

Remembering his doctor's appointment, Lucious successfully encourages Veronika to perform better by making her remember her brother's tragic death resulting in a better performance by Veronika. Veronika Bozeman ( Veronika Bozeman), a musical artist is in the middle of a recording take when her boss, Lucious ( Terrence Howard), feels unsatisfied with Veronika's performance. The episode was well received by critics, as well.

The episode premiered to an audience of 9.90 million viewers, marking "the highest rated debut in three years" for the network.

Over 12 original songs, produced by Timbaland, were featured in the episode. The episode was directed by Lee Daniels and written by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong. Meanwhile, his ex-wife Cookie Lyon comes out of jail and demands a part of the company she founded. While keeping his condition a secret, he decides to find a successor that will take over the company. The show focuses on Lucious Lyon, the head of a record label who is diagnosed with ALS and given three years to live. The pilot episode of the American musical drama television series Empire premiered on Fox on January 7, 2015.
