Nielsen TV ratings plunged overnight for Fox TV’s dreadful soap opera Empire.

Wednesday’s episode drew just 8.2 million viewers. That’s down 8 million viewers since Empire‘s season 2 premiere.

Following the 9/23 second season premiere (which was itself down from hour two of the season one finale), each “Empire” episode has suffered a week-over-week decline in the overnight households (and in adults 18-49 and total viewership). The declines have not, however, come close to eradicating the series’ standing as Wednesday’s top broadcast show. Source

In Wednesday’s episode, Andre (Trai Byers) gets baptized to wash away his sins. He is torn over his pastor’s suggestion that he ask his family to attend. “My family doesn’t go to church unless someone is in a casket,” Andre tells his pastor.

R&B singer/songwriter Ne-Yo makes a guest appearance in episode 5 as himself. Ne-Yo advises Jamal to take his boyfriend on tour with them.

And in yet another unnecessary scene, Jamal (Jussie Smollet) flies into a rage when he encounters his boyfriend being serviced by a gay photographer at a party.