I about died when they had ol' M. Emmet Walsh roll up trying to get in on it with Rhonda. What the Christ.

Every episode is better than the last - and this was easily the most emotional, on so many levels. Jamal's coming-out was an incredible, emotional, cathartic and joyous spectacle, while Andre and Lucious' confrontation highlighted Lucious' fatal flaw. He's a brilliant artist, a loving husband and a father, and a man capable of so much art and love, modern in his thinking and instincts in so many ways, but he's also a bigoted dinosaur drunk on machismo, hypermasculinity and womanizing. He has never gotten over the idea that he cannot be respected and admired by the rest of the world, and he's determined to never allow his sons to shed his overwhelming fear and insecurity - to make sure they carry his terror with them, inside. That goes for all of them: Jamal with his sexuality, Hakeem with Lucious pushing his worst attributes on his youngest son, and Andre with Lucious dismissing his education, his hard work and the woman he loves.

Bill Bell would be proud of them for displaying a powerful elder with these kind of ancient, deeply ingrained flaws. Empire is the future of soaps, and it's a damn shame that daytime probably isn't learning [!@#$%^&*] from it, even when it's reinventing the old rulebook and keeping a lot of the same basic principles. And it's too bad we ain't gonna get Carl to watch it til at least nine months from now.

A perfect way to sum it all up, Vee. It sucks that soaps have not paid attention and emulated this show. I think that B&B has paid some attention as I do see them pushing Carter, Maya, and Maya's sister to the forefront somewhat but IDK how long that'll last.

And yes, we won't get Carl to watch till 9 months from now when everyone else is watching season.

But I am doing to do my best to stay on him until he folds. This show is too good for him not to be watching in real time.

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/What-We-Can-Learn-from-Cookie-s-Fierce-Fashion-on-6101306.php#page-2

I love this article as it totally explains how fashion can broadcast one's personal expression ranging from bold, confident, sexy, powerful. I was known as ultra conservative but made a switch years ago and now I can't believe how much my wardrobe has evolved. Now I've figured out how to enhance a tailored look with color or an accessory that really reflects how I'm feeling at the moment.

So, Jamal didn't care for Micheal at all. Last week they broke up because Jamal wouldn't come out. This week he comes out. Soon, be moving on.

Thought some of you might be interested in this.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/02/25/stop_comparing_empire_s_female_characters_to_real_housewives_video.html

I think he cares. I think he just was not ready and Michael was putting too much pressure on him. I think that Michael will come back now, but he'll have stiff competition in the documentarian, who's name slips my brain at the moment.

I understand both ends of the spectrum [my boo and Dora], but Dora should've been a bit more patient with Jamal. He knew he was DL when he got when him, it wouldn't kill him to wait a few minutes longer for Jamal to come out.

Thought some of you might be interested in this.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/02/25/stop_comparing_empire_s_female_characters_to_real_housewives_video.html

Thanks for sharing this article, Carl. Now if you'd just watch....

But I wanna, who the hell is comparing the women on Empire to those on Housewives? Those are two different mediums. While both shows thrive on drama and most the women are black with commanding attitudes--who doesn't?

Some bitter haters, who are mad at the success of this show & grasping at straws, are doing anything to try and tear this show down.

Edited February 26, 201510 yr by Nothin'ButAttitude

I've never watched this show and thought any of the women were like "real housewives"

Thanks for sharing this article, Carl. Now if you'd just watch....

But I wanna, who the hell is comparing the women on Empire to those on Housewives? Those are two different mediums. While both shows thrive on drama and most the women are black with commanding attitudes--who doesn't?

Some bitter haters, who are mad at the success of this show & grasping at straws, are doing anything to try and tear this show down.

I didn't really take it as her slamming the show - I felt like she was somewhat critical but trying to say she thought it was wrong for people to reduce the female characters to stereotypes.

I'm not sure people have been comparing the shows either. I just know a lot of fans here watch both so it jumped out at me when I was clicking around Slate.

Edited February 26, 201510 yr by DRW50

I didn't really take it as her slamming the show - I felt like she was somewhat critical but trying to say she thought it was wrong for people to reduce the female characters to stereotypes.

I'm not sure people have been comparing the shows either. I just know a lot of fans here watch both so it jumped out at me when I was clicking around Slate.

Oh I agree with the writer. I was just referring to those bitter haters, who's comments I've seen all over the Internet, saying the usual--that this show panders to stereotypes or why do women or AAs watch this show but get mad later on when stereotypes are reinforced. We watch the show because it's good storytelling and it is a story about a family achieving the American dream. Yeah, they got there through corrupt dealings but they've made it. And it is refreshing to see it be a black family. Normally, we're the assistant or best friend. For once, we drive story and all the characters, like real human beings, have good and bad aspects about them.

The creator Danny Strong said the show is center around the gay son. We already figure that out because he get the positive writing but there's a lot of other issue in the black community too. I hate when the writing favors any one character.

Empire had a 9.2/14 HH rating last night....beating its rating from last week and still growing week after week.

Some bitter haters, who are mad at the success of this show & grasping at straws, are doing anything to try and tear this show down.

Bottom line! Its not even close! Bitter heauxs can step! We have more important things to worry about!

Is it next Wednesday yet:

I need my fix!

Empire had a 9.2/14 HH rating last night....beating its rating from last week and still growing week after week.

Wow!

American Idol had a 7.4 rating btw....looks like Empire is helping it out...people tuning in before the main course in Empire. Fox won the night with an 8.1/14 HH number. No numbers on the 18-49 demo yet.

You crack me up. I actually did think Rhonda had it in her, but I'm sure glad we didn't have to watch.

But see, I think Rhonda had a serious problem with Andre's actions. While folks like slut shaming Rhonda, she and Andre are in this game together. You see how excited both were before going in the house - both were turned on. To be in their type of game, you have to have an attraction to the other players, what was Rhonda's attraction to that old man in a wheel chair? At that point, she felt pimped, and I don't blame her one bit.

I feel bad for Andre. Dang, Lucifer hates on him and his romantic choices as well. Damn, he had more contempt for him than Jamal. Hakeem is the only one that gets his unconditional love. That last scene of him was intense. I thought he was going to kill himself for the cliffhanger.

Not really though. He flat out called Hakeem a disappointment that day at the studio. Can you even imagine saying something like that to your child or having a parent say that to you? Hakeem has Lucious' love as long as he performs well and toes the line. Lucious is a flat out disaster as a parent and every time I think he can't get worse he does.

That first song by Jamal about how he would never be good enough was one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever heard. Then poor Andre. Mentally ill and his father doesn't seem to notice and then told that he had betrayed Lucious by marrying a white woman. So harsh. Then basically telling Cookie that he was ashamed of his family and they weren't worthy of the legacy album, just sad.