TV review: Empire

Mid season/winter premieres for new and popular shows are often very exciting. Thus far, one of the best new television dramas is Empire on FOX.

One would think at an initial glance that this is another cliche' music drama. Heck in the past we have had flops such as Platinum, and current shows such as Love and Hip Hop. However, this show stands head and shoulders above all those before it. Empire is compelling, with great singing, acting and crisp storylines.

The show centers around music mogul Lucious Lyons (Terence Howard) and his family which includes his fiery ex wife Cookie (Tarajji P. Henson) and their three adult sons. Just as his record label is set to go public, Lucious is diagnosed with a terminal illness and must choose one of his seed to run the empire. His eldest, Andre, is your straight laced, preppy, business type. The middle son, Jamal (Cookie's favorite) is homosexual and has a smooth voice similar to Maxwell or John Legend. The baby boy, Hakeem, is a rambunctious, controversial rapper.

All of this is a good formula for an hour drama. It seems people can't get enough of these types of shows and I can see why. When you follow them from the beginning, they are easier to appreciate and keep up with because all of the storylines unfold in front of you and you're not playing catch up.

So do yourself a favor, give ABC's Wednesday night comedic lineup a break and tune into Empire, 9pm on your local FOX station. There can definitely be something about this show that you can love.

Movie Review: No Good Deed

The big movie this week was No Good Deed and for very good reason. Many folks, especially in the black community, flocked out to see this suspense thriller starring Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson.

It is a quick thriller, only 84 minutes in length, but it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Elba plays Colin, an escaped convict. Henson plays Terri, a suburban mom home alone for the night with her children while her husband is away. Elba crashes a car near Henson's place in the rain, she lets him in to use the phone and from there, the action intensifies.

Elba had to really channel his antagonist/bad guy side, playing this role with ease as Stringer Bell on HBO's The Wire. He nailed this one as well. Henson played her role well also, improving her stock as an actress. The movie receives 4 out of 5 stars from me and a A rating.

Despite the positive reviews, specifically on social media, I went into the movie skeptical but open. The same producer that made the 2009 thriller also starring Elba and Beyonce' "Obsessed" also did NGD. This attempt was much much better, with more suspense and less predictability.

I say often it's not just a good black movie, it's a good movie period. If you didn't see No Good Deed this past weekend, do yourself a favor and catch it soon. It is a good start to begin the Fall movie season.