Advertisement

Fall TV Preview: 'Empire,' 'Jane the Virgin' among our returning favorites

 
Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon in Empire.
Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon in Empire.
Published Sept. 10, 2015

This fall season will be full of familiar faces roaming the hallways. Thirteen shows from the five major networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and the CW) are coming back for a second helping. Last year, those network execs ordered 10 new shows back for the 2014 fall season, and seven of those are starting a third season in the upcoming months. So there's a pretty good chance your favorite new show will last a little longer than it would have a few years ago. There's a reason for this. In such a vast sea of television, viewership is down because there are just too many choices. So, lately, networks are giving more shows a second — and even third — chance to grab your attention. Just look at The Mindy Project. After three seasons of dismal ratings, Fox axed the charmingly hilarious series, but Hulu quickly saved it, and it will begin its fourth season Tuesday.

A show's second season is important for any series, and that's especially true when the first season breaks ratings records, like Fox's Empire. No surprise, though, CBS had the most watched new series last season with NCIS: New Orleans (17.4 million viewers overall), but Empire was close behind with 17.33 million. And when you measure the coveted 18-49 demographic, Empire scored a higher ranking than any other — new or returning — show (well, besides NBC's Sunday Night Football).

Fun fact: Last season's top new dramas and comedies — Empire, How to Get Away With Murder and Black-ish — all feature black leads. The Emmys (airing Sept. 20) also took notice this year. Taraji P. Henson (Empire), Viola Davis (HTGAWM) and Anthony Anderson (Black-ish) are all up for outstanding leads in their respective categories.

There may be lots of shiny new kids on TV this fall, but don't forget about last year's first loves. Let's catch up on the most talked about shows last season and see what's in store. (Spoilers, obviously, ahead!)

Empire

9 p.m. Wednesdays, Fox (Sept. 23)

Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) was (finally) arrested for Bunkie's murder, but good news: Lucious is no longer on his death bed — being TV's biggest hit cured him. But now that he's behind bars, who's going to run the company? (Wait, wasn't that last season's premise?) Because of Howard's recent real-life domestic troubles, Fox execs say they'll be cutting back his screen time. That means more Cookie (Taraji P. Henson)! She's got a new love interest played by Adam Rodriguez (that hunky fro-yo-loving guy from this summer's Magic Mike XXL). Rodriguez isn't the only guest star. In fact, Empire is exploding with guest stars: Mariah Carey, Pitbull, Ludacris, Marisa Tomei, Kelly Rowland, Chris Rock, Alicia Keys, Lenny Kravitz, Tyra Ferrell and Andre Royo have all been confirmed. Rumor has it Oprah Winfrey and Common may be signing on. It is a show about the music industry, so it's nice to see those familiar faces, but they don't necessarily bring good story lines. Hopefully creator Lee Daniels will stick with what worked last season: Lyon family capital-D Drama.

Jane the Virgin

9 p.m. Mondays, CW (Oct. 12)

The most delightful show on TV right now is this telenovela on a network full of sci-fi teen dramas. And, yes, after 22 episodes, Jane (Golden Globe winner Gina Rodriguez) is still a virgin. She had the cutest baby ever during the tear-jerker Season 1 finale. But as soon as we were drying our tears, that baby was stolen right out of the hospital! What a cliffhanger. The show resolves story lines quickly, so we expect the baby to come back to Jane in the first episode. In fact, Jane will have her turn at being a mother, and a wife, said Rodriguez during an interview this summer. Plus, Empire isn't the only sophomore show adding guest stars. Britney Spears will play the nemesis of Rogelio (Jane's father). Now that is a guest role we're excited about. (We can only hope Brit's dancing skills are highlighted. She's been killing it in Vegas this summer.) And, it was just announced that Kesha (she no longer uses the $, but probably still brushes her teeth with a bottle of Jack) will appear in the second episode.

Planning your weekend?

Planning your weekend?

Subscribe to our free Top 5 things to do newsletter

We’ll deliver ideas every Thursday for going out, staying home or spending time outdoors.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

How to Get Away With Murder

10 p.m. Thursdays, ABC (Sept. 24)

Have we reached peak Shonda Rhimes? Grey's Anatomy is starting its 12th season without McDreamy (Patrick Dempsey), Scandal is quickly losing its OMG! steam, and now Rhimes is working on multiple new projects. The show with the most to lose is HTGAWM. It was the fall's biggest hit. (Empire had the biggest ratings overall during the 2014-15 season.) In 13 episodes last season, HTGAWM pre presented and solved one huge crime, and then ended with another murder mystery. Who killed Rebecca? Our hope this season is less Clue and more of Annalise Keating's (Viola Davis) backstory. But in typical Rhimes fashion, no one is talking about what's to come.

More sophomores: Gotham (Fox), Scorpion (CBS), Fresh Off the Boat (ABC), NCIS: New Orleans (CBS), The Mysteries of Laura (NBC), Black-ish (ABC), The Last Man on Earth (Fox), Madam Secretary (CBS), The Flash (CW), iZombie (CW), Fargo (FX), The Affair (Showtime) and The Leftovers (HBO).