There has only been two episodes on the air so far, but “Empire” is enough of a ratings hit for Fox to have its panel at the TV Critics Association winter press tour the buzz moment of Fox’s day, eclipsing the usual fuss over “American Idol,” which preceded it.
Taraji P. Henson, who plays the brash Cookie on the show, was similarly full of sass and surprise on the panel, while the director behind it Lee Daniels may have had the most unusual fashion choice in recent TCA history — baby blue pajamas.
Part of its success, says star Terrence Howard, is its diverse cast.
“I think people really want to see the full world and the full spectrum,” he said. “It’s so unnatural to go in a room that’s stark white or a room that’s stark black. But when it has different shapes and different colors involved in it, you feel like you’re in more of a natural space.
“A thousand years ago, 2,000 years ago it wasn’t a phenomenon for many people of different colors to get together and enjoy their cultures” Howard said. “And right now we’re seeing people enjoy the culture of America, the culture of the world as a whole in this show and in the other shows that are being represented, because we’re showing a whole new we’re showing real life now.”