There were several big announcements coming out of Fox’s TCA presentation today.
First was the (almost inevitable) guest star appearance of Mariah Carey on season 3 of EMPIRE. Carey will play Kitty, “a mega-superstar who comes to Empire to collaborate with Jamal Lyon (Jussie Smollett) on an explosive new song. When the duet encounters obstacles, Kitty helps Jamal dig deep to overcome personal difficulties and reach a musical breakthrough”. Carey’s appearance airs Wednesday, October 5. Season 3 of the show premieres Wednesday, September 21 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Fox. Additional guest stars this season include Taye Diggs, Sierra McClain, rapper French Montana and music mogul Birdman, who plays himself.
Fox also announced that THE SIMPSONS will be airing its first ever one-hour episode in January 2017. In the one-hour ‘The Great Phatsby,’ featuring Emmy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson (EMPIRE) as a guest voice, “Mr. Burns (Harry Shearer) tries to relive his glory days, and crosses paths with a mysterious music mogul. After being conned by him and reduced to bankruptcy, Mr. Burns seeks revenge on the music producer with the help of Homer, Bart, rapper Jazzy James (guest voice Keegan-Michael Key) and the mogul’s ex-wife, Praline (guest voice Henson). Also in the episode, Lisa (Yeardley Smith) is courted by the richest kid in town, Smithers (Shearer) begins a perilous journey and Marge (Julie Kavner) opens an obscure boutique store.”
THE SIMPSONS returns for its 28th season on Sunday, September 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. In the episode, titled “Monty Burns’ Fleeing Circus,” Springfield is burned to the ground and the Simpsons beg Mr. Burns (Shearer) to fund its rebuilding. Burns agrees – with one condition: he gets to put on a variety show at the Springfield Bowl.
Fox has also decided to do a special preview of the new comedy SON OF ZORN on Sunday, September 11 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT following the season’s first NFL doubleheader. The series will then premiere in its regular time period with an all-new episode Sunday, September 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.
Finally, the network also announced that there will be a crossover between BROOKLYN NINE-NINE and NEW GIRL this coming season. Characters from both shows will meet in back-to-back episodes on Tuesday, October 11 beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on Fox. Additional details about the crossover will be announced.
Season 4 of BROOKLYN NINE-NINE and Season 6 of NEW GIRL premiere on Tuesday, September 20 beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on Fox. In the season premiere of BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, Jake (Andy Samberg) and Holt (Emmy Award nominee Andre Braugher) remain in Florida under the Witness Protection Program, with only one human link to their regular lives – U.S. Marshall Karen Haas (guest star Maya Rudolph). Then, on NEW GIRL. Jess (Zooey Deschanel) faces Nick (Jake Johnson) for the first time after realizing she has feelings for him, while Schmidt (Max Greenfield) and Cece (Hannah Simone) begin a frustrating hunt for their first house.