Empire, the series on Fox

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 2:35pm

It's like Black Smash!

I have made it clear that I rarely have the inclination to watch hour long tv shows, but I watched the first two episodes of Empire on Fox on Demand and even without being able to fast forward through the commercial breaks, the hours zipped by.

This show has everything: powerful media moguls, insanely fabulous ex-wives, King Lear homages, Timbaland-produced songs that aren't even half bad, and apparently in upcoming episodes, Courtney Love.

PLUS, there's eye candy and a shockingly astute homophobia plot line. I'm committed to this until such time as the shows aren't as good as the first two.

[TonyaFanatic]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 4:21pm

Oh it's fantastic! I really think Lee Daniels is at home in this soapy kind of world he and Danny Strong have created. Taraji P. Henson did her strongest work to date in that pilot episode.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 4:27pm

It's so fantastic! Even the unrealistic flashbacks to Lucious's gangsta hip hop days are fabulous.

And of course, I'd volunteer to help stabilize Andre.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 4:28pm

Are you black? How can you possibly relate to this or empathize with the characters, Namo?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 4:34pm

Yes, I'm black. That's why every single person laughed at you when you told the world I am Chris Caggiano. Remember that? That was hilarious.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 4:55pm

Headband, I hope your comment "Are you black?" was meant as utter sarcasm-- this show is a hoot and a half and enjoying it has virtually nothing to do with being black as far as I can tell. (Spoken as a white person).

I've been holding my tongue waiting for someone else to start a thread on EMPIRE (Thankyou Namo). I too hope it maintains the crazy over-the-top WTF-idness that the first 2 episodes are full of. Love the way the gay storyline is handled so far, but don't know how many more episodes they can string us along before Jamal and his boyfriend have to go public with their hot hot love. And who ever expected FOX to introduce the country to the concept of a bib/cum rag on network TV like Rhonda did in last Wednesday's episode? I say keep the boardroom scenes to a minimum -- let all the big plot developments take place in the bedroom (or on the kitchen floor).

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 4:59pm

"Thankyou Namo."

I did a search and thought, "I can't believe I get to start the Empire thread!"

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 5:25pm

I watched the first episode last night and I'm going to watch the second in bit. I'm digging it so far. I love Taraji P Henson in this.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 5:29pm

I was my usual resistant self for the first ten minutes or so but then Cookie showed up in the best arrival since Alexis Carrington. After watching the second ep I put it on my auto-DVR list so I can zip through the commercials for the rest of the season.

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 5:48pm

There was an article posted today about them taking on homophobia:

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/01/18/lee-daniels-wants-to-expose-homophobia-in-tv-show-empire/

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 6:02pm

I wasn't psyched about seeing that link went to Fox News but laughed when I saw this in the article:

"...has gotten off to a strong start this month at the ratings-challenged Fox network."

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 6:43pm

Oh YES! I watched the first two episodes yesterday on Fox ON DEMAND and I was hooked immediately!!! The music is really fantastic. I especially loved the song Jamal sang on the first episode: "Good Enough" so much that I immediately without hesitation downloaded it from iTunes.

So many interesting guest appearances are coming up and after only two aired episodes Fox has renewed it for a second season.

I hope it keeps getting better because so far I am loving it.

Taraji P. Henson rules!!!

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 6:56pm

...it's also so politically incorrect:

In one episode "Cookie" manages to call her gay son "Jamal" a queen and then addresses his latino boyfriend as "La Cucaracha" and "Dora" (as in Dora The Explorer). Friggin' hilarious.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 7:01pm

Actually, I think it's politically astute and I think this takes the examination of homophobia much deeper than I have ever seen on a TV show before. What Empire and Daniels are saying is that even our supporters with the best of intentions have a LOT of homophobic baggage. I haven't seen this taken to the this level in popular mainstream entertainment before.

Posted: 1/18/15 at 7:09pm

I LOVE that they are brave enough to show us a real strong black woman- sassy, foul-mouthed and drug dealing! I am organizing a betting pool on which episode she says "Don't make me take my earrings off!"

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 7:17pm

You should start an I Hate Empire thread like I did for Looking!

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 7:38pm

‘Empire’s’ Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard Hope Gay Storyline Will Save Young Lives

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 8:07pm

Portia, get my shoe!

Updated On: 1/18/15 at 08:07 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 8:08pm

Portia's the best TV assistant since Bubble.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 8:11pm

Portia reads the papers.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 8:11pm

She cracks me up.

[javero]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 10:17pm

Team Portia here!

The show is my latest guilty pleasure. I was so prepared not to like it but am hooked. If the writers keep up the good work, Danny Strong and Lee Daniels will have a hit on their hands. The series adeptly treats some thorny topics such as colorism, homophobia, female sexuality, criminality, corporate finance (as well as greed), upward mobility, hedonism, social caste, and misogyny in one of the thriving segments of the recording industry.

I'm really pleased that the creative team opted to embrace a few stereotypes laced with some Dynasty-like camp for levity. It's ok that her heels wear her instead of Portia wearing them

Updated On: 1/18/15 at 10:17 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 10:36pm

I'm sorry, I feel like you just wrote "colorism."

[javero]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 11:01pm

@FindingNamo

I did. It's very subtle on the series, so far, but a topic several individuals and I have discussed outside this forum. Cookie (Taraji Henson) has taken a few digs at Luscious, Wifey #2 Anika, and Halle Berry on the sly. She was moved out by a younger, fairer, and more socially skilled lady. The stage is set for Cookie's three-pronged attack on Anika. I'm confident that this series will be bold enough to go there.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/18/15 at 11:08pm

So youth and social skills are all a part of colorism. Okay. "Colorism."