Revisiting ‘Empire’ – The TV Show Remains a Transgenerational Appeal

Yesterday I finished watching the last episode of #FOX‘s #Empire. I love the show since day one back in 2015, and I am happy that I finished it till the end. Home is on the Way is my favorite song. I’m going to re-watch the series on #Hulu. Long live the Empire. pic.twitter.com/2UbBTzNrhY

— Johnny (Fox King jm) 🦊🎮✏🍥✍🏿 (@Fox_King_jm) June 11, 2020

Created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, Empire was an American musical drama TV series that ran from January 7, 2015, to April 21, 2020. Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television collaborated to produce the series. Filmed in Chicago, it is set in New York and features themes about hip-hop music and Empire Entertainment Company.

Diverse Themes

The series features numerous themes, including family dynamics, music as a tool of expression, gambling, etc. Episodes like The Lyon Who Cried Wolf show Andre playing bingo with his grandmother, whom he pretends not to know. The popularity of the internet has made it easy for fans to access similar bingo games through online platforms. For instance, bingo at Paddy Power allows fans to engage at any time from any place.

The Empire follows the journey of a powerful family dynasty as they navigate the treacherous waters of the corporate world. Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) is a hip-hop and business mogul who’s later faced with the challenge of deciding his next of kin. Trai Byers, Jussie Smollet, and Bryshere Gray play the roles of his three sons, Andre, Jamal, and Hakeem, respectively. Later in the series, their relationship is severed as they all aim to take up after their father’s role.

Widespread Adoption

The series was massively received as 17 million viewers watched the first season finale. Critics praised it for the cast’s stellar performance, direction, musical scores, and tone, with many stating that its direction took a creative look at a musical. The first season scored 84% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 49 reviews and 72% on Metacritic. TV Guide’s Michael Logan celebrated Henson for how she portrayed the character Cookie.

The following seasons were also widely celebrated, with the second season garnering the most views on Fox. The sixth and final season of the show was renewed on Fox in April 2019 and premiered in September of the same year. The show’s engaging storyline inspired a spin-off narrative that revolved around Henson’s role.

Fox ranked Empire as its highest-rated debut in three years, with viewership increasing week after another for the first five episodes. During the 2014-2015 TV season, Empire was mentioned as the highest-rated scripted program, overtaking The Big Bang Theory.

Tv Show Empire 2015https://t.co/OgwDIkphf0

LUCIOUS LYON is the king of hip-hop. An immensely talented artist, the CEO of Empire Entertainment and a former street thug, his reign has been unchallenged for years. But all that changes, when… pic.twitter.com/74tdGb3raK

— ITV Torrents (@itvtorrents) February 2, 2019

Filming and Production

Filming of a pilot episode happened in Chicago in March 2014 and was done by Howard, Sidibe, and Henson. Fox then scheduled it for its 2014-25 TV program on May 6, 2014. It would later be programmed as a midseason replacement instead of a fall schedule. Written by Danny Strong, the show was inspired by William Shakespeare’s King Lear and James Goldman’s The Lion in Winter. Dynasty, ABC’s prime soap opera, also strongly played a role in inspiring Empire’s plot.

Danny Strong, along with Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo, were the show’s executive producers. Lee Daniels also directed the show’s first episode, while Ilene Chaiken came in later as a showrunner. Brett Mahoney then took over from Chaiken as the showrunner of the fifth season, which premiered on September 26, 2018.

In summary, Empire’s success can be attributed to the unparalleled performance of the cast and the minds behind its production. The show’s widespread reception is a testament to how the TV series continues to appeal to numerous generations and cultures.

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