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2019-05-13 Home Front: Culture Wars

‘Empire’ To End After Upcoming Season 6; Still “No Plans” For Jussie Smollett Return

[Deadline, via Drudge] - The reign of Empire on Fox is coming to an end next year.

Just two weeks after the Charlie Collier-run Fox Entertainment renewed Lee Daniels and Danny Strong’s hip hop drama for a sixth season and showed controversy ladened Jussie Smollett towards the exit door, it was announced today on Fox’s Upfront call that the self described "groundbreaking cultural phenomenon" of Empire will be canceled once Season 6 s done.
I had no idea it was Season 6 coming up - I only heard of this show about a year ago.

Money shot:
Questioned about the possibility that the legally challenged Smollett could return for the final season, Collier dodged and replied with language reminiscent of last month’s press release. "There’s an option to have Jussie in the series but we have no plans for that," he said, noting that the writers’ room for Season 6 hasn’t even been opened yet.

Posted by Raj 2019-05-13 09:27|| || Front Page|| [19 views ] Top

#1 Hey, I got this idea for a story arc where a 2-bit actor on a fading TV series fakes a hate crime to get national attention and revive his flaccid career. Have your people call my people.

Posted by SteveS 2019-05-13 09:37|| 2019-05-13 09:37|| Front Page Top

#2 good idea by Steve

they have been getting about 4 million viewers for each new episode

with Steve's plotline announced it would probably get 15 million (not up there with, say, the last episode of Seinfeld which had 75 million, but still good)

Posted by lord garth 2019-05-13 10:16|| 2019-05-13 10:16|| Front Page Top

#3 Never watched it.
Saw an ad with a superior black woman treating her house staff like a slave class (ala Mooselle). Didn't think there was much entertainment value.

Posted by Skidmark 2019-05-13 10:17|| 2019-05-13 10:17|| Front Page Top

#4 "We stand with Jussie! In the unemployment line"

Posted by Frank G 2019-05-13 10:36|| 2019-05-13 10:36|| Front Page Top

#5 Whitey's fault...

Posted by M. Murcek 2019-05-13 10:37|| 2019-05-13 10:37|| Front Page Top

#6 There almost undoubtedly is an option; contracts in this business usually have "options" has a way to get somebody to come back without committing to use them ahead of time. Even if they are planning to use him again, they would never say so because if they change their mind, he could conceivably sue them for lying on the record and possibly convincing him to keep his schedule open (this would be true for anyone). In this case, not surprised it is ending. I am surprised it lasted for more than 3 episodes though. I saw an advertisement for season one at some point when it was first about to air and it looked like hot garbage then.

Posted by Vernal Hatrack2366 2019-05-13 12:16|| 2019-05-13 12:16|| Front Page Top

#7 BET will pick up the show after it is dropped.

Posted by Airandee 2019-05-13 17:48|| 2019-05-13 17:48|| Front Page Top

#8 and viewership drops further

Posted by Frank G 2019-05-13 21:13|| 2019-05-13 21:13|| Front Page Top

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