‘Empire’
Fox’s hit musical drama returns from hiatus
By Jacqueline Spendlove TV MediaCarrying on the family business
just doesn’t have the same wholesome feel that it used to. At least, not when the whole family is prepared to drop the gloves and fight tooth and nail to be the one wearing the company’s crown.
Then again, maybe that’s not a problem that afflicts too many families, but the lust for power and success certainly drives the various Lyons of Fox’s hit drama “Empire.” The sophomore series has been a major boon for the network, and the soapy format seems to draw more viewers every week. A lot was left up in the air in December when the series left off for the winter hiatus, so there’s much in store when “Empire” returns Wednesday, March 30, on Fox.
The success of “Empire” has been evident from the get-go. The series premiere was the network’s highest rated debut in three years with nearly 10 million viewers. The season 1 finale saw a 78 percent increase in viewership from the premiere, and season 2’s opener raked in an audience of more than 16 million. Things are still going strong and the critical acclaim keeps getting louder.
Much of this is due to the cast, whose performances are consistently lauded. The series stars Oscar nominee Terrence Howard (“Hustle & Flow,” 2005) as Lucious Lyon, a one-time drug dealer who went on to become a successful rapper before founding the world-famous record company Empire Entertainment. His family is heavily involved in the business, and when Lucious is diagnosed with ALS in the series premiere, he realizes he must choose a successor to take his place as CEO when he dies.
The story unfolds with Lucious pitting his three sons against one another in order to determine who will be the best choice to run the company. The eldest son is Whartoneducated Andre (Trai Byers, “Selma,” 2014), Empire’s CFO who suffers from bipolar disorder. In the middle is Jamal (Jussie Smollett, “On Our Own”), a talented singer-songwriter whose homosexuality has caused a rift with his homophobic father. Youngest son Hakeem is played by real-life rapper Bryshere Y.
Gray, a.k.a. Yazz the Greatest. A rising star in the hip-hop world, Hakeem’s chief concern is with fame — and the money that comes with it — and he may lack the maturity and focus that it takes to run a company, despite his growing success. Things become more complicated still when Lucious’ tell-it-like-it-is exwife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson, “Person of Interest”) is released from prison, where she served a 17-year stint for running the drugs that financed Lucious’ early career. She sails into Empire Entertainment in the premiere to demand her share of the company, going on to launch her own label, Lyon Dynasty, in season 2.
It’s not an easy family dynamic; they’re constantly at odds with one another, with Empire Entertainment in the center as the ever-present catalyst.
When we last saw Lucious, he was devastated to be ousted from the company by the board of trustees, after being betrayed by Hakeem, among others. Knowing how ruthless Lucious can be, however, it’s safe to say he won’t take this lying down and is sure to do whatever it takes to regain his hold on Empire Entertainment. Showrunner Ilene Chaiken confirmed this in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter:
“Losing his company is possibly the worst thing that could happen to Lucious Lyon, and retribution will be first and foremost for Lucious,” she said, adding that, while the mogul travels in some elite circles now, “he also comes from the roughest and meanest [place]. I would venture that that’s a side of Lucious that’s going to come a little bit closer to the surface in light of these events.”
The complicated relationship between Lucious and Cookie has always been a big part of the storyline, and this is going to have a strong focus when the series returns as well. The two divorced while Cookie was in prison, leaving Lucious to raise their sons on his own, and when we meet him, he’s in a relationship with Empire’s head of A&R, Anika Calhoun (played by Grace Gealey in her first major role). The two have since split, however, and it’s clear that there are still some strong feelings between Lucious and his ex-wife.
“We’re excited to explore that relationship and these two people who are so intertwined and who will never, ever leave one another as long as they’re in this world, as much as they might go at one another in all kinds of vicious ways,” said Chaiken. “That’s really a big story for us.”
Additionally, Lucious and an increasingly successful Jamal are both
up for the American Sound Award
1 ‘Acrobat’ suffix (Circus displays)
4 “I Feel for You” singer Ms. Khan 9 Slime
12 Homer Simpson’s expression!
32 Ms. Day who played the title character in “Julie” (1956)
34 Sufficient, slang-ly spelled
36 A&E drama about the now grown-up kid from the horror flick at 33 down
Conan
Chris Rock did a fantastic job hosting the Oscars last night. In fact, his jokes about the all-white Oscars were so good, the Academy has already decided they won’t
nominate any black people again next year.
Jimmy Kimmel Live
This year, as you know, Super Tuesday will be followed by
46 Food Network chef Ms. Drummond
47 “How come?”
48 Rather gray looking
49 Adam of New Wave music
DOWN
1 Driver’s licenses and passports, e.g.
2 Some name brand tubes of toothpaste
3 Laverne DeFazio’s sitcom roommate: 2 wds.
4 Town news yeller of yore
5 Superman portrayer Mr. Cavill
6 Classified __ (Newspaper section)
7 British singer Ms. Dee, and namesakes
8 Filmmaker, Judd __
horrified Wednesday. There was voting today in 13 states, with hundreds of delegates at stake. I thought this was interesting, Jeb Bush spent his Super Tuesday at home, ironing and re-ironing his Tommy Bahama shirts.
11 Herman Melville story of 1847
16 “What Not to __”
20 Anna __ (Fashion designer)
21 The Ramayana heroine
25 TV actress Tiffani whose credits include “White Collar” and “Beverly Hills, 90210”
26 __ ‘_’ Hers
30 Babylonian sky god
31 Agent 007 movie, “From __ with Love” (1963)
32 Timothy __, James Bond’s portrayer in “Licence to Kill” (1989)
33 As per 36 Across... “The __” (1976)
35 Young deer [pl.]
36 John __ (Farm equipment maker)
37 1984 Bruce Springsteen album: ‘Born in __ _._._.’
9 FOX News correspondent on the current season of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars”: 2 wds.
10 Mr. Cassini who designed outfits for Jacqueline Kennedy
37 Melt, as snow
38 Julia’s “Notting Hill” (1999) co-star
42 Ordinal suffix
43 Place downw Solution on page 10
Sunday, March 27
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Sports this week
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Saturday, April 2
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FSN WPT Poker Legends of Poker. (1:00)
TNT Inside the NBA (1:00)
11:30 p.m. ESPN2 Jalen & Jacoby (0:30)
GOLF LPGA Golf Round 1 ANA Inspiration. (3:00)
Friday, April 1
10:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
GOLF Golf Central Pre-game (Live) (1:00)
NBCSN F1 Auto Racing Practice Bahrain Grand Prix. (Live) (1:30)
11:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)
ESPN2 His & Hers (Live) (1:00)
FSN NHL Hockey Ott. at Min. (2:00)
GOLF LPGA Golf Round 2 ANA Inspiration. (Live) (4:00)
NBCSN ISU Figure Skating World Championship. (2:00)
2:30 p.m. ESPN NBA: The Jump (Live) (0:30)
FSN Due North Outdoors (0:30)
3:00 p.m. ESPN SportsNation (0:30)
FSN Backroads With Ron and Raven (0:30)
GOLF PGA Golf Round 2 Houston Open. (Live) (3:00)
3:30 p.m. ESPN Highly Questionable (0:30)
ESPN2 NBA: The Jump (0:30)
FSN Destination Polaris (0:30)
4:00 p.m. ESPN Around the Horn (0:30)
ESPN2 H.S. Basketball Boys Semifinal Nationals. (Live) (1:30)
FSN WPT Poker Legends of Poker. (1:00)
NBCSN IndyCar Auto Racing IndyCar Series Qualifying Phoenix Grand Prix. (Live) (1:30)
4:30 p.m. ESPN Pardon the Interruption (0:30)
5:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN UEFA Champions League Magazine (0:30)
TBS The Final Four Show (Live) (2:00)
3:30 p.m. ESPN2 30 for 30 Shorts (0:30)
4:00 p.m. ESPN2 Basketball College Slam Dunk & 3 Point Championship. (2:00)
GOLF LPGA Golf Round 3 ANA Inspiration. (Live) (4:00)
NBCSN Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour (1:00)
5:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
TBS TNT TRUTV NCAA Basketball Final Four Semifinal Division I Tournament. (Live) (2:30)
6:00 p.m. ESPN 30 for 30 Shorts (1:00)
ESPN2 SportsNation (0:30)
FSN Twins Season Preview (0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR K&N Pro Series (1:00)
6:30 p.m. (11) KARE Minnesota Wild Country (0:30)
ESPN2 30 for 30 (1:00)
FSN Destination Polaris (0:30)
7:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter Top Ten (0:30)
FSN NHRA Drag Racing Gatornationals. (3:00)
NBCSN IndyCar Series Pre-race (Live) (0:30)
7:30 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (0:30)
ESPN2 E:60 Profile (0:30)
NBCSN IndyCar Auto Racing IndyCar Series Phoenix Grand Prix. (Live) (2:00)
TBS TNT TRUTV NCAA Basketball Final Four Semifinal Division I Tournament. (Live) (2:30)
8:00 p.m. (11) KARE ISU Figure Skating Women’s Free Program World Championship. (Live) (2:00)
ESPN 30 for 30 Shorts (0:30)
ESPN2 A.F.L. Football Jack. at L.A. Kiss (Live) (2:30)
GOLF Golf Central (1:00)
8:30 p.m. ESPN 30 for 30 Shorts (0:30)
FSN NCAA Softball Mars. vs. UAB (Live) (2:00)
GOLF PGA Golf Round 3 Houston Open. (Live) (2:00)
1:00 p.m. ESPN NCAA Basketball Slam Dunk and 3-Point Championship. (2:00)
NBCSN ISU Figure Skating World Championship. (2:00)
1:30 p.m. (5) KSTP World of X Games (1:00)
(11) KARE Premier League Goal Zone (Live) (0:30)
2:00 p.m. (7) KCCO The Tim McCarver Show (0:30)
(11) KARE PGA Golf Round 3 Houston Open. (Live) (3:00)
FSN The Yearbook Published by PrepSpotlight.tv 2015-16 (0:30)
GOLF CHAMPS Golf Round 2 Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic. (Live) (2:00)
TBS At the Final Four (Live) (1:00)
2:30 p.m. (5) KSTP 30 for 30 (1:30)
ESPN2 30 for 30 (1:00)
FSN Becoming Wild (0:30)
3:00 p.m. ESPN College Gameday (Live) (2:00)
FSN NCAA Baseball Tex. at Okl. (Live) (3:00)
NBCSN Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour (1:00)
9:00 p.m. ESPN Baseball Tonight (Live) (1:00)
GOLF PGA Golf Round 3 Houston Open. (2:00)
9:30 p.m. NBCSN IndyCar Series Postrace (Live) (0:30)
9:45 p.m. (9) KMSP Fox 9 Sports Now (0:15)
10:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter at the Final Four (Live) (1:00)
FSN Becoming Wild (0:30)
NBCSN Mixed Martial Arts World Series of Fighting. (2:00)
TBS Inside March Madness (Live) (1:00)
10:05 p.m. HBO Under the Lights: Pacquiao/ Bradley (0:15)
10:30 p.m. ESPN2 30 for 30 (1:00)
FSN Wolves Weekly (0:30)
11:00 p.m. (23) WUCW Ring of Honor Wrestling (1:00)
ESPN SportsCenter at the Final Four (Live) (1:00)
FSN WPT Poker Legends of Poker. (1:00)
GOLF LPGA Golf Round 3 ANA Inspiration. (4:00)
11:30 p.m. ESPN2 Baseball Tonight (1:00)
Brainerd Daily Dispatch, MN: Sports Mar 27, 2016 to Apr 2, 2016
There’s just no stopping “Chopped,” it seems. The Ted Allen-hosted cooking competition series has been a Food Network favorite since 2009, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. It has more than 300 episodes under its belt, has had well over a dozen multi-episode special series, and adaptations have been made in both South Africa and Canada. American audiences can even watch “Chopped: Canada” on the American Food Network — that’s double the “Chopped!”
Well, 16 Chopped Champions
have decided that one win isn’t enough: they’re heading back into the “Chopped” kitchen for a chance at earning the title a second time.
The latest season of “Chopped: Champions” premieres Tuesday, March 29, with 16 past winners returning to face off against each other in this five-episode special competition.
The first four episodes each feature four of these champions cooking for a panel of judges in the traditional “Chopped” fashion: over the course of three rounds (appetizer, entrée and dessert), they’re each given a basket of four mystery ingredients that they must feature in their meal, no matter how esoteric,
out of place or just plain weird those ingredients might be.
They’re also working under a strict time limit, but the panel of judges isn’t forgiving. Whoever they decide has served up the worst dish in each round is chopped from the competition.
This is “Chopped: Champions,” though — these chefs have already proven that mystery ingredients and a fast-moving clock aren’t stumbling blocks for them. To give
the chefs a bit more of a challenge, the basket ingredients are some of the toughest ever seen in “Chopped.” And, to make things even more interesting, each episode also has a theme that these culinary wizards must cook around.
In the fifth and final episode of “Chopped: Champions,” the winners of the four previous contests finally meet and throw down to determine who is the true Chopped Champion.
Sunday, March 27
11:00 a.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods
America
Noon TRAV Bizarre Foods
1:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods America
2:00 p.m. (8) WDSE A Chef’s Life
TRAV Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations
2:30
Solution
Video releases
The Hateful Eight
A few years after the end of the Civil War, two bounty hunters, Marquis Warren (Jackson) and John Ruth (Russell), have a chance meeting in rural Wyoming. Ruth has handcuffed himself to his latest bounty, the notorious fugitive Daisy Domergue (Leigh), and expresses paranoia that someone might try to steal his bounty and take the payment that he’s expecting for her capture. With a brutal blizzard fast approaching, the trio takes shelter in a roadside lodge where a group of suspicious men is also hoping to wait out the storm.
Director:QuentinTarantino.Stars: SamuelL.Jackson,KurtRussell, JenniferJasonLeigh,WaltonGoggins,TimRoth,MichaelMadsen. 2015.187 min.Crime.
Concussion
While performing an autopsy on a deceased former NFL player, forensic pathologist Bennet Omalu (Smith) discovers that he had suffered from severe brain damage and died from the long-term effects of several blows to the head,
a disorder that he calls chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). With the help of other doctors, he publishes a paper on his findings, but the NFL dismisses it. Based on true events.
Director:Peter Landesman.Stars: WillSmith,AlecBaldwin,Albert Brooks,GuguMbatha-Raw.2015. 123min.Biography.