American Idol and Empire Might Do a Crossover (VIDEO)

Could the new hit hip-hop drama on FOX and American Idol do a crossover? Both series air on Wednesday nights, and the two show’s musical themes are compatible. The question was posed at respective panels featuring both shows at Saturdays Television Critics Association tour in Pasadena.

“We would contemplate it only because it makes sense and they really would in real life, so why not?” said Empire showrunner Ilene Chaiken.

“It’s a great idea and I’m not going to tell you that we haven’t talked about Idol in the writers’ room. [We’ve] talked about a cameo from Idol on Empire or possibly one of our artists going on Idol.”

Terrence Howard, who plays Empire kingpin, Lucious Lyon, said, “It would be stupid not too.”

How about a storyline where a former winner who has since lost their contract makes a comeback with Lucious and Empire? Is that too much of an Idol downer? Certainly, one of the Lyons brothers making an appearance on Idol, complete with Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) kicking some producer ass backstage, could offer some realistic and highly entertaining moments. Heh.

Over at the American Idol panel, exec producer Trish Kinane weighed in on a potential crossover, saying, “We’d love to do something, if it’s organic.”

By the way, there already IS an American Idol crossover in the works on Empire. It hasn’t been formally announced yet, but American Idol season 3 alum, Jennifer Hudson will appear in an upcoming episode. You can catch a glimpse of her in the trailer below at the :49 mark.

Empire airs on Wednesday night’s at 9/8c pm on FOX after American Idol at 8/7c PM.