Premières: January 7, Fox Fresh off the success of the Forest Whittaker-starring historical drama The Butler, Lee Daniels takes some time off from the multiplex to the small screen with this family drama he created, will co-write and direct for Fox. A hip-hop, the show reunites Hustle And Flow stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P Henson, rounding the cast out with Push's Gabourey Sidibe. Empire tells the story of Howard's Lucious Lyon, the undisputed king of hip-hop and business kingpin. He's sitting on top of the world...until he gets diagnosed ALS and that is going to render him crippled and incapacitated in a matter of three years. In that short time he has to make sure his three sons are ready to inherit his Empire. It sounds like it has more in common with the political machinations and backstabbing of Game Of Thrones than, saw, Yo! MTV Raps, with Daniels being a fairly dependable director, and Howard great when he's on form (and not arguing with Marvel Studios).
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
