Empire’s Lyons’ family plays a game of what-if
The TV universe is constantly expanding, and new channels and shows vie for attention just as much as old favourites. Here are the best bets on the box.
Empire
It might seem a little late for another It’s a Wonderful Life-type story, but the new episode The Devil Quotes Scripture, puts one forth anyway. On a trip to Philadelphia, members of the Lyons family mull over what might have become of them if Lucious (Terrence Howard) hadn’t scored his professional success. Hakeem (Bryshere Gray) is put in a tenuous situation when another woman makes a play for him. Naomi Campbell and Gabourey Sidibe guest star. (Fox, OMNI1)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Armand Assante guest stars as Amaro’s (Danny Pino) estranged father, who’s marrying a much younger woman (guest star Kathy Velasquez), in the new episode Padre Sandunguera. Amaro refuses to attend the nuptials, but he becomes a party to them anyway when a fight results in his dad’s arrest. Robert John Burke (Rescue Me) and Joseph Lyle Taylor (Justified) also guest star. (NBC, CTV Two)
Duck Dynasty
Jep asks Willie and the guys to help him give his ramshackle old chicken coop a makeover after Jessica takes serious issue with its current condition in the new episode Coop! There It Is! Meanwhile, Uncle Si acts even more strangely than usual on a jug fishing trip with the kids after he drinks too much expired soda. (A&E)
American Idol
The initial wave of tryouts for Season 14 continues in the new episode Auditions No. 5, as judges Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban, appraise another group of contenders hoping to get enough “Yes” votes from them to get to the Hollywood rounds. Host Ryan Seacrest, waits outside the audition room to congratulate — or console — the hopefuls as they leave. (Fox)
Blackish
Jenifer Lewis (Meet the Browns) guest-stars as Dre’s (Anthony Anderson) visiting mom in the repeat episode Oedipal Triangle. Her overpowering presence stirs all sorts of complications, particularly where Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) is concerned — leaving Dre to try to broker an accord between the two top women in his life. (ABC, City)