Off this week for Thanksgiving Eve, FOX’s “Empire” returns with an original installment on November 30.
FOX says the following regarding the episode, which is entitled What May Be :
“Cookie looks to Candace for tips on how to plan an elaborate family dinner that will impress Angelo’s mother, Diane (guest star Phylicia Rashad). Meanwhile, old home videos cause Cookie to face secrets about her relationship with her father that she had tried to hide from her kids, and Andre organizes an unlikely duet in the all-new ‘What We May Be’ episode of EMPIRE.”
“Empire” will following with new episodes on December 7 and 14, the latter of which represents the fall finale — and the last new “Empire” of 2016.
The December 7 episode is called “The Unkindest Cut,” while the fall finale is entitled “A Furnace For Your Foe.”
“Andre sabotages Tiana’s big appearance at a fashion event in an attempt to get Nessa into the spotlight,” says FOX of ‘The Unkindest Cut. “Meanwhile, Tariq works with Leah to try to bring down Lucious, and Jamal works with Philip to get over his PTSD in the all-new ‘The Unkindest Cut’ episode of EMPIRE.”
Airing at 8PM ET on December 14, the fall finale will lead into the series premiere of FOX’s new musical drama “STAR.” It thus carries a very important role for the network.
FOX recently revealed photos for the two December episodes. They follow.
The Unkindest Cut – December 7
EMPIRE: Serayah (Middle) in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Guest star Taye Diggs, Taraji P. Henson and guest star Phylicia Rashad in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Taraji P. Henson in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Taraji P. Henson and guest star Gina Gershon in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Trai Byers and guest star Sierra McClain in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Guest star Sierra McClain in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Serayah in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Guest star Gina Gershon in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Trai Byers in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Guest star Gina Gershon and Trai Byers in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Sierra McClain (Middle) in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Guest stars Gina Gershon and Phylicia Rashad in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Taraji P. Henson in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Bryshere Gray and Taraji P. Henson in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Jussie Smollett in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Terrence Howard in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Taraji P. Henson in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Bryshere Gray in the “The Unkindest Cut” episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX A Furnace For Your Foe – December 14
EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Guest stars Phylicia Rashad, Taye Diggs and Taraji P. Henson in the “A Furnace For your Foe” Fall finale episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Taraji. P. Henson in the “A Furnace For your Foe” fall finale episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Serayah and Bryshere Gray in the “A Furnace For your Foe” fall finale episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Serayah and Bryshere Gray in the “A Furnace For your Foe” fall finale episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Guest star Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard, Jussie Smollett, Taraji P. Henson and Gabourey Sidibe in the “A Furnace For your Foe” fall finale episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Terrence Howard and Jussie Smollett in the “A Furnace For your Foe” fall finale episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard and Jussie Smollett in the “A Furnace For your Foe” fall finale episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Terrence Howard in the “A Furnace For your Foe” fall finale episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson in the “A Furnace For your Foe” fall finale episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Terrence Howard in the “A Furnace For your Foe” fall finale episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson in the “A Furnace For your Foe” fall finale episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Taraji P. Henson, guest stars Taye Diggs, Phylicia Rashad and Terrence Howard and in the “A Furnace For your Foe” fall finale episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Taraji P. Henson and guest star Taye Diggs in the “A Furnace For your Foe” fall finale episode of EMPIRE airing Dec. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Chuck Hodes/FOX Brian Cantor Brian Cantor is the editor-in-chief for Headline Planet. He has been a leading reporter in the music, movie, television and sporting spaces since 2002. Brian's reporting has been cited by major websites like BuzzFeed, Billboard, the New Yorker and The Fader -- and shared by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj. Contact Brian at brian.cantor[at]headlineplanet.com.