By BECKY SHANE
Staff Writer

FOX Entertainment’s new television series, Empire, has been ranked as the best new show of 2015 for viewers under 50. What makes Empire unique is that its rankings have only gone up.
The show premiered with an astounding premier rating. Since its pilot episode, the show’s rating (Vulture) have only increased each week, from 3.8 to 4.6 (all out of 5), Fox’s highest rated show since Touch in 2012 (Entertainment Weekly).
Empire sets itself apart from other shows with each week’s building drama and new plot twists that make every episode refreshing and exciting. The show chronicles the family drama of the Lyon family, owner of the music company Empire. Its head, Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), who was recently diagnosed with ALS, must now decide which of his three sons will inherit the family business. Each son bears his own unique talents and challenges: Andre (Trai Byers) is a business genius who suffers from bipolar disorder; Jamal (Jussie Smollett), writes and produces his own soulful music but is gay, to his father’s dismay; Hakeem (Bryshere Gray) is a successful rapper whose public childhood has influenced his indulgent and distrustful behavior. Throughout the first season, the three Lyon sons battle for control over Empire and the prestige that comes with it. However, the futures of both the Lyon family and Empire Entertainment are complicated during the first episode when Lucious’ wife Cookie (Taraji Henson) is released from a 17-year jail sentence and wants to rejoin her family and reclaim Empire. Cookie wants to reconnect with her sons and reclaim what she believes to be her share of the business.
Kayti Luu (Sr.) said that “Empire is one of my favorite shows. The acting, drama and story line are so engaging, that I am always eager for the next episode. The season finale had so much drama and I can’t wait for season two to see what’s in store for the Empire Entertainment.”
FOX has renewed Empire for a second season, although the release date has not been announced.