FOX’s ‘Empire’ Show a Cutthroat Mix of Family and Business

OK. Most people that know me, know that I’m not really into the TV dramas. Maybe it is because I work a lot and don’t have the time to commit a hour each week to watch them. Plus, you know how it goes. If you miss one or two episodes, you will be thrown off the plot entirely. So, for that reason, I don’t watch. But, after attending a special screening of FOX’s new show “Empire,” this may be the right family drama to make me sacrifice a hour every Wednesday.

“Empire” is a musical drama TV series that revolves around the family of a very prominent Black family in the music business.  The show stars Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Trai Byers (eldest son), Jussett Smollett (middle son), Bryshere Gray (youngest son), and even Gabourey Sidibe (“Precious”) gets her shine on as Howard’s assistant. “Empire” is a project produced by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong and airs on FOX on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 9:00 PM ET.

The hip-hop mogul Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard’s character, is a cut-throat businessman who is prepping to hand over the family business to one of his sons. A health threat of ALS has Lyon eager to determine who will run Empire. However, the dysfunction of his family’s present (and past) causes major complications and potentially destroys them all.

The first episode of the show, which is what I had the privileged to see, is a compilation of each major character. The three sons were introduced: Andre (Trai Byers), the CFO of Empire Ent. who is highly intelligent and married to a white woman; Jamal (Jussett Smollett) is the typical off-the-mark middle child that is gay, talented, and the least of his father’s favorites; and Hakeem (Bryshere Gray), the spoiled young rapper that aspires to be just like his dad. The highlight and force behind the series, I believe, is their mother Cookie (Taraji P. Henson).

Cookie’s character is a woman who’s did a bid for your ex-husband, made it out, and is determine to get back what’s hers. Taraji is definitely going to give the other TV divas a run for their money.

“Empire” is an unique stack of family, fame, money, power, greed, sexuality, love, hate, crime, and death. Timbaland’s added expertise with music production keeps the series relevant to the current music environment. All of these components make great TV…just wait and see.