Connect with us

Dynasty

Lee Daniels On His New Show EMPIRE: "I Have A Great Love For Soap Opera … This Is My Black DYNASTY!"

Courtesy/FOX

Next Wednesday on January 7th, one of the most highly touted new series is about to debut when Empire airs its first episode on FOX beginning at 9PET/8PMCT!

One of the co-creators of Empire is Lee Daniels, the Oscar-nominated producer-director of Precious and The Butler.  Daniels created this new drama along with Danny Strong the Emmy-nominated writer of HBO’s Game Change.

In Empire, the backdrop is the world of Hip-Hop music and it stars the dynamic Taraji P. Henson in the role of Cookie!  In the first episode, Cookie emerges from a 17-year stint in jail for running illegal drugs whose profits went for the creation of Empire Entertainment …  and … Cookie’s ex-hubby, Lucious played by Terrence Howard who is a former street thug turned rap superstar, is about to take the company public on the New York Stock Exchange. Cookie, who knows she can bring down Lucious with dirty secret to the press, wants what she feels is her fair share of the company … half of it.   But there’s more! Lucious was recently diagnosed with ALS and must decide which of his three sons should run the company when he is unable to do so! Soapalicious, right?

When talking about the creation of this series and all of its numerous characters with TV Guide Magazine’s Michael Logan, Daniel offered up “I have a great love for soap opera,” he confessed. Then went on to say,  “This is my black Dynasty.”

So, will you be checking out Empire?  Do you like the premise? Could it be the next primetime hit soapy drama? Comment below!

Click to comment

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Sounds interesting…ill check it out if i dont 4get!!!

ummmmm. no.

Exactly, rebecca1!!! I shall take a pass, as well. Me thinks I’ll simply stick with the supremely superb new season of “Downton Abbey!!!”

STILL haven’t caught up!

Ummmmmmmm…yes!

I have seen the previews/trailer.. It will be a blockbuster!
I have been waiting for it!!
I am ready!!!
(pop corn and Dr. Perpper)

This has definitely peaked my interest.

I have been looking forward to this series since fall…and I don’t even like hip-hop or rap music. But, Howard & Henson on screen are a must-see IMO.

yes the show Empire looks very interesting, great actors, right after American Idol. , I am so ready to see a great drama with great actors, cannot wait!

Ummm Oh Heckee to the YES!

Can’t wait to see Taraji again after Person of Interest I was wondering where she went after her movie w/Idris Elba…and with Terrance Howard, together they are phenomenal dynamic (Oscar nominated actors) they will bring it like Hustle and Flo.

I am a huge fan of gritty urban fiction and this seems like it will fit the bill. Now if the writing is all there this could be another hit like Starz’s Power. Seems like its Berry Gordy’s Motown only 2015 style. I’m ready like Freddy.

Can’t wait!

Will be watching and hope others will too. This is the only way to get rid of all the terrible reality shows on now. Bring on scripted shows again daytime as well as in prime time. I also wish some network would broadcast some of the old canceled soaps like Another World, Guiding Light, ATWT, & others. Those shows were great. I would much rather see old canceled soaps on television than reality shows or boring talk shows in daytime.

Really, black DYNASTY? I wonder how long WHITE DYNASTY would be allowed to stay on a website. Enough of the transparent hollywood double standard, Michael. I expected more from you.

What?
Michael did not say that ..

– Daniels the creator of the new drama said it..

Daniel offered up “I have a great love for soap opera,” he confessed. Then went on to say, “This is my black Dynasty.”

not said by Michael… said by Daniels… 🙂

LOL su0000 what on EARTH was his comment about…what if it was a telenovela and the creator said this is my brown dynasty?? At first I wasn’t going to watch it until I saw the creators involved and this article cemented my butt on the couch for the premiere…Oh scott..into the woods to sell the cow..to find the coat..LMAO

Just another trigger-happy response from someone who thinks that any mention of ethnicity is “racist,” which is completely off-base. It’s very easy to criticize someone for mentioning a black, Hispanic or Asian version of a well-known work when their own race has always been well-represented. In this case, “black” was used as an adjective, a descriptive word, similar to how the movie, THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, can be called an “American SEVEN SAMURAI.” It’s not derogatory to describe something that changes settings or character traits to update the story. Race names ARE adjectives.

I’ve seen many commercials for this show. It definitely looks soapy. I think it will be successful. I’ll check it out.

i’m definitely, showing up for this gala

I tried OWN’ Tyler Perry ” the have and have nots”

did not hold my attention span

Lee Daniels forefronts his love for serial…

I’m going

I will be watching!!

I cant wait!
Empire is going to change the world of prime time soaps..
Empire is the start of something big in primetime
it is very strong on characters and deep emotional drama.
it is the one you can’t get enough of ..
it is the soaps of all the soaps (21st century soap..

It’s fitting that FOX would see the potential in a show like this. Shakespeare was basically writing soap opera for his age. And, FOX has been the go to network for edgy, slightly offbeat material that’s ahead of its time (MARRIED WITH CHILDREN, THE SIMPSONS, X-FILES, GLEE). Once they figured out that blending Shakespeare with the music connections already established by GLEE would = potential hit, it was just a matter of time. It’s taken long enough. Gordy Berry’s and Quincy Jones’ lives should have inspired a soap like this a long time ago.

I am a binge watcher..
I do not like the 6 days down between shows, it breaks it up..
when binge watching it rolls out smooth and never interrupted, I really like that..

with this one. i don’t know if i will be able to wait for the all the shows to end for a binge watching..

So it is okay to use the word Negro if you are a Negro? It is used in this show.

All My Children

Jacob Young Shares Production Pic of Cast of His New Film Featuring Joan Collins and Nadia Bjorlin

Last month, during a livestream conversation on the Michael Fairman Channel, while promoting Jason Cook’s film, Four for Fun, and featuring soap notables Jacob Young (ex-AJ, AMC, ex-Lucky, GH, ex-Rick, B&B) and Brytni Sarpy (Y&R), Young revealed some intel on his upcoming movie project.

Jacob shared that he was set to direct, produce and star in a Agatha Christie-like murder mystery feature film, Murder Between Friends shooting in Prague.

The actor/director expressed, “I’m flying at the end of the March to Prague to direct, produce and star in a film with Joan Collins (ex-Dynasty). Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe, Days of our Lives) is in it, and Toby Alexander Smith from Eastenders (ex-Gray Atkins). Plus, a couple of my Broadway friends and a very well known Czech actress (Hana Vagnerova). It’s very ‘Knives Out’ without having a hundred million dollars to shoot it, but still will be a lovely film nonetheless.”

Photos: JPI

Young is currently shooting the film’s principal photography abroad through April 17th.

Over the weekend, Jacob took to his Instagram to share a photo with the cast of the film where pictured is former Dynasty star, Joan Collins (ex-Alexis) and former Days of our Lives star, Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe). In addition, former All My Children star, Trent Garrett (ex-Asher) is seen in director-mode kneeling.

Trent and Jacob are both co-directors of Murder Between Friends Joan Collins shared the pic on her Instagram citing, “This was the #secret I posted about several weeks ago!”

So, looking forward to seeing Jacob’s film when it is released with Joan, Nadia, and company? Let us know in the comment section.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jacob Young (@jacob_w_young)

Continue Reading

Dynasty

Elizabeth Gillies First Post-‘Dynasty’ Role Revealed; GH Alum Bryan Craig Also In Cast

Now that the CW’s Dynasty has come to its conclusion after five seasons, many have wondered what series star Elizabeth Gillies (ex-Fallon) will be seen in next.  Part of the answer was revealed today in casting news via Deadline.

Gillies will star and is the co-executive producer of a new Tubi film called Spread.  In it, Liz will take on the role of  ambitious and aspiring journalist, who lands a temp job at an adult magazine run by an aging industry king played by Harvey Keitel.  The character must reconcile her idealism as she strives to help the company succeed.

Spread is written by Buffy Charlet, who is another of the films Co-EP’s, and is inspired by Charlet’s real-life experience as a temp at Hustler magazine who rose in the ranks to become an editor.

The film also stars two-time Daytime Emmy winner Bryan Craig (ex-General Hospital, Good Trouble).

Look for Spread to drop on Tubi in 2023.

So, intrigued to see Liz and Bryan in Tubi’s new film, ‘Spread’? Comment below.

Continue Reading

Dynasty

DYNASTY Series Finale: A ‘False Face’ Revealed!

After five seasons, the final episode of CW’s Dynasty came to its conclusion on Friday night, but not before it delivered another soapy trope – a use of a prosthetic mask (sound familiar Days of our Lives fans?) to hide someone’s true identify.

Here’s what went down: After majordomo Graham (Dan Amboyer) had kidnapped Adam (Sam Underwood), in a shocker, Graham peels off his face! Yup, it was a prosthetic mask and reveals himself to be none other than Steven Carrington (James Mackay)!

After being kept away by Adam for years (he had hidden Steven in a sanitarium and then the place burned down), Steven finally figured out it was Adam who was pulling the strings of his disappearance. Next, came an all-out brawl; where instead of an opportunity to inject Adam with a syringe of some sort of concoction as payback, he almost killed his scheming half-brother. However, Steven didn’t want be a murderer, so he let Adam live to see another day, but told Adam to exile himself from the Carringtons and never return.

With that, and now masked again, Graham meets up with Sam (Rafael de La Fuente) at the hotel bar, where he eventually pulls off his mask to reveal himself as Steven. Kudos to de La Fuente in those scenes who gave us all the feels as Sam is reunited with the man he loves.

Photo: CW

Still in another heart-tugger, Fallon (Elizabeth Gillies) comes upon a man sitting at the piano at the Carringtons, and when he turns around, she sees its her brother, Steven.  The two, in typical CW Dynasty-style, break into song.  It was touchingly played by series star, Gillies along with Mackay. Elsewhere, Alexis and Blake (Grant Show) are trouncing through a horrific storm trying to find Dex. Ultimately, Alexis (Elaine Hendrix) and Dex (Pej Vahdat) reunite, and when a softened Blake returns home, he and Crystal (Daniella Alonso) vow to stay together and cement it with a kiss.

In addition, Amanda (Eliza Bennett) gets a job offer to return to London from her ex-lover, which puts her relationship with Kirby (Maddison Brown) in question.  Culhane (Robert Christopher Riley) told Sam that he’ll be moving to LA and selling his part of the hotel business they have together before he marries Nina.  Sam doesn’t take that news well and tries to ensure no one else will take Culhane’s half of their business partnership, because he likes working with him so much.  Meanwhile, the surrogate, Stacey Moore (Samantha Massell), delivers Fallon and Liam’s (Adam Huber) baby and they welcome their little girl to the dysfunction of the Carrington clan.

Photo:

We are onto the final moments via a six-month time jump and the trajectory of the Carringtons and their extended family become known. Sam presides over Culhane’s wedding to Nina (Felisha Terrell), Liam has written children’s books after his baby girl, while Jeff (Sam Adegoke) is setting up ColbyCo’s new headquarters in Africa, specifically, Nigeria. Fallon had decided to rebrand her company Carrington United, much to the delight of her father.  Dominique (Michael Michele) and Alexis are both opening stores right across from each other on Bleecker Street in Manhattan, and it looks as if they will continue their ongoing catfights in the Big Apple. Kirby decides to move to London to be with Amanda.

Courtesy/CW

And … in the ‘payback is a bitch’ column, we see Adam with an English accent working as a veterinarian … taking care of cats! The final moment of the series features a snapshot of the Carringtons during a family photo gathering.

So, what did you think of the season finale of ‘Dynasty’? Let us know in the comment section below. But, first watch a BTS moment with James Mackay and Liz Gillies singing a familiar tune on her Instagram, posted after last night’s finale aired.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Elizabeth Gillies (@lizgillz)

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Eileen Davidson as Ashley

The Young and the Restless

Airdate: 4-12-2024

Popular