Empire

[save lilo!]

"Cookie Monster", haha.

My new favorite (besides the aforementioned, of course) is Tianna. No wonder she was cool with Hakeem's other girlfriend!

[zacandmax]

I have two things to say...

1. Taraji has the best ass on tv.

2. Taraji needs to start a lingerie and faux fur line called "In the Cookie Jar", where she is the only model.

[Atreides]

Cookie is all. Cookie is life.

I cannot WAIT to see her spar with Naomi Campbell's character next week! I hope she throws a cell phone at her.

And yes, the ratings went up AGAIN last night.

[MrsOldManBalls]

I did not see that whole Jamal has a baby thing coming!

[GirlyGhoul]

BWAH!! It was perfection!! Raven-Symone as OLIVIA!! Her Cosby Kid name! So let's just imagine that this IS the Cosby Olivia all grown up and demanding Gay!Baby Daddy Money shall we? MWAH HA HA!! I love this show!!

And Cosby Kid or not, this Olivia has a certain Cookie-like essence about her. Not quite the Goddess Cookie is, but a definite wanna-be Diva attitude that I can see Jamal going for in a weak 'maybe I can play for the other team and like my brother I obviously have some lingering Mommy issues' moment. (And the kid, his or not is CUTE!)

So much awesomeness in this episode! My favorite scenes are when the whole gang sits down to dinner together. It's always an adventure! I loved how they dressed up in the first dinner scene several moons ago with Cookie's awesome Blessing. And now we get blessed with Cookie's MOON at this dinner scene! Oh Luscious, you are a fool!

Not only that but now he's got his own Dr. Conrad Murray in his employee. Sure, these experimental drugs might cure his ALS. They might also make him grow donkey ears and suddenly believe he's Ethyl Merman. I sure don't trust the guy... but at the same time can't wait to see what happens.

The Courtney/ Cookie scenes were awesome. Cookie's the only one who could handle the likes of Ms. Love. I hope they ban together and work to take over Empire since Jamal has dropped the ball on that. It seems they were both elemental in making the company happen- and then just dismissed and discarded like yesterday's trash. So yeah, I hope they crush everyone in their path. Cookie could do that single-handedly no doubt, but she could use a side-kick. And Anika's seemingly swiped Porsha, so yeah, CL can be the Cookie Monster's Girl Wonder now.

Jamal- God bless him. I actually love the way Cookie is promoting his single and how blowing up he is at the moment. But apparently he wasn't as ready to come out as he stated before (This is also why I no longer have an ounce of faith in his take-over abilities. Way too wishy-washy and won't put his money where his mouth is) I'd almost say 'Poor Michael' since that was pretty harsh for him to hear his lover say he was 'Single' over the air. But I don't know. Michael seems like he was an ok boyfriend for Starving!Artist Jamal... he does not seem prepared or even willing to be coupled up with Super!STAH Jamal. So even though, yeah it really sucks that Jamal didn't handle the interview question as gracefully or honestly as he should have- the whole Jamal/Michael thing seemed pretty doomed well before the awesome Raven Bombshell at the end. Plus Michael was a pretty bad actor. I think he and Tianna went to the same Flat Delivery School of 'Acting'.

Hakeem needs a hat with a broom handle attached to a spring on the top so with every step he takes he gets smacked upside the head with the broom handle! He's the new PAB! I can't with the brooding over Tianna and how she 'wronged' him when he was always with his Mommy(Yikes)Side Piece. Plus whining to Jamal for help everytime he gets stuck on a song even as he's in direct competition with 'Mal. Andre is their true enemy of course. But still. Hakeem just needs constant smacking... maybe Cookie needs to hire another assistant... one with PAB beating skillz on their resume.

As for Andre and VERNON! Wow, something's cooking there! I love this show that there can be a straight delivered line "Sorry for choking you out earlier" BWAH HA HA!!! But what are they cooking? And does it involve the new Security Guy? I bet it does! And I think Rhonda's in on it too. Whether she is or not, I love her code language with Andre. They are such a team. A devious, evil team yes. But a TEAM!

I kinda love how even though this is a mostly male oriented show, there is such a strongly hinted at (and sometimes beat over the head with a broom handle) message that it is the women who truly hold all the power. For all Luscious's talk of HIS Empire- we all know he'd be no where without Cookie. Courtney Love's music put Empire on the map. Naomi Campbell has been whispering sweet Self-Help tips in otherwise clueless Hakeem's ear- and it was Tianna who got him noticed as more than Luscious Lyon's son. For all Andre's deviousness, he does nothing without calling Rhonda first. And while it hasn't been made fully clear, Anika obviously has some hold over Luscious beyond Debutante Trophy Wife. Yep. Who Run the World? GIRLS!

Damn so much packed in this episode! I'm in Empire Withdrawl already!!

[sugarhigh]

GirlyGhoul, I live for your recaps.

[zacandmax]

Me too!! Your recaps are the best, GirlyGhoul. The irony of the name Olivia did not escape me. I love this show!

[GirlyGhoul]

Thanks! Well, you know, Empire is a VERY inspiring show!! ;-)!

[batmom]

I am loving this show. Soapy goodness, awesome characters.

[biondetta]

Yeah, I wanted to "like" pretty much every sentence in your recap, GirlyGhoul! Particularly the part about Hakeem needing to be hit over the head with the broom stick on a regular basis, and the bit about the women ultimately running the show. And all the rest of it.

Love this show!