From episode 1 we knew that this show would be different because it quickly ignored television taboos such as interracial marriage and homosexuality and brought to network television what has given original cable series a successful run for the past 15 years. Co-creator and Executive Producer Lee Daniels recently spoke on why he chose network television instead of cable:.
“It helps me creatively (having things you can’t do for network TV), because on cable you can say whatever, and how do you tell a story about hip-hop without using some of those (curse) words, you know what I mean…? The poetry is the language and the language is the music and the music is the magic, so what I do, is we work the actors to do the work with nuance, glances, and those nuances say those words (without saying them out loud)… It’s all in the acting.”
But some critics feel that the prime time powerhouse is just another contribution to the negative stereotypes that somehow seems to plague every African-American television show that is not quite The Cosby Show. Respected Author and Social Commentator, Dr. Boyce Watkins, (who admits that he has not seen the show) made this statement on Youtube:
“I love Terrance Howard [and] I love Taraji P Henson [and] what bothers me is the fact that we live in a world where these two talented African-Americans can only be rewarded for acting like gangsters, thugs, hookers, coons, rappers, entertainers and all the other stuff that people wants us to be. It really is a minstrel show”.
Dr. Watkins went on to say he believes that Empire was created with an agenda for Daniels and the Fox Network that involves racism and homosexuality. These are debatable points that should be discussed, but does the audience or the actors themselves find these points to be valid? Taraji P. Henson recently spoke on the criticism:
Ron Jones
After a brief hiatus from the scene and a recent move to Round Rock, Texas, Ron has RETURNED under a new brand, JRon Entertainment & Productions in hopes of bringing his unique style of storytelling to Central Texas and it’s surrounding areas. He is currently an Entertainment Contributor with Real Life Real Faith Magazine which will launch in February 2015. With future plans for television productions, feature length films, national stage play tours and even novels, there is truly no limit to the talent that God has blessed him with, which he will always add “could not be possible without the support of my FAMILY AND FRIENDS.”