Fox Television was hailed this year for developing "Empire," about the power struggle of an African American family over control of a massive music empire. With its racially mixed cast of memorable characters and outrageous storylines, the show became TV's hottest series.
But while critics and viewers applauded "Empire" as a major step in honoring cultural differences, those who tuned in to Tuesday night's launch of Ryan Murphy's horror-comedy "Scream Queens" may question Fox's progress on the diversity front.
Fox TV heads Dana Walden and Gary Newman showered Murphy ("American Horror Story," "Glee") and the series with glowing accolades at the show's premiere Monday at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, but some reviewers had already blasted "Scream Queens," saying the series' attempts at humor, particularly when it comes to race and stereotypes, are misguided — and even offensive.