Pics And Recap From World Premiere Of Season 2 Of Empire Posted by Nasser Metcalfe
September 13, 2015
Last night at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Blackfilm.com attended the premiere of the second season of Daniel’s collaborative brainchild, the hugely popular Fox Television drama Empire which in addition to a screening of the season opener, included a raucous and informative panel discussion with the cast (Terrence Howard (Lucious Lyon), Taraji P. Henson (Cookie Lyon), Jussie Smollett (Jamal Lyon), Trai Byers (Andre Lyon), Bryshere Y. Gray (Hakeem Lyon), Grace Gealey (Anika Calhoun), Kaitlin Doubleday (Rhonda Lyon), Gabourey Sidibe (Becky), Ta’Rhonda Jones (Porsha), Serayah McNeil (Tiana) and producers Lee Daniels (Drector/Writer/Creator/EP), Danny Strong (EP/Writer/Creator), Ilene Chaiken (EP), and Francie Calfo (EP)) of the show as well as a live musical performance by its stars Jussie Smollett and Bryshere Y. Gray accompanied by a live band and back up dancers.
Carnegie Hall’s iconic stage has seen the likes of some of history’s greatest legendary entertainers deliver classic performances in its exalted space that will forever be firmly embedded in our culture. However on a drizzly early fall New York City Saturday night famed filmmaker Lee Daniels took the stage at the hallowed theatre and declared to a packed house that “It’s time we tear the roof off this Motherf***er!” And that is exactly what happened. Although he was actually referring more to our society at large and confronting all its issues regarding various forms of discrimination, the command seemed to be just what the audience had been waiting for and Carnegie Hall will never be quite the same.
The first episode of Empire’s second season picks up approximately 3 months after season 1’s finale ends. Music mogul and patriarch Lucious Lyon is still incarcerated on murder charges and the power struggle for control of Empire Records continues to spiral in multiple directions. The 21.1 million viewers who tuned into the finale of the first season will not be disappointed and will be treated to all the drama, plot twists and edgy dialogue that always makes the show so endearing to so many. Yet the engine that powers the entire machine is the clever writing and creative unpredictable chances that the producers are willing to take. One most notable example is the casting of none other than Chris Rock against type as a feared, violent crime lord who ends up on lock down with Lucious. Without a doubt Empire comes out blazing on full tilt setting the tone for what promises to be another hugely successful and wildly entertaining ride for the new season.
At the conclusion of the screening esteemed film critic Elvis Mitchell moderated a spirited Q & A which revealed that the off screen chemistry of the Empire family truly rivals that of their on screen personas. The laughing, joking, playful teasing and consistent expressions of praise and love reveal a true collaborative collective spirit which forms to create magic. When initially conceptualizing the show, writer and co-creator Danny Strong explains “I remember when I pitched this to Lee [Daniels} as a movie and then he called me the next day and said ‘I can’t stop thinking about it but I think it’s a TV show.’ And then he said ‘We could do a black Dynasty’ and I said to him it would be historic to have an all black soap opera on a network show.” One of the greatest moments of the entire panel discussion however came when the subject of the casting process came up and Terrence Howard, Taraji P Henson and Lee Daniels recalled how when auditioning for the role of Jamal Lyon, Jussie Smollett sang an acapella version of Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines. At the insistence of the audience and eventually the panel as well, Smollett actually gave a taste of his stirring rendition of the hit song which brought thunderous applause from the enthused audience. By the conclusion of the discussion it becomes clear why such a fun and talented group can come together and create a show that has succeeded against the odds and connected with millions of fans across the nation.
The lifeblood of Empire is of course music and the show’s two main characters who deliver this element, Hakeem and Jamal have performed numerous songs that have not only helped to define the show but have become fan favorites. So it was only befitting that for the premiere event, actors Jussie Smollett and Bryshere Y. Gray who portray the aforementioned artists would take to the stage and perform a collection of some of Empire’s biggest hits. Backed by a live band they gave a high energy performance that seemingly peaked with the catchy tune, Drip Drop.
Once the stage at Carnegie Hall had completely undergone an unprecedented experience thanks to the Empire machine in its full grandest form, the only thing left to do of course is party. At a stellar multi-level event resplendid with catered food, numerous open bars and a breath taking Manhattan terrace, a collective of who’s who gathered to celebrate and pay respects to the show of all shows. In addition to the entire cast, including guest and recurring stars such as Naomi Campbell, Marisa Tomei and Courtney Love, the likes of Morris Chestnut, Mariah Carey and Gayle King were in attendance. This writer and blackfilm.com have been covering the work of Lee Daniels almost since the outset of his career as a filmmaker for well over a decade now. In March of 2016 he plans to sit in the director’s chair and begin work on a biopic about legendary comic Richard Pryor, with a cast that will reportedly include Oprah Winfrey, Eddie Murphy and Mike Epps in the title role. At one point in the evening Lee Daniels leans over to me and quietly states, “It’s come a long way hasn’t it?” Indeed it has and from all indications it is just the beginning.
Returning Wednesday, Sept. 23 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, EMPIRE, the No. 1 hit drama about music, family, glamour, danger and power, shattered ratings records every week in its debut season; spawned hit records “Drip Drop” and “You’re So Beautiful”; and made Cookie Lyon a household name.
