Empire season 4 explained

Season Number:	4
Bgcolor:	3D4144
Network:	Fox
Num Episodes:	18
Episode List:	List of Empire episodes

The fourth season of the American television drama series Empire premiered on September 27, 2017, in the United States on Fox.^[1] The fourth season was ordered on January 11, 2017, consisting of eighteen episodes.^[2] The show is produced by 20th Century Fox Television, in association with Imagine Entertainment, Lee Daniels Entertainment, Danny Strong Productions and Little Chicken Inc. The showrunners for this season are Ilene Chaiken, Danny Strong and Lee Daniels. The season aired on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm, a new slot. The premiere of the season also had a crossover with other Lee Daniels-created Fox series Star.^[1] The season concluded on May 23, 2018.

Premise

The show centers around a hip hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment, and the drama among the members of the founders' family as they fight for control of the company. After the explosive season 3 finale, Lucious has lost his memory and his family is trying to help him regain it, with the uncomfortable assistance from Nurse Claudia. The storyline also includes the war between the Lyons and the Dubois with Warren falling in love with Jamal, Andre receiving prescriptions from his psychiatrist and Hakeem meeting with Diana on a three week basis until disaster strikes.

Cast and characters

Main cast

• Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon
• Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon
• Bryshere Y. Gray as Hakeem Lyon
• Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon
• Trai Byers as Andre Lyon
• Grace Byers as Anika Calhoun
• Gabourey Sidibe as Becky Williams
• Ta'Rhonda Jones as Porsha Taylor
• Serayah as Tiana Brown
• Xzibit as Shyne Johnson
• Rumer Willis as Tory Ash
• Terrell Carter as Warren Hall
• Andre Royo as Thirsty Rawlings

Recurring cast

• Forest Whitaker as Eddie Barker^[3]
• Vivica A. Fox as Candace Holloway^[4]
• Demi Moore as Nurse Claudia^[5]
• Leslie Uggams as Leah Walker
• Taye Diggs as Angelo DuBois
• Phylicia Rashad as Diana DuBois
• Teyonah Parris as Detective Pamela Rose
• Charles D. Clark as Shyne's Main Goon
• V. Bozeman as Veronica
• Mo McRae as J Poppa
• Pej Vahdat as Kelly Patel
• Lizzy Leigh as Employee
• Chet Hanks as Blake
• Nicole Ari Parker as Giselle Barker ^[6]
• Tasha Smith as Carol Holloway
• Alfre Woodard as Renee Holloway^[7]

Guest cast

• Queen Latifah as Carlotta Brown^[8]
• Funkmaster Flex as himself
• Tisha Campbell-Martin as Brooke
• Rhyon Nicole Brown as Maya
• Cassie Ventura as Haven Quinn
• Sierra McClain as Nessa Parker
• Magic Johnson as himself
• Eve as herself
• Kaitlin Doubleday as Rhonda Lyon

Episodes

See also: List of Empire episodes.

Reception

Ratings

Notes and References

1. Web site: Empire/Star Crossover Confirmed — It's Cookie vs. Carlotta (Watch Teaser). Ausiello. Michael. TVLine. July 12, 2017. July 12, 2017. May 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518141702/https://tvline.com/2017/07/12/empire-star-crossover-cookie-carlotta-video/. dead.
2. Web site: 'Empire' Renewed For Season 4 By Fox. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie. Andreeva. January 11, 2017. January 11, 2017.
3. Web site: Forest Whitaker Set As 'Empire' Guest Star; Plays Music Hitmaker In Multi-Episode Arc. Evans. Greg. July 19, 2017. Deadline Hollywood. July 19, 2017.
4. Web site: Vivica A. Fox Teases Her Return as Cookie's Sister in 'Empire' Season 4. TooFab. September 9, 2017.
5. Web site: Demi Moore Set To Recur On 'Empire'. Petski. Denise. February 21, 2017. Deadline Hollywood. February 21, 2017.
6. Web site: 'Empire': Nicole Ari Parker Set To Recur On Fox Series. Denise. Petski. 12 December 2017. 25 January 2018.
7. Web site: Alfre Woodard To Recur On 'Empire' Playing Cookie's Mom. Haring. Bruce. February 16, 2017. Deadline Hollywood. February 17, 2017.
8. Web site: 'Empire' & 'Star' Crossover Confirmed: Watch Promo As Fox Dramas Intersect For Season Premieres. Deadline Hollywood. July 12, 2017 . September 9, 2017.