Empire
Pilot
TV Flash files “Pilot” as a desk essential hour — Empire (2015–2020) on Fox, season 1, episode 1, aired 2015-01-07, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E01: listed hour 1 of 102 in the Empire guide, first listed hour of season 1. It aired 2015-01-07 (60 min). No earlier hour is listed in this guide. Next is “The Outspoken King” (S01E02).
Essential hour: “Pilot”. The pilot is a hip-hop dynasty soap that moved the needle: Lucious's crown, Cookie's entrance as event television, songs as plot.
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Is a powerful new drama that follows Lucious Lyon, the head of a music empire whose reign has been unchallenged for years. But all that changes when he learns he has a disease and must choose one of his three sons to take over: Andre, Jamal or Hakeem. Complicating matters is their mother and Lucious' ex-wife, Cookie, who emerges from prison to claim her share.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Pilot sit in the Empire guide?
S01E01 is listed hour 1 of 102 — first listed hour of season 1, season 1 episode 1.
When did Empire S01E01 air?
Pilot aired 2015-01-07 and is listed at 60 minutes.
Do I watch for the plot or the songs?
Both: songs are plot, soundtrack strategy hit the charts on purpose. Dynasty soap with a trap beat, not a jukebox parked next to the story.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Lee Daniels and Danny Strong built a hip-hop dynasty soap that actually moved the ratings needle: Lucious's crown fight, Cookie Lyon's entrance as event television, songs that were plot not wallpaper. Mid-decade appointment heat — boardroom knives, chart synergy, and Taraji P. Henson eating scenery like a meal.
January **2015** was not a soft launch. Lee Daniels and Danny Strong's Fox drama premiered to massive live-ratings growth: Terrence Howard's Lucious, a hip-hop mogul's family warring over succession when illness forces a crown fight, and Taraji P. Henson's Cookie as event television in a coat that ate the overnight. Songs are plot, not wallpaper. Soundtrack strategy made chart impact part of the show's identity. Rex will tell you appointment TV died with the three-network living room. *Empire* was mid-decade…
Filed against
- Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon
Terrence Howard crowned Empire as Lucious Lyon — hip-hop dynasty soap that actually moved the ratings needle, a crown fight, songs as plot, boardroom knives and chart synergy. Mid-decade appointment heat. TV Flash files him as 2010s…
- Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon
Taraji P. Henson entered Empire as Cookie Lyon — hip-hop dynasty soap as event television, a crown fight with songs that were plot not wallpaper, mid-decade appointment heat. Lee Daniels and Danny Strong's boardroom knives. TV Flash files…
- Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon
Jussie Smollett’s Jamal Lyon gave Empire a singer in the crown fight — Lee Daniels and Danny Strong’s hip-hop dynasty soap that actually moved the ratings needle, Cookie’s entrance as event television, songs as plot not wallpaper.…
- Trai Byers as Andre Lyon
Trai Byers’s Andre Lyon fought for the crown on Empire — Lee Daniels and Danny Strong’s hip-hop dynasty soap that actually moved the ratings needle. Lucious’s succession war, Cookie’s entrance as event television, songs that were plot not…
- Bryshere Y. Gray as Hakeem Lyon
Bryshere Y. Gray played Hakeem Lyon on Empire — the son in a hip-hop dynasty soap that actually moved the ratings needle. Lucious's crown fight, Cookie as event television, songs that were plot not wallpaper. TV Flash files him as 2010s…