Posted on 03/13/2019 7:40:28 AM PDT by Steely Tom
The legal cloud of Jussie Smollett's indictment hangs over "Empire" as the series returns with new episodes Wednesday, raising questions as to whether that uncertainty and off-screen drama will derail the Fox primetime soap -- or perversely, temporarily spur interest in it.
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The network has already announced that the actor will be left out of the last two episodes to "avoid further disruption on set," although it's unclear how his absence will be explained. That means the seventh hour in this latest run could wind up being his character's last on the series. The program has yet to be renewed for next season, a decision Fox won't have to officially make until May.
The producers initially expressed support for Smollett. After he was charged, they called the allegations "disturbing," saying in a statement that Smollett is "an important member of our 'Empire' family," adding that "we are placing our trust in the legal system as the process plays out."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
This is MAGA Country.
They could just kill his character off
Death by Bologna Sandwich.....
The “former” actor should be written out of the show with him never appearing again on any show, let alone this one.
I’ve never seen the show but I hear Roseanne Barr is available.
Oh boy, who cares, never seen a single episode, never will.
although it’s unclear how his absence will be explained
Have him killed by an Illegal Alien Invader.
They could off him by having his character attacked in an alley. The attackers could loop a rope around his neck and pour bleach all over him, while gagging on a Subway sammich.
From what I’ve read, Empire ratings were on a downward spiral which led people to believe the Jussie incident was a publicity stunt.
Happens all the time on daytime soaps, and they have no problem. Actors get sick, have contract disputes, etc, and the producers either don't use that character or replace the actor with another actor......................
Hoping the liar’s career is wrecked, but I know it won’t be. After a few months all will be forgiven and he will once again be paid to show his face to an adoring public.
Everyone is so cynical these days.
Wow! what an original ending!.............but nobody would believe it!................
It was hot the first two years. How many times can you watch the same plot, who’s going to run the company. Some sexy ladies though, but many shows have that
The genre is not really needed. Black TV is more or less a farce, a fantasy.
“Something else for you to lose sleep over. If you have no life. “
Yes, I would have never even known about “Empire” if it hadn’t been for Smollet’s “little charade” with the CPD. I would have gone on thinking that “a smollet” was some sort of unusual anal discharge for which a visit to your PCP would be advisable. Then again, maybe it is?
Time honored way to get rid of cast members that are no longer wanted - e.g Charlie Sheen fired and killed off from 2 1/2 men, Gary Dourdan fired and killed off from CSI, etc.
The character doesn't have to be absent from the show, only the actor who plays the character.
They could simply replace the actor with another one playing the same character. It's happens all the time.
Bewitched had two Darren Stevens. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air had two Aunt Vivians, MCU's Iron Man had two Rhodeys, etc.
Or, they could simply use the same AI technology that was used to produce the Jennifer Buscemi deep-fake video.
A LOL-worth response!
I really liked Taraji Henson in Person of Interest and am glad she made it big. Too bad this jerk derailed her big hit.
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