Aired: 2015-2020 (FOX)
DAD: Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) / Divorced
DAD’S JOB: Hip-Hop Producer
KIDS: Andre Lyon (Trai Byers), Jamal (Jussie Smollett) and Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray) — all adults.
WHERE’S MOM?: Divorced – just getting out of jail
STAND-IN “MOM”: Cookie (Tarajl P. Henson) – ex-con Mom
Quick summary: imagine Bonanza, except Ben Cartwright is a hip-hop record producer, and his sons are in the hip hop business as well. Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) is a hip hop mogul, former drug dealer, and CEO of Empire Entertainment. Informed of his own imminent early death from ALS, Lucious is forced to choose, from amongst his progeny, a successor who will control his dynasty after his demise. He begins working to groom one of his three sons to take over the family business – Empire CFO Andre (Trai Byers), R&B singer-songwriter Jamal (Jussie Smollett), and rapper Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray). In the process, Lucious pits them against each other. Lucious’ ex-wife Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson) is released from prison after serving a 17-year sentence, and also pulls for control of both the company and of her sons.