July 22.

Yeah, I know! The Hoff!

Other than Ziering, also returning are Sharknado vets Tara Reid (April) and Cassie Scerbo (Nova). Previously announced were Bo Derek as April's mother, and Ryan Newman as April and Fin's daughter.

The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:

mstorey@arkansasonline.com

Style on 03/24/2015

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