(CNN)Team Cookie or Team Boo Boo Kitty? If you're a fan of the hit TV show "Empire," you will totally get that reference to one of the main rivalries on the series. If you aren't a fan, you may soon be in the minority. The show has become something of an industry phenomenon, with ratings growing every week. According to Variety, two weeks before the season finale, which is set to air on March 18, ratings were up 53% from its January 7 premiere in the coveted 18-49 demo and total viewership had risen 45%, from 9.9 million to 14.3 million. Eight straight weeks of growth is almost unheard-of these days in broadcast TV, which has faced fierce competition from cable and streaming services. But Fox's "Empire" is doing the damn thing. The show revolves around the character of record label owner Lucious Lyon (played by Terence Howard) and his family, which includes three sons vying to take over his company and an ex-wife who took the fall for him and returns from prison intent on getting what's hers. "You're so beautiful," Empire, and here are some of the reasons why:. Taraji P. Henson. Henson has been in the industry for a minute, and despite critically acclaimed roles in films like "Hustle & Flow" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (the latter of which earned her a best supporting actress Oscar nomination), her career hadn't really taken off. Not so now. Henson has sunk her teeth into the role of Lyon family matriarch Cookie. The character is hard-core and street smart and loves her family fiercely, even as she is also motivated by making money. The show's co-creator, Danny Strong, told Entertainment Weekly that fans can thank Henson for the now infamous "Boo Boo Kitty" nickname that viewers have come to love. When Cookie sneeringly calls her ex-husband Lucious' new lady love, Anika Calhoun (played by Grace Gealey), "Boo Boo Kitty," you want to yell at the screen, "Get her, Cookie!" "So, basically Taraji is a genius," Strong said. "She's a comic genius, but she's also an incredibly powerful dramatic actress, and we're utilizing all that in Cookie." Watch for Henson to snag nominations next award season. It's old school soapy. Think "Dynasty" and "Dallas" for the 21st century. It has all the things that make prime-time soaps so delicious: sex, scores to settle, family tensions, violence and did we mention sex? Set in the world of the music industry, there is plenty of glitz and glamor that is balanced with some seedy, dark underworld shenanigans to keep the plot moving at a pace that has viewers eagerly awaiting the next episode. That's a feat given how so many audiences have gotten used to being able to binge watch to scratch that "and then what?" itch. It's new-school hip. "Empire" has fully embraced everything that makes a modern drama modern. One of the primary story lines has been about homophobia, as Lucious Lyon and his son Jamal (Jussie Smollett) battle over Jamal revealing he's gay. It comes amid tons of conversation in this country about gay rights. Series co-creator Lee Daniels, himself an openly gay man, has said he wants to expose the problem of homophobia in the black community. "Homophobia is rampant in the African-American community, and men are on the DL (down low, meaning living a double life and sleeping with both men and women). They don't come out, because your priest says, your pastor says, mama says, your next-door neighbor says, your homie says, your brother says, your boss says (that homosexuality is wrong)," The Wrap reported Daniels saying during the Television Critics Association press tour in January. "And they are killing African-American women. They are killing our women. So I wanted to blow the lid off more on homophobia in my community." The music is off the hook. The show has managed to improve on what "Glee" did and succeed at what the now-canceled NBC drama "Smash" tried to do: fully incorporate music into the show and cross over to the actual music industry. Smollett has been the breakout star in this area. His mellow voice has carried some of the soundtrack's more popular tunes, including the anthem to individuality, "Good Enough," which has more than 1 million listens on the streaming music service Spotify. Superproducer Timbaland (best known for work with artists including Jay Z and Justin Timberlake) and his protegee Jim Beanz are responsible for the show's sound. Beanz told Rolling Stone the music has to be authentic and original. "One of the things that Tim told me is, 'If it sounds like something you've heard before, don't do it,' " he said. Of course the show has cashed in on the songs by making them available on iTunes. Fingers crossed for a possible "Empire" tour featuring Smollett and other co-stars including Bryshere Y. Gray, who portrays youngest Lyon son Hakeem and who in real life raps under the moniker Yazz the Greatest. The awesome guest appearances. You could have knocked us over with a feather when Courtney Love popped up on the show. Love had a bit role on this first season, as has supermodel Naomi Campbell and '80s actor Judd Nelson. The series has been hyping appearances from music stars like Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige and Patti LaBelle. Given the popularity of the show, there's no telling who will pop up on season 2. Henson and Howard. The love/hate relationship between Cookie and Lucious Lyon is everything. They have heat and many fans are rooting for the fictitious couple to reunite. Chalk it up to the longtime friendship between Henson and Howard, who also co-starred in the film "Hustle and Flow." Howard told BlackTree TV that he and Henson had to do a "chemistry read" to show that they clicked. The end result has been magical. "We have so much fun," Howard said.
Here is a summary of the highlights for this article:
"Empire" has seen its ratings grow every week.
Taraji P. Henson's character is a favorite.
The music is a big part of the show.
Team Cookie eller Team Boo Boo Kitty? Om du är ett fan av hit TV-programmet "Empire," kommer du helt få den hänvisningen till en av de viktigaste rivaliteterna på serien. Om du inte är ett fan, kan du snart vara i minoritet. Showen har blivit något av ett branschfenomen, med tittarsiffror som växer varje vecka. Enligt Variety var tittarsiffrorna två veckor före säsongsfinalen, som sätts i sändning den 18 mars, uppe på 53% från sin 7 januari-premiär i den eftertraktade 18-49-demo och det totala tittarskapet hade stigit 45%, från 9,9 miljoner till 14,3 miljoner. Åtta raka veckor av tillväxt är nästan ohörd i dessa dagar i TV-sändningar, som har mött hård konkurrens från kabel- och streamingtjänster. Men Fox "Empire" gör det. Showen kretsar kring karaktären som skivbolagsägaren Lucious Lyon (spelad av Terence Howard) och hans familj, vilket inkluderar tre söner som tävlar om att ta över hans bolag och en exfru som tog fallet för honom och återvänder från fängelset med avsikt att få det som är hennes. "Du är så vacker," Empire, och här är några av anledningarna till varför:. Taraji P. Henson. Henson har varit med i branschen en minut, och trots kritikerrosade roller i filmer som "Hustle & Flow" och "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (varav den senare gav henne en bästa stödjande skådespelerska Oscarsnominering), hade hennes karriär inte riktigt tagit fart. Inte nu. Henson har sänkt sina tänder till rollen som Lyonfamiljens matriarke Cookie. Karaktären är hårdporr och street smart och älskar sin familj häftigt, även om hon också drivs av att tjäna pengar. Showens medskapare, Danny Strong, berättade för Entertainment Weekly att fans kan tacka Henson för det nu ökända "Boo Boo Kitty"-öknamnet som tittarna har kommit att älska. När Cookie hånfullt kallar sin exmake Lucious nya damkärlek, Anika Calhoun (spelad av Grace Gealey), "Boo Boo Kitty", vill man skrika på skärmen, "Få henne, Cookie!" "Så, i princip Taraji är ett geni," Strong sade. "Hon är ett komiskt geni, men hon är också en otroligt kraftfull dramatisk skådespelerska, och vi utnyttjar allt det i Cookie." Titta för Henson att snarka nomineringar nästa prissäsong. Det är gammalt skoltvål. Tänk "Dynasty" och "Dallas" för 2000-talet. Det har alla saker som gör bästa tiden tvålar så läckra: sex, poäng att lösa, familj spänningar, våld och nämnde vi sex? I musikbranschens värld finns det gott om glitter och glamor som balanseras med en del sjaskiga mörka underjordsskämt för att hålla handlingen i rörelse i en takt som har tittarna ivrigt väntar på nästa avsnitt. Det är en bedrift med tanke på hur många åhörare har vant sig vid att kunna hetsa upp klockan för att skrapa den där "och sen vad?" Klåda. Det är nybörjarhip. "Empire" har helt anammat allt som gör ett modernt drama modernt. En av de primära berättelseraderna har handlat om homofobi, då Lucious Lyon och hans son Jamal (Jussie Smollett) strider om Jamal som avslöjar att han är homosexuell. Det kommer ett tontal i det här landet om homosexuellas rättigheter. Seriemedskaparen Lee Daniels, själv en öppet homosexuell man, har sagt att han vill avslöja problemet med homofobi i det svarta samhället. "Homofobi är grasserande i den afroamerikanska gemenskapen, och män är på DL (nere låg, vilket innebär att leva ett dubbelliv och ligga med både män och kvinnor). De kommer inte ut, för din präst säger, säger din pastor, säger mamma, din granne säger, din kompis säger, säger din bror, din chef säger (att homosexualitet är fel)," The Wrap rapporterade Daniels säger under TV-kritikerförbundets pressturné i januari. "Och de dödar afroamerikanska kvinnor. De dödar våra kvinnor. Så jag ville blåsa av locket mer på homofobi i mitt samhälle." Musiken är borta. Showen har lyckats förbättra vad "Glee" gjorde och lyckas med det som det nu dansade NBC-dramat "Smash" försökte göra: helt införliva musik i showen och gå över till den egentliga musikindustrin. Smollett har varit utbrytarstjärna i detta område. Hans fylliga röst har burit några av soundtrackets mer populära låtar, bland annat hymnen till individualitet, "Good Enough", som har mer än 1 miljon lyssnar på den strömmande musiktjänsten Spotify. Superproducenten Timbaland (mest känd för arbete med artister som Jay Z och Justin Timberlake) och hans protege Jim Beanz är ansvariga för showens sound. Beanz sa till Rolling Stone att musiken måste vara äkta och originell. "En sak som Tim sa till mig är: 'Om det låter som något du har hört förut, gör det inte', sa han. Självklart har showen inkasserat låtarna genom att göra dem tillgängliga på iTunes. Håll tummarna för en möjlig "Empire"-turné med Smollett och andra biroller inklusive Bryshere Y. Gray, som porträtterar yngste Lyonsonen Hakeem och som i verkliga livet rappar under monikern Yazz den store. De grymma gästspelen. Du kunde ha slagit omkull oss med en fjäder när Courtney Love dök upp. Love hade en lite roll på denna första säsong, liksom supermodellen Naomi Campbell och 80-talsskådespelaren Judd Nelson. Serien har varit hypingframträdanden från musikstjärnor som Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige och Patti LaBelle. Med tanke på showens popularitet, finns det ingen som vet vem som kommer att dyka upp på säsong 2. Henson och Howard. Kärleken/hatet mellan Cookie och Lucious Lyon är allt. De har värme och många fans hejar på att det fiktiva paret ska återförenas. Krita den fram till den långvariga vänskapen mellan Henson och Howard, som också var med och spelade i filmen "Hustle and Flow." Howard berättade för BlackTree TV att han och Henson var tvungna att göra en "kemiläsning" för att visa att de klickade. Slutresultatet har blivit magiskt. »Vi ha så roligt», sade Howard. Här är en sammanfattning av höjdpunkterna för denna artikel:
Team Cookie or Team Boo Boo Kitty? If you're a fan of the hit TV show "Empire," you'll fully get that reference to one of the most important rivalries on the series. If you're not a fan, you'll be in the minority soon. The show has become somewhat of an industry phenomenon, with ratings growing weekly. According to Variety, the ratings were two weeks ahead of the season finale, put on air on March 18, up at 53% from their January 7 premiere in the coveted 18-49 demo and total viewership had risen 45%, from 9.9 million to 14.3 million. Eight straight weeks of growth are almost unheard of these days in television broadcasts, which have faced fierce competition from cable and streaming services. But Fox "Empire" does. The show revolves around the character of record label owner Lucious Lyon (played by Terence Howard) and his family, which includes three sons competing to take over his label and an ex-wife who took the case for him and returns from prison with the intention of getting what is hers. "You are so beautiful," Empire, and here are some of the reasons why: Taraji P. Henson. Henson has been in the industry for a minute, and despite critically acclaimed roles in films such as "Hustle & Flow" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (the latter of which gave her a best supporting actress Oscar nomination), her career had not really taken off. Not now. Henson has lowered his teeth to the role of Lyon family matriarch Cookie. The character is hardcore and street smart and loves her family fiercely, although she is also driven by making money. The show's co-creator, Danny Strong, told Entertainment Weekly that fans can thank Henson for the now infamous "Boo Boo Kitty" nickname that viewers have come to love. When Cookie mocksly calls her ex-husband Lucious new women's love, Anika Calhoun (played by Grace Gealey), "Boo Boo Kitty", you want to scream on screen, "Get her, Cookie!" "So, basically Taraji is a genius," Strong said. "She's a comical genius, but she's also an incredibly powerful dramatic actress, and we're taking advantage of all that in Cookie." Watch for Henson to snore nominations next season. It's old school soap. Think "Dynasty" and "Dallas" for the 21st century. It has all the things that make the best time soaps so delicious: sex, points to solve, family tensions, violence and did we mention sex? In the world of the music industry, there are plenty of glitter and glamour balanced with some sleazy dark underground jokes to keep the action moving at a pace that has viewers eagerly await the next episode. It's an achievement given how many audiences have gotten used to being able to incite the clock to scrape that "and then what?" It's itching. It's a beginner's hip. "Empire" has fully embraced everything that makes a modern drama modern. One of the primary narratives has been about homophobia, as Lucious Lyon and his son Jamal (Jussie Smollett) battle over Jamal revealing that he is gay. There's a keynote talk in this country about gay rights. Serial co-creator Lee Daniels, himself an openly gay man, has said that he wants to reveal the problem of homophobia in black society. "Homophobia is rampant in the African American community, and men are on DL (down low, meaning living a double life and sleeping with both men and women). They won't come out, for your priest says, says your pastor, says Mom, your neighbor says, your friend says, says your brother, your boss says (that homosexuality is wrong)," The Wrap reported Daniels says during the TV critics' press tour in January. "And they kill African American women. They're killing our women. So I wanted to blow off the lid more of homophobia in my community." The music's gone. The show has managed to improve what "Glee" did and succeeds in what the now danced NBC drama "Smash" tried to do: fully incorporate music into the show and move over to the actual music industry. Smollett has been a breakaway star in this area. His full voice has carried some of the soundtrack's more popular songs, including the anthem of individuality, "Good Enough", which has more than 1 million listens to the streaming music service Spotify. Superproducer Timbaland (most famous for work with artists such as Jay Z and Justin Timberlake) and his protege Jim Beanz are responsible for the show's sound. Beanz told Rolling Stone that the music must be genuine and original. "One thing Tim said to me is, 'If it sounds like something you've heard before, don't do it,' he said. Of course, the show has cashed the songs by making them available on iTunes. Fingers crossed for a possible "Empire" tour with Smollett and other supporting roles including Bryshere Y. Gray, who portrays the youngest Lyonson Hakeem and who in real life raps under the moniker Yazz the Great. The awesome guest shows. You could have knocked us down with a feather when Courtney Love showed up. Love had a little role in this first season, as did supermodel Naomi Campbell and 80s actor Judd Nelson. The series has been hyping performances from music stars such as Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige and Patti LaBelle. Given the show's popularity, there's no one who knows who's going to show up on Season 2. Henson and Howard. The love/hate between Cookie and Lucious Lyon is everything. They have warmth and many fans are cheering for the fictional couple to reunite. Cray it until the long-standing friendship between Henson and Howard, who also co-starred in the film "Hustle and Flow." Howard told BlackTree TV that he and Henson had to do a "chemical reading" to show that they clicked. The end result has become magical. "We're having so much fun," said Howard. Here is a summary of the highlights of this article:
"Empire" har sett sina tittarsiffror växa varje vecka. Taraji P. Hensons karaktär är en favorit. Musiken är en stor del av showen.
"Empire" has seen its ratings grow every week. Taraji P. Henson's character is a favorite. The music is a major part of the show.