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If you've missed Taraji P. Henson on CBS' Person of Interest, you may want to check out her new FOX series, Empire, starting tonight! 
ABOUT THE SHOW
From Academy Award nominee Lee Daniels (Lee Daniels' The Butler, Precious) and Emmy Award winner Danny Strong (Lee Daniels' The Butler, Game Change), comes EMPIRE, a sexy and powerful new drama about the head of a music empire whose three sons and ex-wife all battle for his throne.
LUCIOUS LYON (Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard, Crash, Hustle & Flow) 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 he learns he has a disease that is going to render him crippled and incapacitated in a matter of three years. The clock is ticking, and he must groom one of his three sons to take over his crowning achievement, without destroying his already fractured family.
Lucious' favorite is his youngest son, HAKEEM (newcomer Bryshere Gray), a gifted musician and a spoiled playboy who values fame over hard work. The middle son, JAMAL (Jussie Smollett, North, The Mighty Ducks), is a sensitive soul and a musical prodigy who, unlike Hakeem, shies away from the spotlight. Jamal also happens to be gay, which infuriates and embarrasses his father. ANDRE (Trai Byers, 90210), the eldest son, is CFO of Empire Entertainment. Wharton-educated with a brilliant business mind, Andre lacks the charisma that Lucious believes is crucial to running the company. But in his quest for power, Andre is assisted by his manipulative and like-minded wife, RHONDA (Kaitlin Doubleday, Hung, Catch Me If You Can).
As Lucious prompts his sons to vie for the empire, his plans are thrown into chaos when his ex-wife, COOKIE (Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Person of Interest), mysteriously emerges seven years early from prison, where she's been for almost two decades. Brash and fearless, she sees herself as the sacrificial lamb who built an empire with Lucious and then took the fall for running the drugs that financed Lucious' early career.
For now, Lucious remains firmly in control of Empire Entertainment. He is attended to by his hard-working assistant, BECKY (guest star and Academy Award nominee Gabourey Sidibe, American Horror Story, Precious), and relies on longtime friend and Chairman of the Board VERNON TURNER (Malik Yoba, Revolution, Girlfriends) for advice and support. He relies on a whole lot more from ANIKA GIBBONS (newcomer Grace Gealey), the head of A&R for Empire and his current girlfriend.
As the Lyons slug it out, an emotional chess game begins that will either cause the family's destruction or redemption. Lives and loves will be lost as the complicated family will come together and fall apart over the elusive throne, all set to an original soundtrack written and produced by legendary hip-hop hitmaker Timbaland. Will the family unite and learn to love each other before it's too late? Love, war, family, sacrifice, money and music: this is the story of EMPIRE.
EMPIRE is from Imagine Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television. The series is created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong. The pilot is written by Daniels and Strong. The series is executive-produced by Daniels, Strong, Brian Grazer (24, Friday Night Lights, Parenthood), Ilene Chaiken (The L Word) and Francie Calfo (Those Who Kill, GANG RELATED). Daniels directed the pilot.
http://www.fox.com/empire#
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ABOUT THE SHOW
From Academy Award nominee Lee Daniels (Lee Daniels' The Butler, Precious) and Emmy Award winner Danny Strong (Lee Daniels' The Butler, Game Change), comes EMPIRE, a sexy and powerful new drama about the head of a music empire whose three sons and ex-wife all battle for his throne.
LUCIOUS LYON (Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard, Crash, Hustle & Flow) 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 he learns he has a disease that is going to render him crippled and incapacitated in a matter of three years. The clock is ticking, and he must groom one of his three sons to take over his crowning achievement, without destroying his already fractured family.
Lucious' favorite is his youngest son, HAKEEM (newcomer Bryshere Gray), a gifted musician and a spoiled playboy who values fame over hard work. The middle son, JAMAL (Jussie Smollett, North, The Mighty Ducks), is a sensitive soul and a musical prodigy who, unlike Hakeem, shies away from the spotlight. Jamal also happens to be gay, which infuriates and embarrasses his father. ANDRE (Trai Byers, 90210), the eldest son, is CFO of Empire Entertainment. Wharton-educated with a brilliant business mind, Andre lacks the charisma that Lucious believes is crucial to running the company. But in his quest for power, Andre is assisted by his manipulative and like-minded wife, RHONDA (Kaitlin Doubleday, Hung, Catch Me If You Can).
As Lucious prompts his sons to vie for the empire, his plans are thrown into chaos when his ex-wife, COOKIE (Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Person of Interest), mysteriously emerges seven years early from prison, where she's been for almost two decades. Brash and fearless, she sees herself as the sacrificial lamb who built an empire with Lucious and then took the fall for running the drugs that financed Lucious' early career.
For now, Lucious remains firmly in control of Empire Entertainment. He is attended to by his hard-working assistant, BECKY (guest star and Academy Award nominee Gabourey Sidibe, American Horror Story, Precious), and relies on longtime friend and Chairman of the Board VERNON TURNER (Malik Yoba, Revolution, Girlfriends) for advice and support. He relies on a whole lot more from ANIKA GIBBONS (newcomer Grace Gealey), the head of A&R for Empire and his current girlfriend.
As the Lyons slug it out, an emotional chess game begins that will either cause the family's destruction or redemption. Lives and loves will be lost as the complicated family will come together and fall apart over the elusive throne, all set to an original soundtrack written and produced by legendary hip-hop hitmaker Timbaland. Will the family unite and learn to love each other before it's too late? Love, war, family, sacrifice, money and music: this is the story of EMPIRE.
EMPIRE is from Imagine Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television. The series is created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong. The pilot is written by Daniels and Strong. The series is executive-produced by Daniels, Strong, Brian Grazer (24, Friday Night Lights, Parenthood), Ilene Chaiken (The L Word) and Francie Calfo (Those Who Kill, GANG RELATED). Daniels directed the pilot.
http://www.fox.com/empire#
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THE BATTLE BEGINS ON THE ALL-NEW SERIES PREMIERE OF "EMPIRE" WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, ON FOX
EMPIRE is a powerful new drama that follows LUCIOUS LYON (Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard, Crash, Hustle & Flow), the head of a music empire whose reign has been unchallenged for years. But all that changes when he learns he has a disease and must choose one of his three sons to take over: ANDRE (Trai Bryers, 90210), JAMAL (Jussie Smollett, North, The Mighty Ducks) or HAKEEM (acting newcomer Bryshere Gray, a.k.a. Yazz The Greatest). Complicating matters is their mother and Lucious' ex-wife, COOKIE (Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson, No Good Deed, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), who emerges from prison to claim her share. Don't miss the all-new "Pilot" Series Premiere episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, Jan. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (EMP-101) (TV-14; D, L, S, V) CC-HDTV 720p-Dolby Digital 5.1
Cast: Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon, Malik Yoba as Vernon Turner, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon, Bryshere Gray as Hakeem Lyon, Trai Byers as Andre Lyon, Grace Gealey as Anika Gibbons and Kaitlin Doubleday as Rhonda Lyon
Guest Cast:
Gabourey Sidibe as Becky
Antoine McKay as Bunkie
EMPIRE is a powerful new drama that follows LUCIOUS LYON (Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard, Crash, Hustle & Flow), the head of a music empire whose reign has been unchallenged for years. But all that changes when he learns he has a disease and must choose one of his three sons to take over: ANDRE (Trai Bryers, 90210), JAMAL (Jussie Smollett, North, The Mighty Ducks) or HAKEEM (acting newcomer Bryshere Gray, a.k.a. Yazz The Greatest). Complicating matters is their mother and Lucious' ex-wife, COOKIE (Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson, No Good Deed, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), who emerges from prison to claim her share. Don't miss the all-new "Pilot" Series Premiere episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, Jan. 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (EMP-101) (TV-14; D, L, S, V) CC-HDTV 720p-Dolby Digital 5.1
Cast: Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon, Malik Yoba as Vernon Turner, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon, Bryshere Gray as Hakeem Lyon, Trai Byers as Andre Lyon, Grace Gealey as Anika Gibbons and Kaitlin Doubleday as Rhonda Lyon
Guest Cast:
Gabourey Sidibe as Becky
Antoine McKay as Bunkie