Fox gave early season renewals to "Empire" and "Scream Queens" at the Television Critics Association winter press tour on Friday.
"Empire" received a third season pickup, but the network didn't elaborate on how many episodes it will possess. The first season ran for 12 episodes. The second season will have a total of 18 episodes with the season's back half returning on Wednesday, March 30.
During the TCA presentation, Fox TV Group CEOs Gary Newman and Dana Walden also expressed no concern for hip-hop drama's sliding ratings and criticism of season two.
"If that show is off creatively, we'd like all of our shows to be off creatively," Newman said, referencing the show's still strong ratings.
The cast and crew also celebrated the announcement across social media.
"Empire" co-creator Lee Daniels wrote on his Instagram, "We are coming back and this time daddy's coming home." Daniels has been developing his next music drama for Fox that follows three young women who form a girl group in hopes of making it big in the music industry.
Bryshere "Yazz" Gray and Jussie Smollett also celebrated on set with their director Sanaa Hamri and writer Eric Haywood.
#Empire's @YazzTheGreatest, @JussieSmollett, director Sanaa Hamri, & writer @EricHaywood celebrating #EmpireSeason3! pic.twitter.com/RFWygMMXix
— Empire Writers (@EmpireWriters) January 15, 2016
Season 3 on its way! pic.twitter.com/Ys5QdAq2Rb — Danny Strong (@Dannystrong) January 15, 2016
Ryan Murphy's anthology series "Scream Queens" will relocate for the second season. The new story will take place in a hospital setting. Jamie Lee Curtis was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in the first season and the show won Most Exciting New Series at the Critics' Choice Television Awards.
