This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on March 18, 2015. Season 3 of “Empire” premieres at 9 tonight.
If you haven’t heard about Fox’s new show “Empire,” you probably haven’t been paying any attention to pop culture, because it’s by far the most talked-about show of the winter TV season.
I’ll admit I haven’t seen every episode, but here are three reasons why the show is successful.
STAR POWER
I’ve never thought star power was required for TV shows. And in some cases, due to the power of celebrity, it’s hindered a show’s success.
But with “Empire,” it’s the opposite; it fuels the drama’s success.
Let’s start with the leads: Taraji P. Henson, who plays Cookie, the ex-wife of Lucious, played by Terrence Howard.
Talk about credibility: The two starred in “Hustle & Flow,” the 2005 movie that garnered an Oscar nomination for Howard. Henson was nominated for an Oscar for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”
It’s not just that these actors are high-profile, they also have chemistry.
But it doesn’t stop there: Many other well-known actors have appeared on the show. Raven-Symone. Courtney Love. Gabourey Sidibe. Naomi Campbell. And the list goes on.
It might seem like that many celebrities would overpower the show, but the guest stars are in only snippets, so it’s not overdone.
Who knows who will show up next? “Empire” was greenlit for season 2 early in its run, and with Lee Daniels and Danny Strong at the show’s helm (both were involved in “The Butler”), anything can happen.
THE MUSIC
Fox has done musical shows before (ahem … “Glee”), but “Empire” is different.
Because it’s a drama, not a musical, the music fills in naturally.
Of course it’s easy to incorporate music since the show is about a family’s record label, but it truly never feels forced.
Keeping with the show’s star power, Timbaland is the executive music producer, so the music will continue to be powerful.
IT’S NOT A FAMILY COMEDY … IT’S A FAMILY DRAMA
If a family is the center of a TV show, it’s usually a comedy (“Modern Family,” “Full House,” “The Middle,” etc.).
And while “Empire” is a lot of things, it’s not a comedy.
There’s violence. There’s conflict. There’s crime. There’s music. There’s romance.
It’s a lot to take in, but since family is at the core of this drama, the show has broader appeal.
The two-hour season finale of “Empire” airs at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, on Fox.
