Episode Directed by Series Star Jussie Smollett; Alfre Woodard, Forest Whitaker and Cassie Ventura Guest-Star

When Cookie finally visits her mother, the two must confront their complicated past. Meanwhile, Lucious and Eddie (guest star Forest Whitaker) continue their fight over Empire and Eddie makes a power play at the grand opening of Empire’s 20 for 20 showcase. Then, Jamal and his band anonymously release their latest single and Hakeem tests out a career in film in the all-new “Fair Terms” episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, May 9 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (EMP-416) (TV-14 D, L, S, V)

Cast: Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon, Bryshere Y. Gray as Hakeem Lyon, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon, Trai Byers as Andre Lyon, Grace Byers as Annika Calhoun, Gabourey Sidibe as Becky Williams, Serayah as Tiana Brown, Andre Royo as Thurston “Thirsty” Rawlings, and Rumer Willis as Tory Ash

Guest Cast: Alfre Woodard as Renee Rhodes, Forest Whitaker as Eddie Barker, Sierra A. McClain as Nessa Parker, Tiffany Oglesby as Tiffany, Kevin “Webb” Wigfall as Webb, Vivica A. Fox as Candace, Tasha Smith as Carol Hardaway, Claudette Burchett as Juanita, Chet Hanks as Blake, Kade Wise as Preacher Azal, April Qualls as April, Sara Sevigny as Edna Bunnin, Will Kinnear as Leonard Bernstein, Juno as Lonnie, Dustin Laurenzi as Alex, Kurt Schweitz as Ron, Ronnel Taylor as Minion, Cassie Ventura as Haven Quinn, David Pasquesi as Beekman Poser, and Charles Malik Whitfield as Reverend L.C. Pryce

Taraji P. Henson showed up without a clip for her Jan. 11, 2019 comedy What Men Want but that’s because the movie starts shooting tomorrow. Instead she brought a great routine.

The pic is a twist on the Mel Gibson Paramount classic What Women Want in which he played a guy who could hear women’s thoughts. Henson plays a woman boxed out of the sports agents profession, but gains an unexpected edge when she can hear their thoughts.

“Do you know what it’s like to hear what men think?” said Henson before rattling off the names of various exhibitor chiefs in the audience.

“I’m so glad you loved my performance in Benjamin Button, Adam Aron” said Henson to the AMC boss.

“Oh, Mooky, thank you, I think I like my hair too,” she said to the Cineworld chief.

“Oh, Mr. Ellis Jacob, you love you some Cookie,” Henson said to the Cineplex head, “and (Cinemark boss) Mark Zoradi, you love some cookie too. It’s so good to have so many Empire fans in the house.”

But then Henson called out to Paramount CEO and Chairman Jim Gianopulos: “I can hear you back there and I can’t believe you’re going to pay me more for What Men Want!”

Adam Shankman directs with characters based off the Nancy Meyers’ original movie. Will Packer and James Lopez produce.

Forest Whitaker Guest-Stars

As Eddie (guest star Forest Whitaker) fights for his place at Empire Entertainment and gets the board on his side, Lucious and Shine must find a permanent solution to keep him out. Meanwhile, Cookie is desperate to fulfill a promise to a friend before it’s too late. Then, when tensions rise in Jamal and Tory’s new band, Preacher Azal (guest star Kade Wise) inspires Jamal with an idea to get everyone in sync in the all-new “A Lean and Hungry Look” episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, May 2 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (EMP-415) (TV-14 D, L, S, V)

Cast: Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon, Bryshere Y. Gray as Hakeem Lyon, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon, Trai Byers as Andre Lyon, Grace Byers as Annika Calhoun, Gabourey Sidibe as Becky Williams, Serayah as Tiana Brown, Ta’Rhonda Jones as Porsha Taylor, Andre Royo as Thurston “Thirsty” Rawlings, Rumer Willis as Tory Ash, Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner as Shine Joiner, and Terrell Carter as Warren DuBois

Guest Cast: Alfre Woodard as Renee, Kevin “Webb” Wigfall as Webb, Chet Hanks as Blake, James Colby as Burleson, Kade Wise as Preacher Azal, Ptosha Storey as Chyna, Rhyon Nicole Brown as Maya, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Poundcake, Sara Sevigny as Edna Bunnin, Will Kinnear as Leonard Bernstein, Porscha Coleman as Mercedes, Juno as Lonnie, Dustin Laurenzi as Alex, Kurt Schweitz as Ron, Jacqueline Williams as Warden Athena Myers, and Emma Banks as Dr. Banks

Although Lucious pressures Cookie to take it easy, she can’t help but take matters into her own hands when she receives unsettling news about an old friend. Meanwhile, Tiana’s new 20 for 20 single takes off, leading to an unexpected change in her demeanor. Also, Jamal struggles to rebrand his image, Hakeem adopts a new role as musical mentor and Andre recruits Lucious to help him uncover the truth about Eddie’s intentions in the all-new “Of Hardiness is Mother” episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, April 18 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (EMP-413) (TV-14 D, L, S, V)

Cast: Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon, Bryshere ‘Yazz’ Gray as Hakeem Lyon, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon, Trai Byers as Andre Lyon, Gabourey Sidibe as Becky Williams, Serayah as Tiana Brown, Ta’Rhonda Jones as Porsha Taylor, Andre Royo as Thurston “Thirsty” Rawlings, Rumer Willis as Tory Ash, and Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner as ‘Shine Johnson.

Guest Cast: Ptosha Storey as Chyna, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Poundcake and James Colby as Burleson, Claudette Burchett as Juanita, Mary Ernster as Joyce, Erica Faye Watson as Ruth, Ryan Michelle Bathe as Celeste, Kevin Banas as Armando, Chester Marlon Hanks as Blake, Raj Bond as Calvin Moore and Paolo Nieddu as Paolo.

Alfre Woodard (“True Blood,” “Desperate Housewives”) and Forest Whitaker (“Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior,” “The Last King of Scotland”) Guest-Star

Lucious and Thirsty try to squash Eddie’s (guest star Forest Whitaker) takeover by confronting him with legal papers. Cookie recalls her complex relationship with her mother (guest star Alfre Woodard), while she continues her search for her friend’s orphaned daughter. Meanwhile, Andre flounders, Hakeem anxiously prepares a release strategy for his 20 for 20 single and Jamal and Tory try to find a new team to make their own first non-Empire single in the all-new “False Face” episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, April 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (EMP-414) (TV-14 D, L, S)

Cast: Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon, Bryshere ‘Yazz’ Gray as Hakeem Lyon, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon, Trai Byers as Andre Lyon, Grace Byers as Annika Calhoun, Gabourey Sidibe as Becky Williams, Serayah as Tiana Brown, Ta’Rhonda Jones as Porsha Taylor, Andre Royo as Thurston “Thirsty” Rawlings, Rumer Willis as Tory Ash, and Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner as ‘Shine Johnson, Daimon Terrel Carter as Warren DuBois

Guest Cast: Kevin ‘Webb’ Wigfall as Webb, Tasha Smith as Carol, Ashley Livingston as Chicken, Claudette Burchett as Juanita, Forest Steven Whitaker as Eddie Barker, Chet Hanks as Blake, Kade Wise as Preacher, Rhyon Nicole Brown as Maya, Alfre Woodard as Renee, April Qualls as April, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Poundcake, Sara Sevigny as Edna, Will Kinear as Leonard Bernstein, Porscha Coleman as Mercedes, Kelly Owens as Monique, Marcell Johnson as Marcel, Charles Malik Whitfield as Reverend L.C. Pryce, Nicole Ari Parker as Giselle, Ryan MIchelle Bathe as Celeste, Jenna Scaccia as Ana, Diandre Blue as Diandre Blue