"Empire" broke numerous records in its first season of 12 episodes, and Fox will look to capitalize on that success with six additional episodes in season two.
Announcing its 2015-2016 schedule on Monday, Fox has ordered 18 episodes for the second season of "Empire" that will run in two parts: Part one will air in the fall and end on a cliffhanger then return in the spring for part two. The hip-hop drama also signed Ne-Yo to write music for season two, joining producer Timbaland.
The music will stop on "American Idol" next year when the singing competition wraps its 15th and final season. The decision came after lengthy discussions with the show's producers and the judges' enthusiasm to bring the series back to pay tribute before the end, Fox chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman told reporters during a press call on Monday (via Deadline).
Fox kept intact its Sunday night lineup, alternating its animated shows "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy" with its live-action comedies "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "The Last Man on Earth." "Bob's Burgers" will also slide in its sixth season at 7:30 p.m.
The network's other new comedies, "Grandfathered" and "The Grinder," will kick off Tuesdays before Ryan Murphy's new anthology series, "Scream Queens."
The fifth season of "New Girl" will be held until midseason for an uninterrupted run. Fox also has new series "The Frankenstein Code," "Lucifer," "The Guide to Surviving Life" and "Bordertown" waiting in the wings.
"The X-Files" reboot will premiere this winter after the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 24 at 10 p.m. and continue in its regular time-slot the next night at 8 p.m. for a total of six episodes. Fox will premiere the first live musical production of "Grease," starring Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens, on Sunday, Jan. 31.
See the complete fall 2015 schedule for Fox below and click here to see what new shows are joining all the networks.
(New shows designated in italics.)
MONDAY
- "Gotham" at 8 p.m.
- "Minority Report" at 9 p.m.
TUESDAY
- "Grandfathered" at 8 p.m.
- "The Grinder" at 8:30 p.m.
- "Scream Queens" at 9 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
- "Rosewood" at 8 p.m.
- "Empire" at 9 p.m.
THURSDAY
- "Bones" at 8 p.m.
- "Sleepy Hollow" at 9 p.m.
FRIDAY
- "Masterchef Junior" at 8 p.m.
- "World's Funniest" at 9 p.m.
SATURDAY
- Fox Sports Saturday: Fox College Football at 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
- "NFL on Fox" at 7 p.m.
- "The OT"/"Bob's Burgers" at 7:30 p.m.
- "The Simpsons" at 8 p.m.
- "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" at 8:30 p.m.
- "Family Guy" at 9 p.m.
- "The Last Man on Earth" at 9:30 p.m.
