Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard are not just making records on Fox’s “Empire,” they are breaking records.
The hit hip hop drama, created by Lee Daniels, is the only primetime series—not just scripted—to grow in total viewers over each of its first five telecasts since at least 1991, smashing a 23-year ratings record, according to Fox, Entertainment Weekly reports.
RELATED: 5 Reasons Why ‘Empire’ Is Winning TV Ratings But Failing Black People
For the first two weeks this season, with total DVR data available, “Empire,” which stars Henson as Cookie Lyon and Howard as Lucious Lyon, is averaging 14 million viewers and a 5.6 rating among the coveted adult demographic of 18-19, the news outlet reports:
ABC’s game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” grew through each of its first five telecasts in 1999, but they were technically considered “specials” when the show first started instead of regular episodes. So you can basically throw in all broadcast reality shows too.
This is shaping up to be a fantastic year for the whole “Empire” team, especially Henson, who on Friday won the Entertainer of the Year Award at the NAACP Image Awards. Her character on “Empire” is so deliciously diabolical that she has garnered her own hashtag, #hereforcookie.
Fox’s “Empire” Smashes 23-Year Ratings Record, But Is It Failing Black People? [POLL] was originally published on newsone.com
